COSRX
The Retinol 0.5 Oil
A retinol oil on a squalane base, used in the evening only as the last step, on skin already used to a retinol.
No reviews yet- Ships from our California warehouse
- Duties prepaid
- Suited to
- MatureFine linesSensitiveCompromised barrier
- Helps with
- Fine lines and loss of bounceBarrier weaknessDehydrationEarly environmental damage
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- 30-day returns
- Free US shipping on orders of $100 or more
- Dispatched within 2 business days
Key benefits
- Retinol, the active this cream is built around
- BHT, Tocotrienols, Tocopherol and Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone on the same list, antioxidants
- Squalane and Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil further down the same list
- Di-C12-13 Alkyl Malate and Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Oil further down the same list
- Retinol named fourth on the manufacturer list printed on this page
Key actives
Retinolactive
Retinol is the alcohol form of vitamin A and the strongest retinoid available without a prescription. Skin converts it in two steps to retinoic acid, and it is used at night, at low percentages, for the look of fine lines and rough texture. The name on the box points at it, and it is named fourth on this cream's own ingredient list.
BHTantioxidant
BHT is a synthetic antioxidant used in traces to stop the oils in a formula going rancid. It protects the product, not the skin. It is named sixth on this cream's list, alongside Retinol.
Tocotrienolsantioxidant
Tocotrienols are the other half of the vitamin E family, usually from rice or palm. They are oil-soluble antioxidants used alongside tocopherol. It is named seventh on this cream's list, alongside Retinol.
Tocopherolantioxidant
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. It is named eighth on this cream's list, alongside Retinol.
Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanoneantioxidant
A synthetic molecule built on the same phenol shape as vanillin, with a long chain added so it stays in the oil phase. It is used as an antioxidant. The panel names it tenth on this cream's list, beside Retinol.
COSRX The Retinol 0.5 Oil
Where does this cream go in my routine?
As the last skincare step, morning and evening, over serum. Anything thinner than a cream goes on before it, and anything richer goes on after. If you are adding it to a routine you already like, give it a week on its own first, so what you see is the Retinol and not three changes at once.
What else is on the list besides Retinol?
BHT, Tocotrienols and Tocopherol. The order they are printed in on this cream's panel is the order on the box, so you can see where Retinol sits relative to them. Further down the same panel: Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone, Squalane and Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil.
- Ships from
- California
Duties are prepaid. Nothing is owed at delivery. Returns are accepted for 30 days, by mail.
Orders ship from our California warehouse, dispatched within 2 business days, and arrive in 3 to 5 days. Shipping is free on orders of $100 or more.
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 - 2Customs
Duty paid by us before it enters the US - 3California
Ships domestically, no international leg
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.
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.
Import duties are paid by us before the parcel reaches you, so nothing is owed at the door, 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.
Payment and security
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How it works
The Retinol 0.5 Oil is a cream, used as the last skincare step, morning and evening, over serum. The active it is built around is Retinol, named fourth on its own ingredient list. The same list carries BHT, Tocotrienols and Tocopherol, so the active is not the only thing on it worth naming. How much of the Retinol stays on the skin, and for how long, is decided by the cream format rather than by the list alone. COSRX sells this Retinol cream in Korea, and this is that version.
How to use
- Use the Retinol 0.5 Oil in the evening only, as the last step, over your moisturizer.
- Two or three drops warmed between the fingertips and pressed over the face, avoiding the eye area.
- Moisturizer goes on first, the oil seals it, and nothing goes on after it.
- One or two evenings a week to start. Do not use it in the morning or on the same night as an exfoliating acid.
Reviews
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Write Reviews (opens in a new tab)COSRX, Korean-market original
The Original Korean Formula cream from COSRX, formulated with Retinol and BHT, held in the United States and shipped domestically.
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 the key actives in this formula, quoted from the medical sources linked beside each.
Vitamin A has a molecular structure that's tiny enough to get into the lower layers of your skin, where it finds and boosts collagen and elastin, which is a protein that strengthens your skin's flexibility.
Wilma Bergfeld, MDDermatologist, Cleveland Clinic People with dry, flaky skin are more likely to see a benefit from using vitamin E because it enhances moisturization.
Amy Kassouf, MDDermatologist, Cleveland Clinic
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