'My sensitive skin can't handle retinol but it thrives off this $17 product.'

I have retinol PTSD. 

It happened after my skin was left in shambles for months (not weeks, but months!) from using a retinol product marketed as "gentle" one time. It may have been gentle but not gentle enough for my hyper-sensitive skin. 

Ever since then, I’ve dodged every product that contains even the slightest amount of retinol or retinoid derivative. 

But that all changed when one of my favourite Korean skincare brands released an eye serum containing retinal (no, not retinol). What I understood from spending thousands on K-beauty products was that Korean skincare focuses on a gentler approach and many products are actually suited for sensitive skin. 

With this in mind, I invested in a tube of the Beauty of Joseon Revive Eye Serum: Ginseng + Retinal, $25.50 (but it's on sale at the moment for $16!) 

Two years later and I've gone through tubes of this product, not only applying it around my eyes but on all areas of my face that run into fine lines, acne and dehydration. 

Firstly, what’s the difference between retinal and retinol? 

Before we dive into why this is one of my favourite and budget-friendly products, it’s important to understand what retinal actually is.

Retinol and retinal are vitamin A derivatives of retinoids. Golly gosh, that’s a tongue twister. 

While one isn’t necessarily better than the other, retinal (AKA retinaldehyde) is closer to the active form because it only requires one conversion from retinoic acid (compared to retinol needing two). This means it’s faster-acting than retinol and more effective… but also more irritating. 

Retinal isn't used as much in cosmetics compared to retinol because it’s more difficult to stabilise, so when shopping for a product, it’s important to look for keywords like "stabilised" or "encapsulated" on the product description. 

What are the benefits of retinal?

Like retinol, stabilised retinal significantly boosts collagen production and reduces fine lines and wrinkles. It can also improve the appearance of blemishes, tone, texture, pore size, age spots and uneven pigmentation. 

What is the Beauty of Joseon Revive Eye Serum: Ginseng + Retinal? 

Now, back to the star retinal product. 

If you’re somewhat remotely interested in skincare, you’ve probably come across Beauty of Joseon’s viral Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics SPF. This skincare sunscreen quite literally put Korean sunscreens on the map in the Western world and continues to be one of the best-selling sun protection products in the East, despite the growing competition in the SPF category.

The Revive Eye Serum is no different. 

Image: Lila Beauty.

What I love the most about this product is that it uses liposome technology Retinalsome, which achieves ingredient stability, allows for more effective absorption and the real star of the show… reduces skin irritation. Two per cent of Retinalsome is all that’s needed in this cream to stimulate collagen synthesis, promote cell regeneration and strengthen the skin barrier. 

In conjunction, it contains one of my all-time favourite ingredients: 10 per cent Panax Ginseng Root Extract. Research has shown that when applied topically, ginseng root boosts skin hydration, banishes rough texture, visibly improves fine lines and helps fade pigmentation and uneven skin tone. Interesting fact: Hwang Jini, known as the most beautiful woman in Korea’s Joseon Dynasty, used a ginseng brew as bathwater to maintain her glowing and moisturised skin. 

Apart from stabilised retinal and ginseng, the product is formulated with glycerin, niacinamide and sodium hyaluronate (ingredients I LOVE to see!) to keep the skin hydrated and nourished. 

The result is a silky light cream-like texture that spreads softly and provides deep moisture with absolutely no stickiness or fragrance.

How to use the Beauty of Joseon Revive Eye Serum: Ginseng + Retinal.

Just before applying your final moisturiser in your skincare routine, take one pump of the serum and dab it around the eyes. 

Then, take another pump and gently apply it to other face areas with fine lines and wrinkles. For example, in the evening, I apply an additional pea-sized amount to my 11 lines, forehead and smile lines, with the hopes that it may prevent my current lines from deepening faster than desired. 

The brand also mentions it can be used as a spot treatment (which makes sense since retinal and niacinamide are antibacterial powerhouse ingredients), so a light layer of this product may help with pimples. 

Where can you buy Beauty of Joseon Revive Eye Serum: Ginseng + Retinal in Australia? 

The eye cream is widely available in Australia but my go-to place is Lila Beauty.One tube contains 30ml and typically lasts me a few months. 

Beauty of Joseon Revive Eye Serum: Ginseng + Retinal results. 

I’ve honestly lost count of how many tubes I’ve gone through of this single product and considering I have another two unopened sitting in my beauty cupboard as I write this, it doesn’t look like I’m deviating from this serum anytime soon. 

I’m not entirely sure if it’s helped with preventing wrinkles from forming or worsening since that’s not something I've tracked over the past two years, but I can certainly say my hyper-sensitive skin has found a vitamin A formulation it agrees with. 

I especially love how it doesn’t pill under makeup or cause a buildup of milia (those tiny whitehead-looking cysts that sometimes appear from some heavy eye creams). 

While I didn’t experience any negative skin reactions from the very get-go (very surprising since I learned how potent retinal actually is), the same may not apply to you. 

Obviously, this Beauty of Joseon number still contains a small amount of vitamin A so if you’re a newbie to this ingredient, I would strongly recommend starting with a seed-sized amount only around the eye area, every second day. From there, you can slowly build up to daily use and start testing it on other areas of your face. And it goes without saying that you must — must! — pair it with a broad spectrum SPF. 

Featured image: Supplied. 

Have you used the Beauty of Joseon Revive Eye Serum before? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.