How does the retinyl palmitate in the formula differ from ordinary retinol, and how harsh is it on the skin around the eyes?

Retinyl palmitate is an ester of retinol (vitamin A) bound to palmitic acid. Compared with pure retinol or retinoic acid, it is considered much gentler: the skin converts it into the active form gradually, so the risk of irritation, flaking and redness is significantly lower.

This matters for the under-eye area: the skin here is thinner and more sensitive than on the rest of the face and does not tolerate aggressive concentrations of active ingredients well. That is why eye patches more often use gentle forms of retinoids rather than pure retinol.

In this product, retinyl palmitate works to visually even out the skin's texture and make fine lines less noticeable — this is a cosmetic effect, not a medical action on the skin.

Even so, if the skin around your eyes reacts even to mild active ingredients, it makes sense to start by using the patches less often and watch how it responds. These patches are not used during pregnancy — this is stated directly in the warnings.