I slapped this on my face the night it arrived, half-expecting the retinal to nuke my skin into a flaky mess. It didn’t.
Here’s the thing — retinal is the skincare equivalent of upgrading from a sedan to a sports car, but this K-beauty formula drives like it’s got training wheels. And I’m not mad about it.
Beauty of Joseon packs 2% retinal into this serum — that’s the highest OTC concentration you can legally get in Korea. It costs around $22 for 30ml, which is absurdly cheap for retinal.
Liposomal Delivery
Wraps the retinal so it penetrates slowly — less irritation, same results.
Ginseng Extract
Calms redness before it even starts. Smart pairing.
No Fragrance
Smells like nothing. My sensitive nose thanks them.
Photo: Ela De Pure / Unsplash
This isn’t just retinal screaming into the void. It’s a cocktail designed to counter retinal’s nasty side effects before they happen.
- Retinal (2%): The heavy hitter — boosts collagen and cell turnover
- Ginseng: Reduces inflammation and brightens dull spots
- Squalane: Locks in moisture so you don’t get that lizard-skin look
- Panthenol: Barrier repair — the unsung hero here
Photo: Elsa Olofsson / Unsplash
It’s a milky gel that melts in about 15 seconds. No greasy film, no tacky residue — just skin that feels like you already moisturized. I genuinely forgot I applied it twice.
Week three hit and I braced for the purge. Nothing. Not a single breakout. My texture started smoothing out around day 10 — my forehead felt like a peach instead of sandpaper.
Photo: Kaeme / Unsplash
My fine lines around my eyes? Noticeably softer. My pores? Still there, but they look less like craters. My skin tone is more even — the red patches on my cheeks faded about 40%.
Photo: Marius Muresan / Unsplash
This is the retinal serum I’ll actually repurchase — it delivers the glow without the drama.