COSRX
Red Rice Inositol Exfoliating Care Pore Peel Serum 80ml
A leave-on exfoliating serum in a generous 80ml bottle, for skin that feels rough and looks congested around the nose and chin.
No reviews yet80 ml
$50.00 per 100 ml
- Korean-market formula
- Ships from California or direct from Korea
- Korean barcode and batch code intact
- Suited to
- Combination skinOily skinNormal skin
- Helps with
- A congested nose and chinA rough feeling surfaceBumpy texture
In stock. Arrives in 3 to 7 business days
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How it works
This is a leave-on exfoliating serum rather than a rinse-off scrub, so the work happens over hours instead of in the two minutes you spend at the sink. That longer contact is why the frequency has to be rationed to a few nights a week rather than used daily like a hydrating serum. Eighty millilitres is a generous bottle for this category, which points at whole face use with a second pass on the congested zone rather than dabbing. That is the difference from a peeling gel, which is gentler and gone in minutes but does less for a nose that never quite clears. What you can judge is whether the nose and chin feel smoother under the fingertips after a fortnight.
Key benefits
- Propanediol sits near the top on this product's own ingredient list, a multifunctional glycol that carries moisture and helps preserve the formula.
- A lightweight, non-comedogenic emollient that mimics skin's own lipids, and Squalane is right there in this product's ingredient list, in the first half.
- On this formula's own list, Sodium Hyaluronate shows up in the first half. It is a low-weight hyaluronate that draws water into the surface layers.
Inside the formula
Inside the formula
What does this serum do?
It is a leave-on exfoliating serum aimed at the congested zone, so it loosens the rough surface layer over hours rather than in the two minutes a scrub gets. Use it a few nights a week. You judge it on whether the nose and chin feel smoother under the fingertips after a fortnight.
Where does it go in my routine?
After cleansing, before your moisturizer, on the nights you use it. A thin layer over the face, a second pass on the nose and chin, then seal with a cream. Keep the rest of that evening simple rather than stacking another strong product on top.
How often is too often?
Nightly is too often for most faces with a leave-on exfoliant. Start at two nights, move to three if the skin stays comfortable, and stop for a week if it starts looking shiny and tight, since that is what over exfoliating looks like well before it looks red.
Do I need sunscreen with it?
Yes, every morning while you are using it, because freshly exfoliated surface skin is more sensitive to light. That is true of any exfoliating routine. If daily sunscreen is not something you are going to do, this is not the right step to add to your routine yet.
Is this the Korean-market formula?
Yes. This is the Original Korean Formula 80ml bottle, the same one sold on Korean shelves.
Not on the ingredient list below: fragrance or parfum, denatured or SD alcohol, essential oils, silicones, parabens, sulfate surfactants, mineral oil or petrolatum and added color.
Full INCI (48): Aqua/Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Tripropylene Glycol, Cellulose, Propanediol, Glycerin, Carbomer, Steartrimonium Methosulfate, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Seed Water, Isopropyl Alcohol, Saccharide Isomerate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Glycereth-25 PCA Isostearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Squalane, Inositol, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Phytate, Cyanocobalamin, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Gluconolactone, Niacinamide, Hyaluronic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Phytic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Tocopherol, Salicylic Acid, Ceramide NP, Betaine, Tromethamine
Ingredient list read from jolse.com on 10 September 2026.
47 of 48 explained
- Aqua/Water solvent
- Water is the base almost every serum, toner and cream is built on. It dissolves the water-loving ingredients and sets how light the finished texture feels. On an INCI list it is usually first, which only means it is the largest single ingredient by weight.
- Dipropylene Glycol humectant
- Dipropylene Glycol is a glycol used as a solvent and a light humectant. Its main job is keeping the rest of the formula dissolved and the texture fluid rather than adding hydration of its own.
- Tripropylene Glycol solvent
- Tripropylene Glycol is a glycol used mainly as a solvent, keeping the rest of the formula dissolved and the texture fluid.
- Cellulose absorbent
- Cellulose is plant fibre. In a formula it thickens, absorbs oil and, in a sheet mask, is often the fabric itself.
- Propanediol humectant
- Propanediol is a plant-derived glycol used in place of propylene glycol. It hydrates, carries actives into solution, and gives a lighter, less sticky slip than glycerin at the same strength.
- Glycerin humectant
- Glycerin is the most used humectant in skincare. It draws water into the outer layer of skin and holds it there, and it is one of the very few ingredients whose hydrating effect is settled science rather than marketing. Higher amounts feel tacky, which is why it is usually blended.
- Carbomer thickener
- Carbomer is a synthetic polymer that only gels once a base neutralises it, which is why arginine or tromethamine sits nearby on the list. It gives the clear, non-stringy gel texture a xanthan formula cannot reach.
- Steartrimonium Methosulfate surfactant
- A positively charged conditioning agent for hair. Despite the name the methosulfate part is not a cleansing sulfate and does not foam.
- Oryza Sativa (Rice) Seed Water plant extract
- Rice water, the liquid from steeping or washing the grain, and the oldest ingredient in the Korean rice tradition. It stands in for part of the plain water in a formula.
- Isopropyl Alcohol solvent
- Isopropyl Alcohol is rubbing alcohol. It dissolves ingredients water cannot, evaporates quickly, and in quantity can leave skin feeling tight.
- Saccharide Isomerate humectant
- A plant-sugar complex whose structure resembles the sugars already bound to the skin surface, so it stays through washing. It is used as a long-acting humectant.
- Hydroxyacetophenone preservative booster
- Hydroxyacetophenone is an antioxidant that also strengthens a preservative system, so a formula needs less traditional preservative. Korean formulas pair it with 1,2-hexanediol constantly.
35 more explained
- Glycereth-25 PCA Isostearate emollient
- Glycereth-25 PCA Isostearate is a water-dispersible emollient that softens skin and helps oils and water stay mixed. It reads as light rather than rich on the skin.
- 1,2-Hexanediol humectant
- 1,2-Hexanediol is a glycol used for two reasons: it holds water like glycerin, and it makes a formula harder for microbes to live in, so less traditional preservative is needed. Korean formulas use it heavily for that second reason.
- Caprylyl Glycol preservative booster
- Caprylyl Glycol is a glycol that conditions skin and, more importantly, strengthens a preservative system so less of the traditional preservative is needed. It appears in most modern formulas built without parabens.
- Cetyl Ethylhexanoate emollient
- Cetyl Ethylhexanoate is a synthetic ester used as a dry-feeling emollient. It spreads easily, leaves a silky rather than oily finish, and helps disperse pigments and UV filters evenly.
- Ethylhexyl Palmitate emollient
- Ethylhexyl Palmitate is a palm-derived ester used as a light emollient and a solvent for pigment. It gives a smooth, non-greasy slip.
- Squalane emollient
- Squalane is the stable, saturated version of squalene, a lipid human skin already makes. It is a light emollient that absorbs quickly, does not oxidise, and is one of the few oils widely considered safe for blemish-prone skin. Most cosmetic squalane is now from sugarcane or olive rather than shark.
- Inositol humectant
- Inositol is a sugar-like compound found in the body. In skincare it is a humectant that also helps a formula feel conditioning rather than merely wet.
- Butylene Glycol humectant
- Butylene Glycol is a small glycol that does two jobs at once: it holds water in the top layer of skin and it dissolves plant extracts and actives that plain water cannot. It also thins a formula, which is why watery Korean essences lean on it.
- Hydrogenated Lecithin emulsifier
- Hydrogenated Lecithin is lecithin with its unsaturated bonds filled in, which makes it far more stable. It emulsifies and is the standard shell for the liposomes that carry actives into the outer layer of skin.
- Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters emollient
- Jojoba Esters are jojoba wax rebuilt into a softer, meltable form. They condition skin and give body to balms without the heaviness of a butter.
- Ethylhexylglycerin preservative booster
- Ethylhexylglycerin softens skin and boosts a preservative system, which is why it is nearly always sitting beside phenoxyethanol or 1,2-hexanediol. It also cuts down the odour bacteria produce, so it turns up in deodorising products.
- Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride emollient
- Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride is the light fraction of coconut oil, with the heavy parts removed. It is the workhorse emollient of modern formulas: it softens skin, dissolves oil-soluble actives and absorbs without the greasy weight of a whole plant oil.
- Sodium Hyaluronate humectant
- Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt of hyaluronic acid, and it is what most products labelled hyaluronic actually contain. The salt dissolves more readily and the molecule is smaller, so it sits in the outer layer of skin rather than only on top of it.
- Sodium Phytate chelator
- Sodium Phytate is a rice-derived chelator used in place of EDTA. It ties up trace metals so the formula stays stable and its colour and scent hold.
- Cyanocobalamin vitamin
- Cyanocobalamin is vitamin B12, and it is a deep pink-red, which is why a formula carrying it often has a colour nobody added on purpose. It is used as a conditioning vitamin.
- Coptis Japonica Root Extract plant extract
- Coptis Japonica is a traditional East Asian medicinal root, bright yellow from its berberine content. In skincare its extract is used for the look of congested, oily skin.
- Citric Acid pH adjuster
- Citric Acid is used in tiny amounts to bring a formula to the pH its actives need, not as an exfoliant at that level. It is an AHA, so at much higher concentrations it can also exfoliate.
- Sodium Citrate pH adjuster
- Sodium Citrate is the salt of citric acid, used as a buffer: it holds a formula at a steady pH rather than pushing it in one direction. It is also a mild chelator.
- Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate humectant
- Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate carries a positive charge, and skin carries a slight negative one, so it is attracted to the surface and stays through rinsing. It is the hyaluronic used where a formula gets washed off.
- Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate active
- Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate is a water-soluble salt derived from licorice root. It is the licorice fraction Korean formulas use for the look of redness, and it is far more stable in water than the whole extract.
- Oryza Sativa (Rice) Extract plant extract
- Rice Extract is the anchor of the Korean rice-skincare category. It carries starches, amino acids and ferulic acid, and it is used for the look of dullness and for a soft, blurred finish.
- Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid humectant
- Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid is hyaluronic acid cut into much shorter fragments. The smaller the fragment, the further into the outer layer it can settle, which is why serums stack several sizes together instead of using one.
- Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate humectant
- Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid modified to be part oil-loving, so it clings to skin instead of rinsing away. Formulators call it the one that stays put.
- Panthenol humectant
- Panthenol is pro-vitamin B5: skin converts it to pantothenic acid. It is a humectant that holds water and leaves skin feeling soft and less tight, and it is one of the ingredients formulators reach for when a formula also contains something harsh.
- Gluconolactone exfoliant
- Gluconolactone is a PHA, the gentlest exfoliant class. Its molecule is too large to penetrate quickly, so it smooths the surface without the sting of an AHA, and it is a humectant at the same time.
- Niacinamide active
- Niacinamide is vitamin B3, and it is the most studied active in Korean formulation. It is used at roughly 2 to 5 percent for the look of uneven tone and visible pores, and it is water soluble, stable and comfortable beside almost every other active, which is why it turns up in so many lists.
- Hyaluronic Acid humectant
- Hyaluronic Acid is a sugar chain the body already makes, and one gram of it can hold several litres of water. In a formula it is a humectant that pulls water to the surface of skin and holds it in a film, which is what makes skin look plumper while it is there.
- Glycolic Acid exfoliant
- Glycolic Acid is the smallest AHA, which is why it is also the most penetrating and the most likely to sting. It loosens the bonds between dead surface cells and is used for the look of dullness and rough texture.
- Phytic Acid chelator
- Phytic Acid comes from rice bran and other seed husks. It binds metal ions, which keeps a formula stable, and it is also used as a very mild exfoliant.
- Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer humectant
- Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer is hyaluronic acid linked into a mesh. It holds water in a soft gel on the surface rather than sinking in, and it releases that water slowly through the day.
- Tocopherol antioxidant
- Tocopherol is vitamin E. It is an oil-soluble antioxidant that protects the oils in a formula from going rancid and works on skin as an emollient, and it is regularly paired with vitamin C because each keeps the other going for longer.
- Salicylic Acid exfoliant
- Salicylic Acid is a BHA, and the only common exfoliant that is oil soluble, so it can work inside a pore rather than only on the surface. It loosens the dead cells that block pores and is used for the look of congested, oily skin.
- Ceramide NP barrier lipid
- Ceramide NP is the most used cosmetic ceramide, the same class of lipid that makes up roughly half the mortar between cells in the outer layer of skin. Added to a cream it slots into that structure, which is why ceramide formulas feel less leaky rather than merely greasy.
- Betaine humectant
- Betaine is a sugar-beet-derived humectant that cells use to hold water. In a formula it hydrates and takes the edge off cleansers and acids, which is why it often appears alongside them.
- Tromethamine pH adjuster
- Tromethamine neutralises acidic thickeners such as carbomer so they gel, and holds a formula near skin-friendly pH. It is used at a fraction of a percent.
- Market
- Korean market, the version sold in Korea
- EAN (barcode)
- 8800311121775
- Made in
- Republic of Korea
- Volume
- 80 ml
- Category
- Serum & Ampoule
- Actives
- Ceramide NP, Glycolic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Licorice Root, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Rice Extract, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Squalane
- Ships from
- California or Korea
Orders ship from California or direct from Korea with tracked delivery to your door, and both routes carry the same Korean-market release. Shipping is free on orders of $100 or more. Returns are accepted for 30 days, by mail.
We split shipments free, so one out-of-stock item never holds up the rest of your order.
Where this unit came from
- 1Seoul
Bought as Korean-market stock - 2Barcode
Listed against the Korean barcode on its box - 3California or Korea
Ships to you from either, as the same Korean-market release
We stock the version of a formula that is sold in Korea, not the release a brand prepares for another market under the same name. The barcode in the specification above is the Korean-market one and it is printed on the box you receive.
Every unit keeps its original barcode and batch code intact, so the unit in your hands can be checked against the brand’s own records.
Every order ships from California or direct from Korea, and returns run for 30 days.
Every claim on this page traces to the unit in the box, the barcode, the batch code and the price you can read for yourself.
How to use
- Start at two nights a week and build up only if the skin stays comfortable afterwards.
- Apply a thin layer over the face on clean skin, then a second pass on the nose and chin.
- Follow with a moisturizer the same night, since a leave-on exfoliating step always wants sealing.
- Do not use it on the same night as another exfoliating product, and never on skin that is already stinging.
Worth knowing
- Build up from two nights a week, since a leave-on exfoliant works for hours rather than minutes.
- Wear sunscreen every morning while you are using it, because fresher surface skin is more light sensitive.
- Stop for a week if the face looks shiny and tight rather than smooth, which is what over exfoliating looks like.
Complete the routine
- This itemCOSRX Red Rice Inositol Exfoliating Care Pore Peel Serum 80ml$40.00
- Seal the routine in as the last stepCOSRX Skin Barrier Moisturizing Cream 450ml$42.50
- An as-needed step, in place of the prep layerCosrx 5 PDRN Hyaluronic Acid Vital Hydrating Hydrogel Mask$4.70
Total for 3 items$87.20
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COSRX Red Rice Inositol Exfoliating Care Pore Peel Serum 80ml
How it felt, how your skin took it, what you layer it with. Straight answers help the next person choose.
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COSRX, Korean-market original
A leave-on exfoliating serum in a generous 80ml bottle, stocked in the Original Korean Formula.
Verify your unit when it arrives
Verify your unit when it arrives
Korean-market stock with the original barcode and batch code intact, exactly as it left Korea.
COSRX verifies units itself. Find the verification page on cosrx.com and enter the batch number and expiration date printed on your unit. Read them off the package rather than from us, which is the point.
Source: COSRX FAQ
On the unit itself
- The Korean-market barcode, unaltered from the retail package.
- The manufacturer’s batch code, exactly as the maker printed it.
정품Genuine article, Korean-market stock
What professionals say
What professionals say
What skin-care professionals say about skin care, quoted from the medical sources linked beside each.
Your skin barrier is basically your outer layer of the skin.
Melissa Piliang, MDDermatologist, Cleveland Clinic Pretty much every step of a Korean skin care routine is going to have some component of hydration.
Alok Vij, MDDermatologist, Cleveland Clinic
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