Seoul 1988 Serum Retinal Liposome 2% + Black Ginseng
The K-Secret Seoul 1988 Serum Retinal Liposome 2% + Black Ginseng is a serums, essence, ampoule. Our analysis of its 41 ingredients (32 low-risk) rates it Excellent (99/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to dry skin.
The K-Secret Seoul 1988 Serum Retinal Liposome 2% + Black Ginseng is a serums, essence, ampoule. Our analysis of its 41 ingredients (32 low-risk) rates it Excellent (99/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to dry skin.
Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.
The evidence
Dry Skin
9/7
Oily/Acne-Prone Skin
No data
Sensitive Skin
5/6
| EWG | CIR | Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
1
|
A
|
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
(Emollient, Hair Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Tonic) |
|
|
1
|
|
Water
(Solvent) |
|
|
2
|
A
|
Glycerin
(Denaturant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Oral Care Agent, Oral Health Care Drug, Skin Protecting, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Perfuming, Solvent) |
Good for Dry Skin
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
|
1
|
A
|
Dipropylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Masking, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
(Emollient, Masking, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Solvent) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
1,2-Hexanediol
(Solvent) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Niacinamide
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Smoothing) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Butylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Solvent, Viscositydecreasing Agent, Humectant, Masking, Viscosity Controlling) |
Good for Dry Skin
|
|
1
|
A
|
Methyl Gluceth-20
(Humectant, Moisturising) |
|
|
1
|
|
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
|
|
2
|
A
|
Hydrogenated Lecithin
(Skin Conditioning, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Suspending Agent Nonsurfactant) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Sorbitan Stearate
(Fragrance, Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
|
1
|
|
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer
(Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
1
|
|
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
(Emollient) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Carbomer
(Emulsion Stabilising, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Gel Forming, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
2
|
A
|
Tromethamine
(Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent, Masking) |
|
|
1
|
B
|
Betaine
(Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Antistatic Agent, Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
|
TOCOPHEROL
(Antioxidant, Fragrance, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Ethylhexylglycerin
(Deodorant, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
|
|
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Emollient) |
|
|
1
|
|
Adenosine
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Disodium EDTA
(Chelating Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Cholesterol
(Emulsion Stabilising, Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emollient, Emulsifying, Stabilising, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
1
|
B
|
Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate
(Skin Conditioning, Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
|
|
|
|
Brassica Campestris Sterols
(Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Emollient) |
|
|
1
|
|
Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
5
6
|
|
Retinal
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
2
|
A
|
Silica
(Abrasive, Absorbent, Anticaking Agent, Bulking Agent, Opacifying, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
1
|
|
Aluminum/Magnesium Hydroxide Stearate
(Emulsion Stabilising, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
1
|
B
|
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
(Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
(Antioxidant) |
|
|
1
|
|
Arctium Lappa Root Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
|
Cnidium Officinale Root Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
|
|
Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
|
Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
(Skin Protecting) |
|
|
1
|
|
Rehmannia Chinensis Root Extract
(Skin Conditioning, Tonic) |
|
|
|
|
3-O-ETHYL ASCORBIC ACID
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
|
Bakuchiol
(Cosmetic Biocide, Antimicrobial) |
|
|
|
|
sh-Oligopeptide-1
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
|
|
sh-Oligopeptide-2
(Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting) |
|
|
|
|
sh-Polypeptide-1
(Skin Conditioning) |
No personal ingredient notes yet. Save ingredients to your profile to get good/bad alerts here.
How to use
General guidance from this product's category and active ingredients — always follow the directions on the package.
Trust & honesty
Contains ingredients some choose to avoid or double-check while pregnant or nursing.
Topical retinoids (retinol, retinaldehyde, retinyl esters) are widely advised against in pregnancy as a precaution. The strongest evidence is for ORAL retinoids; topical absorption is low, but most clinicians err on the side of caution.
This is general information, not medical advice. Pregnancy guidance varies and depends on concentration and your individual situation — always check with your doctor, midwife or pharmacist. How we flag this.
The concentrations these actives are typically effective at in research — not a measurement of this product.
Most studied between 0.1% and 1%. Higher is not automatically better — irritation climbs with dose, so a well-formulated lower strength is often the sweet spot.
Retinal
L-ascorbic acid is usually used at 5–20% (around 10–15% is common). Above ~20% adds little and tends to irritate more; it also needs a low pH to work.
3-O-ETHYL ASCORBIC ACID
Most research uses 2–5%; some formulas go to 10%. Very high levels can cause flushing in sensitive skin.
Niacinamide
INCI lists don't disclose amounts, and we don't claim to know this product's levels — these are the ranges these ingredients are usually effective at, so you can tell a real formula from "fairy-dusting" a marketed active. How we estimate this.
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