COSRX The Retinol 0.5 Oil
Works for
Anti-blemishRetinolWorks well
“Treat lackluster, dry and aging skin with this multi-tasking facial oil infused with 0.5% retinol to raise moisture levels, soften wrinkles and combat breakouts.”
This product can help reduce breakouts and clogged pores because it contains the following ingredient: retinol. This ingredient is used for treating acne and can have a noticeable effect.
Anti-agingRetinol, Tocotrienols + 1 moreWorks well
“Treat lackluster, dry and aging skin with this multi-tasking facial oil infused with 0.5% retinol to raise moisture levels, soften wrinkles and combat breakouts.”
This product can help reduce and prevent fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin elasticity and firmness because it contains retinol.
These ingredients in the product can also be helpful, even though there is less evidence for their effectiveness: tocotrienols.
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.
MoisturizingSqualane, Glycine soja oil + 5 moreWorks
“Treat lackluster, dry and aging skin with this multi-tasking facial oil infused with 0.5% retinol to raise moisture levels, soften wrinkles and combat breakouts.”
This product can help soften the skin and reduce its moisture loss with emollients and occlusives: caprylic/capric triglyceride, squalane.
Keep in mind that this product does not contain effective ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. This is why an additional product with humectants like glycerin or hyaluronic acid can be helpful (apply it before this product for the best results).
ExfoliationSide benefit · RetinolWorks well
This product can help exfoliate the skin. In other words, it helps break down the bonds between dead cells on the surface of the skin and speed up the skin turnover. Skin often appears softer and brighter after exfoliation, but overdoing it can result in disrupted skin barrier. The following ingredient is doing the exfoliating job in this product: retinol.
Evens skin toneSide benefit the brand mentions · RetinolWorks well
“Helps to replenish skin and raise moisture levels Targets the loss of skin elasticity, moisture loss, fine lines, and acne breakouts.”
This product can help reduce hypepigmentation and even out the skin tone because it contains the following effective ingredients: retinol.
Keep in mind that you would need to apply any topical skincare targetted at hypigmentation consistently for a couple of months to get a result. No topical skincare product can help get rid of hyperpigmentation (including post-acne marks and age spots) instantly.
Anti-oxidationSide benefit · Tocotrienols, Retinol + 2 moreWorks well
This product contains antioxidants (retinol, tocotrienols) that can help neutralize free radicals in skin. By doing so, they can lessen the damage the skin gets from the UV light (sun).
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy1 strong irritant: RetinolMedium risk
Comedogenic1 ingredient rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale1 flagged
User reviews
2 of 2 community members would buy it again.
My favorite, go-to retinol product. I use it every other day, no irritation. It feels moisturizing, light-weight, not too oily, just perfect consistency. Works to reduce fine lines :)
Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Squalane~25–38%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An oil naturally present in skin. Works as an emollient to soften the skin and form a protective layer on its surface without a greasy feeling.
More about SqualaneGlycine soja oil~7.1–10.6%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
- Comedogenicity
- 2/5
A good emollient that helps soften the skin and helps repair its barrier function. It can clog pores if used in high concentrations.
More about Glycine soja oilDi-c12-13 alkyl malate~4.4–6.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin
More about Di-c12-13 alkyl malateRetinol0.5%
- Irritation risk
- High
Two steps removed from the active form of vitamin A - retinoic acid. Once converted to the retinoic acid in the skin, retinol is proven to be effective against all signs of aging. It improves skin cell turnover, helps fight blemishes and clogged pores, can regulate excess oil production and even skin tone. It can, however, be quite irritating
More about RetinolCaprylic/capric triglyceride~3.4–5.1%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A good mix of fatty acids that forms a protective layer on the skin. Improves the shelf life of products. Derived from coconut and glycerin
More about Caprylic/capric triglycerideBht~1.6–2.4%
Tocotrienols~0.9–1.35%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A type of vitamin E that is more powerful in neutralizing free radicals compared to its other forms
More about TocotrienolsTocopherol~0.45–1.05%
- 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 TocopherolElaeis guineensis oil~1.2–1.7%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin
More about Elaeis guineensis oilHydroxymethoxyphenyl decanone~0.15–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An anti-oxidant. Is also called 6-paradol. It might be able to neutralize free radicals in skin. The manufacturer claims that it is able to stimulate synthesis of hyaluronic acid in skin, but there is no evidence of effectiveness of this ingredient so far. The only evidence of efficacy for this ingredient so far come from small lab tests. This ingredient comes together with Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride as part of the complex called SymDecanox HA produced by a cosmetic ingredient supplier Symrise.
More about Hydroxymethoxyphenyl decanoneIngredient list view
Squalane, Glycine soja oil, Di-c12-13 alkyl malate, Retinol, Caprylic/capric triglyceride, Bht, Tocotrienols, Tocopherol, Elaeis guineensis oil, Hydroxymethoxyphenyl decanone
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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.
| COSRXThe Retinol 0.5 OilYOUR PRODUCT | The OrdinaryRetinol 0.5% in Squalane | SkinMedicaRetinol Complex 0.5 | Be MinimalistRetinol 0.3% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 89% | 86% | 86% |
| Price | $18.90 | $5.80−$13.10 | $80.00+$61.10 | $11.99−$6.91 |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 3 of 6 | 6 of 6 | 3 of 6 |
| Key difference | — | Rosemary Extract | Niacinamide | Bakuchiol |
| Irritancy | Medium | Medium | Medium | Medium |
| Drying alcohol | — | — | — | — |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
More alternatives: Typology Sérum Rides et Ridules — Rétinol 0,3% + Huile de ricinSVR [A] Ampoule Lift Smoothing Concentrate
Product summary
"COSRX - The Retinol 0.5 Oil" is effective for: Evens skin tone, Anti-blemish, Exfoliation and Anti-aging
This product could be helpful for: Moisturizing, but its actives are not the most effective or are not well-studied.
Ingredient callouts
- this product contains an effective form of Retinoids (vitamin A): retinol 0.50% (declared). Retinoids are potent multitasking actives. They work to improve and prevent early signs of aging, reduce hyperpigmentation (age spots and post-acne marks), and prevent inflamed blemishes and clogged pores. The downside of Retinoids is that they can be irritating. If you are not already using a Retinoid in your routine, it is best to start slowly and apply the Retinoid product only a few times per week. If your skin tolerates it well, you can gradually increase the frequency to daily.
About the brand
According to Cruelty-Free Kitty "COSRX" is cruelty free and so is its parent company.
Price
The product retails for 28.40A$ in Australia, from 17.70$ up to 27.00$ in the United States and from 19.96£ up to 30.00£ 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 14 studies and safety reviews.
- 1
- 2Improvement of naturally aged skin with vitamin A (retinol)ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 3
- 4Safety Assessment of Tocopherols and Tocotrienols as Used in Cosmeticsjournals.sagepub.com
- 5Tocotrienol‐rich fraction attenuates UV‐induced inflammaging: A bench to bedside studyonlinelibrary.wiley.com
- 6Tocotrienols: Vitamin E beyond tocopherolssciencedirect.com
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