Index / Isntree / Hyper Retinol EX 1.0 Serum
Isntree

Hyper Retinol EX 1.0 Serum.

Isntree Hyper Retinol EX 1.0 Serum
Retinoids

About this product

A retinol serum combining 1% retinol with bakuchiol, peptides, and ceramides to target fine lines and improve skin texture.

Full ingredients

Guru Score

81%

Yay

Early verdict · Few reviews so far
2Gurus
2Yay
0Mixed
0Nay

What they liked

  • Lightweight texture that absorbs quickly
  • Affordable price point
  • Soothing ingredients with retinol reduce irritation risk

What they flagged

    Nothing. None of the experts who reviewed it raised a problem.

    What the gurus are saying

    With a formula that buffers retinol with soothing ingredients, this serum proves gentle enough for people with dry or sensitive skin to use regularly without typical retinol dryness or irritation. At $10 to $14, reviewers consider it one of the best-value retinol options on the market. They praise how quickly it soaks in and leaves skin comfortable rather than tight or dehydrated.
    Synthesized from 2 expert reviews · most recent take August 2026

    Type

    Key actives

    RetinoidNiacinamideVitamin ECeramidesPeptides

    Formula notes

    Fragrance-freeNo drying alcohol

    Where to buy

    Opens a search for this product. We do not sell anything ourselves.

    More from Isntree 26 products · Guru Score 93% → How it works Independent by design. Every take comes from a creator we have no relationship with. We do not ask anyone to review, and affiliate links never move a score.

    What the gurus are saying.

    Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

    All takes Yay takes Nay takes Mixed takes Hide sponsored
    No BS Beauty
    No BS Beauty
    89k subs
    ✓Yay
    "This one uses 0.3% retinal palmitate, which is a very gentle type of retinol, plus 0.1% retinol and 0.6% bakuchiol, adding up to 1% total. It also has five ceramides, centella, and five additional peptides, which I love. The more peptides I get in my routine, the better, I find them to be a total game changer."
    All 9 takes from No BS Beauty
    Best K-Beauty Retinoid Serums 😍💪 Top Korean Retinols & Retinals - Affordable Options
    "It's got kind of an oil seamy texture to it. And vitamin A tends to have a yellow color, so most of these will have a yellow tint to them. This one's very nice, though. Really affordable. No fragrance in it. I love Isntree. They're a small brand, they're still owned by their original founder and CEO, which is nice. So they're still a small brand that's kind of big, but still not owned by like Unilever or Estée Lauder or Procter and Gamble, those giants. So I really enjoy this brand."
    Top Ten K-Beauty Anti-Aging Products - Affordable Ways to Fight Wrinkles with Korean Skincare
    "It's 20 milliliters. We've got retinol in the amount of 1%. We've got 3% retinol palmitate, 6% [bakuchiol]. And then we've got a couple peptides in here. We've got copper peptide, argalene, and matrixel 3000 peptide duo. Really nice product. Good retinol. And nice that they've added some peptides. And this one, I think, is the cheapest coming in at 10 bucks."
    The Best Retinol Products This Year So Far - My Favorite Retinoids for Anti-Aging & Acne
    "This one contains 1% retinol. It's got 3% retinol palmitate which is a very weak retinoid. Then it's also got 6% [bakuchiol] and then it's got niacinamide, ceramides and some peptides. For the price this is a bargain. You can't beat it. 10 bucks. Really nice product. Wonderful texture. You can fit it into your routine really easily. Very fluorescent yellow as well, but really nice watery texture. A little bit goes a really long way."
    Best K-Beauty Anti-Aging Skincare Products - Favorites From Korea That Turn Back Time!
    "The isntree hyper retinol. I'm not exactly sure what makes it hyper, but it's a point one percent retinol. It's really nice liquid texture. Soaks in really nicely. Great for super dry skin."
    Best KBeauty Anti-Aging Skincare Products - Favorite Serums for Fine Lines, Wrinkles, Texture & Tone
    "This one has some really nice ingredients: 1% retinol, we've also got 3% retinol palmitate which is a weak retinoid but you know what, if retinol's in here I'm okay with that. We've got 6% bakuchi, we've got ferulic acid, and then we've got multiple peptides, I believe there's five peptides in here, so this stuff is really wonderful. A little bit of it goes a long way."
    Frugal Friday - Fave Retinoids From $8 to $22 - Fragrance Free! Best Affordable Retinol Serums
    "This one's got 3% retinyl palmitate. It's got vitamin E. Then it's got 0.1% retinol. And then ceramides along with those peptides. No fragrance. This stuff is really wonderful. It's got a nice, you know, all these have a pretty yellow finish to them. But yeah, this stuff's really nice. And in my opinion, at 14 bucks, this is one of the best retinoids out there, especially if you're looking for a nice lightweight retinol that's got some good beneficial ingredients in addition to it. I love that they threw some peptides and ceramides in here. If you haven't tried it, you're missing out. This stuff is wonderful."
    Top Ten NEW! 🆕 KBeauty Skincare Products of 2023 - My Favorite New K-Beauty Products of the Year
    "We've got the Isntree Hyper Retinol EX 1.0 Serum with 1% retinol. It's an affordable serum, it's also got butcher in there, it's also got ceramides, it's also got peptides. This stuff is great, the texture is wonderful, it's got a creamy oil texture to it. Great product, can't get enough of it. If you're looking for a good retinol, this one is it, and it's got some other fun ingredients in there to prevent dryness and redness and irritation."
    Best Anti-Aging K-Beauty Skincare Products 🙌 Anti-Aging Week Day 2
    "Has three main actives: bakuchiol, retinol, and retinol palmitate. A lotiony serum for the nighttime routine that fights wrinkles and fine lines, helps with skin cell repair, and helps prevent acne. Also contains panthenol, vitamin E, madecassic acid, and asiatic acid, all great for soothing, so it won't dry out skin or leave it irritated or itchy. Also has ceramides, argireline peptide, copper peptide, and matrixyl 3000 peptide duo. Super affordable. Don't sleep on it."
    Best K-Beauty Anti-Aging Products & Retinols
    "This one uses 0.3% retinal palmitate, which is a very gentle type of retinol, plus 0.1% retinol and 0.6% bakuchiol, adding up to 1% total. It also has five ceramides, centella, and five additional peptides, which I love. The more peptides I get in my routine, the better, I find them to be a total game changer."
    AliceintheRabbitHole
    AliceintheRabbitHole
    59k subs
    ✓Yay
    "I don't feel like I can fully review this one because I use a much stronger retinoid, so I don't know if I'll ever be able to say what results I saw from a 0.1% retinol product. That said, I do intend to keep using it because the peptide and ceramide ingredients alone are amazing, I think that's a non-irritating level, and I like bakuchiol with a retinoid. I love that they disclose exactly how much retinol is in this product."

    What the evidence says.

    Independent of what the gurus think, this is what the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.

    Retinoids

    Retinoids are among the best studied ingredients in dermatology, with solid evidence for acne and for the fine lines and rough texture that come from sun exposure. Dryness and flaking in the first few weeks are common and usually settle.

    Source: DermNet

    Niacinamide

    Niacinamide has evidence behind it for redness, uneven tone and supporting the skin barrier, and it is usually well tolerated even by skin that reacts to most things.

    Source: DermNet

    Ceramides

    Ceramides are part of the skin's own barrier, and moisturisers built around them have evidence for holding water in and settling the tightness and flaking that come with a damaged barrier.

    Source: DermNet

    Frequently asked.

    What is Isntree Hyper Retinol EX 1.0 Serum?

    A retinol serum combining 1% retinol with bakuchiol, peptides, and ceramides to target fine lines and improve skin texture.

    Is Isntree Hyper Retinol EX 1.0 Serum worth it?

    Yes. All 2 gurus who reviewed it give it their stamp of approval, for a Guru Score of 81%.

    What is Isntree Hyper Retinol EX 1.0 Serum's Guru Score?

    Isntree Hyper Retinol EX 1.0 Serum holds a Guru Score of 81%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 2 expert reviewers we have collected.

    Who is Isntree Hyper Retinol EX 1.0 Serum best for?

    Isntree Hyper Retinol EX 1.0 Serum is generally suited to dry skin and mature skin.

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