PRODUCT REVIEW
COSRX Retinol Serum
Can it cause trouble?
Buy from Amazon US $20.99
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Price as of 11/7/2024 4:41 GMT.
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Product summary
What can the product work for?
Works for
Moisturizing
What does the product description say?
Cosrx Retinol Serum helps to hydrate skin and improve appearances of dull looking skin.
dimethicone
1.4% -
2.1%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH
A silicone that helps to reduce water loss from the surface of the skin. Can temporarily "fill in" lines and wrinkles, absorb oil, and create a nice product finish
glycerin
3.5% -
5.3%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
betaine
1.1% -
1.6%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improves the product texture
Show more
Anti-aging
adenosine
0.05% -
0.25%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH
Might help improve cell turnover and reduce inflammation in skin. One study shows that the ingredients might be able to help reduce dynamic wrinkles (for example, in the corners of the eyes or on the forehead)
retinyl palmitate
0.5% -
1.2%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness:
MEDIUM
Three steps removed from the active form of vitamin A - retinoic acid. To have an effect in the skin, it first needs to be converted twice to become the retinoic acid. This means it is less potent than retinol, but could also be less irritating. Once converted to the retinoic acid in the skin, it helps against all signs of aging, improves skin cell turnover and helps fight blemishes and clogged pores. However, in many cosmetic formulations, it is used in a concentration that is too low to have the full effect
tocopherol
0.05% -
0.2%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Insufficient!
Pure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself
Evens skin tone
retinyl palmitate
0.5% -
1.2%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness:
MEDIUM
Three steps removed from the active form of vitamin A - retinoic acid. To have an effect in the skin, it first needs to be converted twice to become the retinoic acid. This means it is less potent than retinol, but could also be less irritating. Once converted to the retinoic acid in the skin, it helps against all signs of aging, improves skin cell turnover and helps fight blemishes and clogged pores. However, in many cosmetic formulations, it is used in a concentration that is too low to have the full effect
Honesty check
How honest is this product?
| Promise | Can it deliver? |
|---|---|
| Moisturizing |
Total Promises Fulfilled score:
100/100.
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Can it cause trouble?
- Overall product irritation risk
- Acne & comedogenic risk ingredients: 1
Potential irritants
calendula officinalis extract
22% -
33%
Irritation risk:
Works for:
Anti-oxidation,
Anti-inflammatory
A plant extract that might help neutralize free radicals in skin
retinyl palmitate
0.5% -
1.2%
Irritation risk:
Works for:
Evens skin tone,
Anti-aging,
Anti-blemish,
Exfoliation
Three steps removed from the active form of vitamin A - retinoic acid. To have an effect in the skin, it first needs to be converted twice to become the retinoic acid. This means it is less potent than retinol, but could also be less irritating. Once converted to the retinoic acid in the skin, it helps against all signs of aging, improves skin cell turnover and helps fight blemishes and clogged pores. However, in many cosmetic formulations, it is used in a concentration that is too low to have the full effect
Show more
Comodogenic ingredients
cetearyl alcohol
1.1% -
1.6%
Irritation risk: Comedogenicity: Medium
Works for:
Cleansing,
Moisturizing
A non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture
User reviews (0)
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| Common:
Other:
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| Irritancy | IRRITANCY
MEDIUM
| IRRITANCY
LOW
| IRRITANCY
LOW
| IRRITANCY
LOW
| IRRITANCY
LOW
| IRRITANCY
MEDIUM
| IRRITANCY
MEDIUM
| IRRITANCY
LOW
| IRRITANCY
LOW
| IRRITANCY
HIGH
| IRRITANCY
HIGH
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MEDIUM
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Ingredients & concentrations
All ingredients
Key Actives
allantoin
0.15% -
0.55%
Irritation risk:
Works for:
Moisturizing,
Anti-inflammatory,
Anti-blemish,
Reduces irritation,
Reduces redness,
Exfoliation
Helps calm down inflammation in skin and can help reduce itching. Helps to repair the skin barrier and keep skin hydrated
retinyl palmitate
0.5% -
1.2%
Irritation risk:
Works for:
Evens skin tone,
Anti-aging,
Anti-blemish,
Exfoliation
Three steps removed from the active form of vitamin A - retinoic acid. To have an effect in the skin, it first needs to be converted twice to become the retinoic acid. This means it is less potent than retinol, but could also be less irritating. Once converted to the retinoic acid in the skin, it helps against all signs of aging, improves skin cell turnover and helps fight blemishes and clogged pores. However, in many cosmetic formulations, it is used in a concentration that is too low to have the full effect
Show more
Potential irritants
calendula officinalis extract
22% -
33%
Irritation risk:
Works for:
Anti-oxidation,
Anti-inflammatory
A plant extract that might help neutralize free radicals in skin
retinyl palmitate
0.5% -
1.2%
Irritation risk:
Works for:
Evens skin tone,
Anti-aging,
Anti-blemish,
Exfoliation
Three steps removed from the active form of vitamin A - retinoic acid. To have an effect in the skin, it first needs to be converted twice to become the retinoic acid. This means it is less potent than retinol, but could also be less irritating. Once converted to the retinoic acid in the skin, it helps against all signs of aging, improves skin cell turnover and helps fight blemishes and clogged pores. However, in many cosmetic formulations, it is used in a concentration that is too low to have the full effect
Show more
Comodogenic ingredients
cetearyl alcohol
1.1% -
1.6%
Irritation risk: Comedogenicity: Medium
Works for:
Cleansing,
Moisturizing
A non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture
All ingredients
calendula officinalis extract
22% -
33%
Irritation risk:
Works for:
Anti-oxidation,
Anti-inflammatory
A plant extract that might help neutralize free radicals in skin
butylene glycol
4.4% -
6.6%
Irritation risk:
Works for:
Moisturizing
Used to create a nice product texture and help delivery of other ingredients. Might be somewhat helpful in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin
glycerin
3.5% -
5.3%
Irritation risk:
Works for:
Moisturizing
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
Show more
Ingredient list view
Calendula officinalis extract, Butylene glycol, Glycerin, Helianthus annuus seed oil, 1,2-hexanediol, Polysorbate 60, Betaine, Dimethicone, Cetearyl alcohol, Retinyl palmitate, Cetearyl olivate, Panthenol, Arachis hypogaea oil, Sorbitan olivate, Allantoin, Tocopheryl acetate, Hydroxyethyl acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymer, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Xanthan gum, Juniperus mexicana oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Tocopherol
Sources
- Protective effect of Calendula officinalis extract against UVB-induced oxidative stress in skin: evaluation of reduced glutathione levels and matrix metalloproteinase secretion
- Glycerol and the skin: holistic approach to its origin and functions
- Effect of Olive and Sunflower Seed Oil on the Adult Skin Barrier: Implications for Neonatal Skin Care
- Topically Applied Sunflower Seed Oil Prevents Invasive Bacterial Infections in Preterm Infants in Egypt
- Effect of topically applied lipids on surfactant-irritated skin
- Impact of topical oils on the skin barrier: possible implications for neonatal health in developing countries
- The influence of alkane chain length on the skin irritation potential of 1,2-alkanediols
- Dimethicone as a protective ingredient in topical medications
- Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Dimethicone Copolyol
- Skin moisturizing effects of panthenol-based formulations
- Safety Assessment of Panthenol, Pantothenic Acid, and Derivatives as Used in Cosmetics
- Profile of wound healing process induced by allantoin
- Evaluation of anti-wrinkle efficacy of adenosine-containing products using the FOITS technique
- Vitamin E in dermatology