Donginbi Lab 1899 Red Ginseng Peptide Serum Versus Sooryehan The Black Serum

Donginbi Lab 1899 Red Ginseng Peptide Serum Versus Sooryehan The Black Serum

This anti-aging serum is formulated around Panax Ginseng Root Water and Panax Ginseng Root Extract to soften the look of wrinkles.

This anti-aging serum is formulated around Panthenol and Niacinamide to soften the look of wrinkles and strengthen the skin barrier.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Glycerin

Panax Ginseng Root Water

Propanediol

Butylene Glycol

Glycol

1,2-Hexanediol

Methyl Gluceth-20

Panthenol

Butyrospermum Parkii Butter

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Olea Europaea Fruit Oil

Hydrogenated Lecithin

Squalane

Poncirus Trifoliata Fruit Extract

Panax Ginseng Root Extract

Adenosine

Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer

Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate

Disodium EDTA

Phenyl Trimethicone

Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate

Polyglycerin-3

Cetyl Ethylhexanoate

Ceramide NP

Cholesterol

Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate

Phytosphingosine

Glyceryl Stearate

Centella Asiatica Extract

Portulaca Oleracea Extract

Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate

Tromethamine

Sodium Polyacrylate

Carbomer

Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer

Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract

Vitex Agnus Castus Extract

Acetyl Hexapeptide-8

Ethylhexylglycerin

Pistacia Lentiscus Gum

Parfum

Water, Glycerin, Panax Ginseng Root Water, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Methyl Gluceth-20, Panthenol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Squalane, Poncirus Trifoliata Fruit Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Adenosine, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Disodium EDTA, Phenyl Trimethicone, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Polyglycerin-3, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Phytosphingosine, Glyceryl Stearate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Tromethamine, Sodium Polyacrylate, Carbomer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Vitex Agnus Castus Extract, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pistacia Lentiscus Gum, Parfum

Dimethicone

Glyceryl Polymethacrylate

Sorbitol

Serine

Caprylic/Capric/Succinic Triglyceride

PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer

Propylene Glycol

Niacinamide

Trehalose

Silica

Dipropylene Glycol

Lactobacillus Ferment

Curcuma Longa Root Extract

Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer

Pentylene Glycol

Natto Gum

Sodium Hyaluronate

Trisodium EDTA

Amodimethicone

Sodium Hydroxide

Arginine

Allantoin

Dextrin

Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract

Citric Acid

Biosaccharide Gum-1

Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract

Sodium Lactate

Aureobasidium Pullulans Ferment

Yeast Extract

Honey

Polysorbate 20

Beta-Glucan

Angelica Gigas Extract

Yeast Beta-Glucan

Atractylodes Japonica Rhizome Extract

Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract

Pinus Densiflora Leaf Extract

Cornus Officinalis Fruit Extract

Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract

Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract

Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract

Rehmannia Chinensis Root Extract

Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract

Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate

Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract

Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract

Ziziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1

Sodium Chloride

Methionine

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7

Paeonol

Disodium Phosphate

Sodium Phosphate

Linalool

Limonene

Water, Glycerin, Dimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Propanediol, Sorbitol, Serine, Caprylic/Capric/Succinic Triglyceride, Panthenol, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Propylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Trehalose, Silica, Dipropylene Glycol, Lactobacillus Ferment, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Adenosine, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Pentylene Glycol, Natto Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Trisodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Amodimethicone, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Arginine, Allantoin, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Citric Acid, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Sodium Lactate, Aureobasidium Pullulans Ferment, Yeast Extract, Honey, Polysorbate 20, Beta-Glucan, Angelica Gigas Extract, Yeast Beta-Glucan, Atractylodes Japonica Rhizome Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract, Pinus Densiflora Leaf Extract, Cornus Officinalis Fruit Extract, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Rehmannia Chinensis Root Extract, Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Ziziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Sodium Chloride, Methionine, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Paeonol, Disodium Phosphate, Sodium Phosphate, Parfum, Linalool, Limonene

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Alternatives

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.

It is a:

Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin

Emollient, helping to soften skin

Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas

Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives

Adenosine is a purine nucleoside that your body already makes in every cell. In skincare, it acts mainly as a skin conditioning and anti-aging agent.

The way it works is fairly well mapped out:

Your skin has cells called fibroblasts that build collagen (the stuff that keeps skin firm and smooth). Adenosine basically flips a switch on these cells that tells them to get to work making more collagen and other proteins. These cells slow down on their own as skin ages, so Adenosine helps give them a little nudge to keep going.

The clinical backing is pretty solid too.

A blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 126 women aged 45-65 tested a 0.1% cream twice daily and found real improvements in crow's feet and frown lines using a precise 3D skin-mapping technique; these changes showed up by week 3 and held at 2 months.

A later study using Adenosine-loaded dissolving microneedle patches reported gains in wrinkle depth, dermal density, elasticity, and hydration.

On concentrations, South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has set 0.04% as the approved functional anti-wrinkle level. You'll typically see this ingredient used somewhere in the 0.04-0.1% range since it works at low doses.

This ingredient has been found safe for cosmetics with the data showing no irritation or sensitization.

Overall, this is a great ingredient for any anti-aging routine and has no photosensitizing effect, so it suits both AM and PM use.

Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.

Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.

Carbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.

Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.

It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.

Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.

A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.

Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.

This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:

On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.

One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).

Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.

You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.

Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:

The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.

Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.

Glycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.

Topically, glycerin does several things at once:

Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.

Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.

This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.

Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.

Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.

Hydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.

It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.

This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.

Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.

Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.

A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).

Ginseng root is a well-loved ingredient in Asian skincare for good reason. It hydrates the skin, soothes irritation, and helps even out skin tone.

In traditional East Asian medicine, ginseng has been used for centuries both as food and as a healing remedy, and modern research continues to confirm its skin benefits.

One of the standout features of ginseng is its ability to improve blood circulation and oxygen delivery to the skin, bringing a fresh supply of nutrients to support overall skin health. It also has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This helps to protect your skin against damage from UV exposure, pollution, and daily stress.

Additionally, studies suggest that ginseng may help reduce hyperpigmentation by inhibiting tyrosinase, the enzyme involved in melanin production.

There are different types of ginseng used in skincare, and while they all share core benefits, their potency can vary.

Most products use fresh or white ginseng because it’s more affordable. However, red ginseng, produced by steaming the root, contains higher levels of ginsenosides, which are compounds with proven anti-aging effects. These ginsenosides help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and improve skin elasticity.

Note: All forms of ginseng are listed simply as “Panax ginseng” in ingredient lists. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about which type of ginseng is used in their ingredients.

For general antioxidant benefits, any ginseng extract will do, but for wrinkle care or firmer skin, red or fermented ginseng is often more effective.

In short, ginseng is a powerhouse ingredient that supports hydration, radiance, and resilience.

Panthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.

There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.

D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.

Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):

Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.

This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.

Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.

This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.

Parfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.

Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.

For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.

The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.

For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.

One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.

Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.

Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.

The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.

Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.

It’s often used to:

Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.

Tromethamine (aka THAM) is a synthetic amino acid that shows up in skincare as a helper ingredient.

It functions as a pH adjuster to help neutralize acidic ingredients and set a formula's pH to the right spot.

This matters a lot because a lot of actives (like vitamin C) needs a specific pH to work well and feel comfortable on skin.

Concentration use ranges from 0.1-1.0% depending on the formula.

Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.

So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.

You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!

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