I had high expectations for this one. Beauty of Joseon is a brand that rarely lets me down, and their Dynasty Cream and Relief Sun are two of my all-time favorite products. So when I saw the Revive Eye Serum with Ginseng + Retinal, I thought, Perfect. Hydration and anti-aging in one? Sign me up.

What I Hoped For vs. What I Got

I was expecting something deeply nourishing but lightweight, a serum that would help with fine lines over time without irritating my sensitive under-eye area. The texture is nice—it’s a silky, lightweight gel that absorbs quickly without feeling greasy or heavy. So far, so good.

But after about a week, I started noticing a bit of irritation. My under-eye area felt drier than usual, and there was some mild redness. At first, I thought maybe I was over-applying, so I cut back to every other night, but the irritation didn’t fully go away. Retinal is strong, and even though this formula is supposed to be gentle, my skin clearly didn’t love it.

Who Might Like This?
    •    If your skin tolerates retinal well, this could be a good option for an anti-aging boost.
    •    If you’re looking for something very lightweight (it won’t interfere with makeup at all).
    •    If you’re used to actives in your eye care and don’t have a sensitive eye area.

What I Didn’t Love
    •    A little too strong for me – I wish this was slightly more hydrating to counteract the retinal.
    •    Not as soothing as I expected – Ginseng is supposed to be calming, but my skin still reacted.
    •    Had to stop using it – I might retry it later, but for now, I’ve switched back to my usual eye cream.

I don’t think this is a bad product, but if your under-eyes are sensitive, start slow—or maybe stick to something gentler.