Ingredients Explained: Fermented Retinol’s Skin Benefits

What Is Fermented Retinol? Team BOJ Explains

Everything you need to know about this gentle next-gen retinol.

Retinol needs no introduction. It’s one of the most popular and widely-used ingredients in skincare, praised for improving the look of fine lines, uneven texture, and loss of elasticity. But if you’ve ever tried adding retinol to your daily skincare routine, there’s a good chance you’ve also experienced the downsides: dryness, redness, and flaking.

At Beauty of Joseon, we’ve always believed skincare should feel supportive, not stressful. You may already know (and love) the retinal in our Revive Eye Serum and Revive Under Eye Patch. Now, we’re introducing a new Hanbang-inspired approach to this smoothing superhero.

Korean skincare has long embraced fermentation as a way to transform ingredients into more skin-friendly forms. With fermented retinol, we’re bringing that philosophy to one of skincare’s most powerful actives, creating a gentle retinol option designed for long-term, consistent use.

Our Inspiration: K-Beauty Retinol From the Future

Before we talk fermentation, let’s take a step back. What is retinol? This popular skincare ingredient is a form of vitamin A that helps boost collagen turnover and encourage skin renewal. Over time, it can improve the appearance of wrinkles, uneven skin tone, rough texture, breakouts, and loss of firmness.

Traditional retinol products often rely on higher concentrations to deliver visible results, potentially leading to irritation and dryness before you see any smoothness. While we love the many benefits of retinol, we didn’t want you to have to deal with the potential downsides.

We started with the question: Which form of retinol will allow us to respect the skin barrier and keep your complexion balanced and calm, even with regular use? Our final choice of fermented retinol grew out of that desire to deliver results without overwhelming the skin.

What is fermented retinol?

Fermented retinol is a naturally derived, next-gen K-beauty retinol ingredient created using a plant-powered fermentation process, rather than conventional chemical synthesis. Put on your lab coat for a sec while we guide you through its creation.

Traditional retinol (the kind you’ve probably tried before) and fermented retinol differ in how they’re produced. While most retinols are synthesized with chemical processes in the lab, this form of retinol is produced through a fermentation process that uses plant-derived sugars as the base.

While both the fermented and non-fermented versions result in the same basic retinol structure, we found that our fermented retinol felt especially comfortable and friendly to all skin types. Plus, it allowed us to combine modern biotech innovation with our Hanbang heritage to bring your skin something new to love.

After testing multiple formulas, we settled on a concentration of fermented retinol that contains 0.01 % (100 ppm) pure retinol,
a gentle dose that gradually builds results without overwhelming your skin.

Should I use retinal or fermented retinol?

You probably already know our iconic Revive Eye Serum, which features retinal liposomes. This lightweight eye cream is so loved, we’ve even seen many of you applying it all over your face and neck. While it’s safe to do so, we wanted to give you a better, easier-to-use option. Revive Firming Moisturizer was created to fill that gap. (Read more about how we made this daily retinol moisturizer here.)

Retinal (our Revive Eye hero) serves a different purpose than fermented retinol. We chose each ingredient based on where and how they’ll be used, so you get more out of your skincare routine and see more results.

Retinal is one step closer to the active form of vitamin A than retinol. This means it works faster and is especially effective for areas like your under eyes, where fine lines are more visible. In these localized areas, retinal allows for more targeted, intensive care.

Fermented retinol, the hero of our new Revive Firming Moisturizer, works more gradually to support healthy-looking elasticity all over your face and neck. That’s why it’s our best retinol for sensitive skin.

For a facial retinol cream (like Revive Firming Moisturizer) that’s meant to be applied across larger, more exposed areas like the cheeks and forehead, fermented retinol made more sense. It allows for long-term, daily use that’s comfortable. That doesn’t mean you need to only pick one; in fact, retinal and fermented retinol are great alone, but even better when you use them together for different areas and skin goals.

Fermented Retinol Benefits You’ll Love

Ready to experience the fermented retinol magic for yourself? Here’s everything it can do for your skin.

From a chemistry standpoint, fermented retinol and synthetic retinol are the same, and they deliver similar benefits. Revive Firming Moisturizer has all the perks of regular retinol products: improving the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, supporting elasticity and firmness, and smoothing out skin texture and tone.

The fermented retinol we use is also especially skin-friendly, making it easier to tolerate (even if you have reactive skin). In fact, our Revive Firming Moisturizer has been clinically proven to be hypoallergenic*, which means it’s safe for sensitive skin.

*Based on a clinical study conducted by Korea Institute of Dermatological Sciences on 52 subjects over 5 weeks.

How Fermented Retinol Fits Your Skincare Routine

Fermented retinol is suitable for all skin types, from oily to dry skin, to sensitive and blemish-prone. Revive Firming Moisturizer is also clinically proven to be noncomedogenic*, which means it won’t clog your pores and cause unwanted breakouts. If you’ve been searching for a Korean retinol cream for sensitive skin, this is where we recommend starting.

When it comes to helping our best Korean retinol innovation shine, we recommend pairing Revive Firming Moisturizer with the rest of our Revive line. Ginseng has long been used in Hanbang for its revitalizing properties, making it the perfect complement to retinol’s renewing effects.

Together, they create a slow-aging routine that feels balanced and builds results naturally over time.

*Based on a clinical study conducted by Korea Institute of Dermatological Sciences on 23 subjects over 4 weeks.

Retinol will always be a cornerstone ingredient in skincare. But the way we use it can, and should, evolve. Fermented retinol represents our belief that innovation doesn’t have to mean a stronger, harsher ingredient that promises instant results. Instead, try an alternative that listens to what your skin actually needs.

If you’ve been curious about retinol but hesitant to commit, fermented retinol offers a softer place to begin and a more comfortable way to stay consistent. Remember: The best skincare is the kind that loves your skin back.

Experience Fermented Retinol Benefits