Hyper Retinol EX 1.0 Serum
Hyper Retinol EX 1.0 Serum is Isntree's concentrated serum, formulated for dullness and an uneven-looking tone. Built around Niacinamide and Bakuchiol, it is aimed at rough texture without the sensitivity a stronger vitamin A ingredient can bring and rough texture and visible fine lines.
No reviews yet20 ml
$2.93 per 10 ml
- Korean-market formula
- Ships from California or direct from Korea
- Korean barcode and batch code intact
- Suited to
- SensitiveDryNormalCombination
- Helps with
- Dullness and an uneven-looking toneRough texture without the sensitivity a stronger vitamin A ingredient can bringRough texture and visible fine linesPost-exfoliation sensitivity
In stock. Arrives in 3 to 7 business days
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How it works
Hyper Retinol EX 1.0 Serum is Isntree's concentrated serum (20ml). Niacinamide sits in the formula as the brightening and barrier workhorse of the routine, the same B3 vitamin dermo-cosmetic protocols reach for when a complexion looks dull, blotchy or prone to visible redness after cleansing. Bakuchiol is a plant-derived vitamin A alternative formulated for skin that wants a texture-renewing routine without the dryness a stronger resurfacing ingredient can bring, and it layers easily alongside other actives. The concentrated texture sinks in without a greasy residue, leaving skin feeling smoothed and hydrated without a sticky after-feel. It sits in a Korean routine as the treatment step, best layered after essence and before a moisturizer.
Key benefits
- Niacinamide for brightening, barrier-supporting
- Bakuchiol for gentle vitamin A alternative
- Retinol for vitamin A derivative
- Concentrated texture built for a treatment step
- Authentic Korean-market formula, sourced as the same version sold on Korean retail shelves
- Layers cleanly after essence and before a moisturizer
Inside the formula
Inside the formula
What is the Hyper Retinol EX 1.0 Serum?
Hyper Retinol EX 1.0 Serum is Isntree's concentrated serum (20ml), formulated as treatment step in a Korean skincare routine. It suits sensitive, dry, normal skin types, and it is sourced here as the authentic Korean-market formula rather than a US-shelf reformulation.
How should I use the Hyper Retinol EX 1.0 Serum?
Smooth two to three drops over cleansed and toned skin morning and evening, patting gently until absorbed before a moisturizer. Working it in this order keeps the concentrated texture behaving the way Isntree formulated it to, rather than rushing straight to the next step in the routine.
How often should I use this serum?
Morning and evening, or evening only for a stronger treatment active, worked in gradually if skin is new to it. Consistency across a full skin cycle of several weeks matters far more than an occasional use for a serum like this one, since most of its benefit shows up with steady, repeated application.
Who is this serum best suited for?
This serum is best suited for sensitive, dry, normal, combination skin, particularly anyone dealing with dullness and an uneven-looking tone. Patch test first if skin is very reactive, even though this ingredient is gentler than a true retinoid.
What are the key ingredients in this serum?
The formula lists Niacinamide, Bakuchiol and Retinol among its ingredients, alongside the rest of the base that carries them across the skin. Each one is named here in the exact form it appears on Isntree's own ingredient list, not inferred from the product name.
Not on the ingredient list below: fragrance or parfum, denatured or SD alcohol, essential oils, silicones, parabens, sulfate surfactants, mineral oil or petrolatum and added color.
Full INCI (42): Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Dibutyl Adipate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Bakuchiol(0.6%), Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Betaine, Hydroxyacetophenone, Retinyl Palmitate(0.3%), Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Tocopherol, Retinol(0.1%), Allantoin, Panthenol, Polysorbate 20, Adenosine, Cetearyl Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, Stearic Acid, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Polydextrose, Ceramide NP, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Ceramide NS, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Ferulic Acid, Ceramide AS, Ceramide AP, Copper Tripeptide-1, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Ceramide EOP
Ingredient list read from isntree-global.com on 10 September 2026.
41 of 42 explained
- Water solvent
- Water is the base almost every serum, toner and cream is built on. It dissolves the water-loving ingredients and sets how light the finished texture feels. On an INCI list it is usually first, which only means it is the largest single ingredient by weight.
- Butylene Glycol humectant
- Butylene Glycol is a small glycol that does two jobs at once: it holds water in the top layer of skin and it dissolves plant extracts and actives that plain water cannot. It also thins a formula, which is why watery Korean essences lean on it.
- Glycerin humectant
- Glycerin is the most used humectant in skincare. It draws water into the outer layer of skin and holds it there, and it is one of the very few ingredients whose hydrating effect is settled science rather than marketing. Higher amounts feel tacky, which is why it is usually blended.
- Niacinamide active
- Niacinamide is vitamin B3, and it is the most studied active in Korean formulation. It is used at roughly 2 to 5 percent for the look of uneven tone and visible pores, and it is water soluble, stable and comfortable beside almost every other active, which is why it turns up in so many lists.
- Dibutyl Adipate emollient
- Dibutyl Adipate is a light ester emollient used as a solvent for UV filters and pigments and to keep a formula from feeling tacky.
- Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride emollient
- Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride is the light fraction of coconut oil, with the heavy parts removed. It is the workhorse emollient of modern formulas: it softens skin, dissolves oil-soluble actives and absorbs without the greasy weight of a whole plant oil.
- Bakuchiol(0.6%) active
- Bakuchiol is a compound from the babchi seed, used as a plant-derived alternative to retinol. It is oil soluble, stable in daylight and does not carry retinol's acclimatisation period, which is why sensitive-skin formulas choose it.
- Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer thickener
- This is a synthetic thickener that gels quickly and holds an emulsion stable across a wide pH range. It gives a light, non-tacky body.
- 1,2-Hexanediol humectant
- 1,2-Hexanediol is a glycol used for two reasons: it holds water like glycerin, and it makes a formula harder for microbes to live in, so less traditional preservative is needed. Korean formulas use it heavily for that second reason.
- Hydrogenated Lecithin emulsifier
- Hydrogenated Lecithin is lecithin with its unsaturated bonds filled in, which makes it far more stable. It emulsifies and is the standard shell for the liposomes that carry actives into the outer layer of skin.
- Betaine humectant
- Betaine is a sugar-beet-derived humectant that cells use to hold water. In a formula it hydrates and takes the edge off cleansers and acids, which is why it often appears alongside them.
- Hydroxyacetophenone preservative booster
- Hydroxyacetophenone is an antioxidant that also strengthens a preservative system, so a formula needs less traditional preservative. Korean formulas pair it with 1,2-hexanediol constantly.
29 more explained
- Retinyl Palmitate(0.3%) active
- Retinyl Palmitate is retinol bound to a fatty acid. It is the mildest common retinoid because skin has to make three conversions before it becomes active, which also makes it the least likely to cause flaking.
- Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate emulsifier
- Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate is an amino-acid-derived emulsifier. It holds oil and water together and is mild enough for formulas built for reactive skin.
- Tocopherol antioxidant
- Tocopherol is vitamin E. It is an oil-soluble antioxidant that protects the oils in a formula from going rancid and works on skin as an emollient, and it is regularly paired with vitamin C because each keeps the other going for longer.
- Retinol(0.1%) active
- Retinol is the alcohol form of vitamin A and the strongest retinoid available without a prescription. Skin converts it in two steps to retinoic acid, and it is used at night, at low percentages, for the look of fine lines and rough texture. It can leave skin flaking while it acclimatises.
- Allantoin active
- Allantoin is a comfrey-derived compound used to condition skin and soften the outer layer so it feels smoother. It is one of the standard additions to a formula built for easily irritated skin.
- Panthenol humectant
- Panthenol is pro-vitamin B5: skin converts it to pantothenic acid. It is a humectant that holds water and leaves skin feeling soft and less tight, and it is one of the ingredients formulators reach for when a formula also contains something harsh.
- Polysorbate 20 emulsifier
- Polysorbate 20 is a solubiliser: it dissolves small amounts of oil or fragrance into a watery formula so nothing separates or floats.
- Adenosine active
- Adenosine is a nucleoside that Korea's own cosmetic authority recognises as a wrinkle-care functional ingredient, which is why it appears on so many Korean lists at a low level. It is used for the look of fine lines and is stable and well tolerated.
- Cetearyl Alcohol fatty alcohol
- Cetearyl Alcohol is a waxy solid, not the drying kind of alcohol. It is a blend of cetyl and stearyl alcohols used to thicken a cream and keep oil and water from separating, and it softens skin as it does so.
- Disodium EDTA chelator
- EDTA is a chelator: it locks up trace metal ions from water and packaging that would otherwise turn a formula cloudy, off-colour or rancid. It does nothing to skin and appears at a fraction of a percent.
- Stearic Acid fatty acid
- Stearic Acid is a saturated fatty acid from plant fats, and one of the three lipid classes skin's own barrier is built from. In a formula it thickens, stabilises the emulsion and can be turned into a soap-style cleanser by adding a base.
- Dipropylene Glycol humectant
- Dipropylene Glycol is a glycol used as a solvent and a light humectant. Its main job is keeping the rest of the formula dissolved and the texture fluid rather than adding hydration of its own.
- Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin solvent
- Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin is a ring-shaped sugar that traps an active molecule inside itself, keeping it stable and releasing it slowly. It is a delivery shell rather than an active.
- Ceramide NP barrier lipid
- Ceramide NP is the most used cosmetic ceramide, the same class of lipid that makes up roughly half the mortar between cells in the outer layer of skin. Added to a cream it slots into that structure, which is why ceramide formulas feel less leaky rather than merely greasy.
- Asiaticoside active
- Asiaticoside is one of the four active triterpenes isolated from centella and the most studied of them. Korean formulas name it separately when they want to show which fraction of the plant they standardised.
- Madecassic Acid active
- Madecassic Acid is the fourth centella triterpene. A list that names all four is telling you the extract was standardised rather than simply pressed, which is the difference between a cica claim and a cica formula.
- Asiatic Acid active
- Asiatic Acid is the third of centella's four triterpenes and the aglycone form, meaning it has no attached sugar. It is oil soluble, so it turns up in cica creams and balms more than in watery layers.
- Ceramide NS barrier lipid
- Ceramide NS is another of the ceramides skin makes for itself. It is used alongside NP and AP so a formula supplies a mixture rather than a single lipid.
- Cholesterol barrier lipid
- Cholesterol is the third of the three lipids the outer layer of skin is built from, with ceramides and fatty acids. Formulas that carry all three are following the ratio skin itself holds.
- Phytosphingosine barrier lipid
- Phytosphingosine is the backbone every ceramide is built on, and skin uses it in its own lipid layer. In a formula it works with ceramides and cholesterol and also keeps the product stable against microbes.
- Ferulic Acid antioxidant
- Ferulic Acid is a plant antioxidant from bran and seeds. Its main formulation job is stabilising vitamins C and E so a serum keeps working for longer, which is why the three appear together so often.
- Ceramide AS barrier lipid
- Ceramide AS is a further member of the same lipid family. Its presence usually signals a formula built around a full ceramide profile rather than a single headline one.
- Ceramide AP barrier lipid
- Ceramide AP is a second cosmetic ceramide, distinguished by an extra hydroxyl group. Formulas that name several ceramides are copying the mix skin actually holds rather than relying on one.
- Copper Tripeptide-1 peptide
- Copper Tripeptide-1 is three amino acids bound to a copper ion, and the classic firming peptide in cosmetic chemistry. It is blue in solution, which is often why a serum carrying it is tinted, and it is used for the look of firmness and fine lines.
- Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 peptide
- Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 is a six-amino-acid peptide used for the look of expression lines, particularly around the eyes. It is the peptide sold under the name Argireline and is water soluble and stable.
- Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 peptide
- Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 is the five-amino-acid peptide originally sold as Matrixyl. It is used for the look of fine lines and is one of the longest-standing cosmetic peptides.
- Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 peptide
- Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 is a four-amino-acid peptide with a fatty tail, used for the look of fine lines. With palmitoyl tripeptide-1 it forms the pairing sold as Matrixyl 3000.
- Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 peptide
- Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 is a short peptide with a fatty tail added so it can travel through the oily outer layer of skin. It is used for the look of firmness and is almost always paired with palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7.
- Ceramide EOP barrier lipid
- Ceramide EOP is the ceramide with the longest tail, and in skin it acts as the rivet holding the lipid layers together. It is the third member of the standard cosmetic ceramide trio.
- Market
- Korean market, the version sold in Korea
- EAN (barcode)
- 8809800940798
- Made in
- Republic of Korea
- Volume
- 20 ml
- Category
- Serum & Ampoule
- Actives
- Adenosine, Allantoin, Bakuchiol, Centella Asiatica, Ceramide NP, Ceramides, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Peptides, Retinol
- Ships from
- California or Korea
Orders ship from California or direct from Korea with tracked delivery to your door, and both routes carry the same Korean-market release. Shipping is free on orders of $100 or more. Returns are accepted for 30 days, by mail.
We split shipments free, so one out-of-stock item never holds up the rest of your order.
Where this unit came from
- 1Seoul
Bought as Korean-market stock - 2Barcode
Listed against the Korean barcode on its box - 3California or Korea
Ships to you from either, as the same Korean-market release
We stock the version of a formula that is sold in Korea, not the release a brand prepares for another market under the same name. The barcode in the specification above is the Korean-market one and it is printed on the box you receive.
Every unit keeps its original barcode and batch code intact, so the unit in your hands can be checked against the brand’s own records.
Every order ships from California or direct from Korea, and returns run for 30 days.
Every claim on this page traces to the unit in the box, the barcode, the batch code and the price you can read for yourself.
How to use
- Use the Hyper Retinol EX 1.0 Serum after toner and before moisturizer, in the evening.
- Take 2 to 3 drops on the palm of your hands and gently pat it on your skin for maximum absorption. Apply the serum at night, after cleansing on a dry skin, before your moisturizer. For sensitive skin, test with a small amount before using it on your face.
- Toner first so the surface is damp, then this, then about a minute before your moisturizer goes over the top.
- Twice a day, every day. Do not stack it with a second serum of the same kind; two hydrating serums in one routine do the work of one.
Worth knowing
- Patch test first if skin is very reactive, even though this ingredient is gentler than a true retinoid.
- Use at night only and introduce two or three nights a week before moving to nightly use.
- Patch test on the inner arm before a first full-face application if skin tends to react easily.
- Store away from direct sunlight and high heat to keep the texture and scent stable over time.
Complete the routine
- This itemIsntree Hyper Retinol EX 1.0 Serum$5.87
- The treatment step of this routineIsntree TW-REAL BIFIDA Ampoule 50ml$37.50
- Seal the routine in as the last stepIsntree C-Niacin Toning Cream 50ml$22.50
Total for 3 items$65.87
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Isntree Hyper Retinol EX 1.0 Serum
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Isntree, Korean-market original
Shop Hyper Retinol EX 1.0 Serum (20ml), the authentic Korean-market serum from Isntree formulated with Niacinamide, sourced for the Korean market rather than a US-shelf reformulation.
Verify your unit when it arrives
Verify your unit when it arrives
Korean-market stock with the original barcode and batch code intact, exactly as it left Korea.
On the unit itself
- The Korean-market barcode, unaltered from the retail package.
- The manufacturer’s batch code, exactly as the maker printed it.
정품Genuine article, Korean-market stock
What professionals say
What professionals say
What skin-care professionals say about skin care, quoted from the medical sources linked beside each.
Your skin barrier is basically your outer layer of the skin.
Melissa Piliang, MDDermatologist, Cleveland Clinic Pretty much every step of a Korean skin care routine is going to have some component of hydration.
Alok Vij, MDDermatologist, Cleveland Clinic
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