Works for
MoisturizingPanthenol, Glycerin + 8 moreWorks well
“Cosrx Retinol Serum helps to hydrate skin and improve appearances of dull looking skin.”
This product can help improve hydration of the skin with the two types of ingredients.
The first type is called “humectants”:
these ingredients help attract water.
When humectants are on the surface of the skin, they “pull in” the moisture from the outside environment, or from
within deeper layers of the skin. The following ingredients in this product do the job:
betaine, glycerin.
This product also contains ingredients called “occlusives”. They help reduce the speed with which our skin loses moisture to the outside environment. These ingredients also help soften the upper layer of the skin, so it feels less tight and nicer to the touch. The following ingredients in this product do the job: dimethicone, helianthus annuus seed oil.
The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: panthenol
Anti-agingSide benefit · Retinyl palmitate, Adenosine + 1 moreWorks well
This product can help reduce and prevent fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin elasticity and firmness because it contains adenosine.
These ingredients in the product can also be helpful, even though there is less evidence for their effectiveness: retinyl palmitate.
Keep in mind that it typically takes at least 6 weeks to notice any results because the changes that are needed to improve fine lines and elasticity happen in the deeper layers of the skin. No topical anti-aging product can “erase” wrinkles or fully reverse signs of aging.
Evens skin toneSide benefit · Retinyl palmitateMay help
The following ingredient (ingredients) in this product might be helpful, but there is no evidence to confirm that it actually works: retinyl palmitate.
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy1 strong irritant: Retinyl palmitateMedium risk
Comedogenic1 ingredient rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale1 flagged
User reviews
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Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Calendula officinalis extract~22–33%
- Irritation risk
- High
A plant extract that might help neutralize free radicals in skin
More about Calendula officinalis extractButylene glycol~4.4–6.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
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
More about Butylene glycolGlycerin~3.5–5.3%
- Irritation risk
- Low
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
More about GlycerinHelianthus annuus seed oil~3.4–5.1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A great emollient due to its high linoleic acid content. One of the most effective plant oils in helping skin hydration and repairing skin barrier function
More about Helianthus annuus seed oil1,2-hexanediol~1.2–1.8%
Polysorbate 60~1.6–2.4%
Betaine~1.1–1.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improves the product texture
More about BetaineDimethicone~1.4–2.1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
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
More about DimethiconeCetearyl alcohol~1.1–1.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
- Comedogenicity
- 2/5
A non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture
More about Cetearyl alcoholRetinyl palmitate~0.5–1.2%
- Irritation risk
- High
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
More about Retinyl palmitateCetearyl olivate~0.45–1%
Panthenol~0.35–0.85%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help improve skin barrier function
More about PanthenolArachis hypogaea oil~0.3–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Sorbitan olivate~0.15–0.65%
Allantoin~0.15–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps calm down inflammation in skin and can help reduce itching. Helps to repair the skin barrier and keep skin hydrated
More about AllantoinTocopheryl acetate~0.15–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A more stable but less bio-available form of vitamin E compared to Tocopherol. Might help moisturize and protect the skin from free radicals, but mostly used in low concentrations to stabilize other ingredients.
More about Tocopheryl acetateHydroxyethyl acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymer~0.15–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A gelling agent that thickens the product consistency and leaves the skin with a velvety finish
More about Hydroxyethyl acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymerHydroxyethylcellulose~0.15–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to thicken product formulations and create gel-like textures
More about HydroxyethylcelluloseXanthan gum~0.1–0.35%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create a thicker product consistency
More about Xanthan gumJuniperus mexicana oil~0.05–0.3%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Ethylhexylglycerin~0.05–0.2%
Adenosine~0.05–0.25%
- Irritation risk
- Low
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)
More about AdenosineTocopherol~0.05–0.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
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
More about TocopherolIngredient 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
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Worth comparing, line by line.
Match % combines shared ingredients, the first five ingredients, shared actives and hero ingredients, irritancy (lower counts in the alternative's favour), texture and body area. Only products in the same routine step are compared.
| COSRXRetinol SerumYOUR PRODUCT | BANOBAGIMilk Thistle Repair Serum | SCINICHyaluronic Acid Ampoule Serum | MizonPhyto Plump Collagen Serum | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 62% | 62% | 62% |
| Price | $19.99 | $18.36−$1.63 | $17.60−$2.39 | $20.00 |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 4 of 8 | 4 of 8 | 4 of 8 |
| Key difference | — | Copper Tripeptide-1 | Niacinamide | Biosaccharide Gum-1 |
| Irritancy | Medium | Low | Low | Low |
| Drying alcohol | — | — | — | — |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
More alternatives: Purito SEOUL Mighty Bamboo Panthenol SerumTHE LAB by blanc doux Exper True Tension Serum
Product summary
"COSRX - Retinol Serum" is effective for: Anti-aging and Moisturizing
This product could be helpful for: Evens skin tone, but its actives are not the most effective or are not well-studied.
Ingredient callouts
- this product includes a form of Retinoids (vitamin A) - retinyl palmitate 0.50% - 1.20%, but this type of vitamin A is not very effective. It could in theory help with fine lines and wrinkles, but the effect is most likely minimal.
- Adenosine 0.05% - 0.25%. It is a compound that in involved in many biological processes inside the skin cells. According one high-quality clinical trial, topical Adenosine in low concentrations can somewhat help improve "deep wrinkles" - the wrinkles that appear with age in places where our faces are most dynamic (for example, on the forehead or in the corners of the eyes).
- Panthenol (pro-vitamin B5) at about 0.35% - 0.85% concentration. In this concentration, Panthenol works effectively to improve the skin barrier and reduce inflammation.
- Humectants (panthenol 0.35% - 0.85%, betaine 1.10% - 1.60% and glycerin 3.50% - 5.30%). These ingredients help attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improve the skin hydration.
About the brand
According to Cruelty-Free Kitty "COSRX" is cruelty free and so is its parent company.
Price
The product retails for 39.00A$ in Australia, for 20.59$ in the United States and for 19.96£ in the United Kingdom.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 15 studies and safety reviews.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5Effect of topically applied lipids on surfactant-irritated skinonlinelibrary.wiley.com
- 6
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