COSRX The Retinol 0.5 Oil 20ml
A 20ml retinoid oil for the look of fine lines and rough texture, for anyone ready to build up a night only step slowly.
No reviews yet- Ships from our California warehouse
- Duties prepaid
- Suited to
- Normal skinDry skinCombination skin
- Helps with
- The look of fine linesRough looking textureAn evening only routine
In stock. Ships from our California warehouse, dispatched within 2 business days
You’re $100.00 away from free US shipping.
- Duties prepaid
- 30-day returns
- Free US shipping on orders of $100 or more
- Dispatched within 2 business days
How it works
Delivering a retinoid in an oil rather than a water based cream is a deliberate choice, because the oil base softens how the first few weeks feel for most people. It is a night only step, and the reason is straightforward: retinoids are broken down by light and the routine that goes with them assumes sunscreen the next morning. The build up matters more than the strength, which is why two nights a week for a fortnight beats going nightly and stopping after five days. That is the difference from a gentler alternative serum, which can be used twice daily from the start but works more slowly. What you can judge is whether fine texture reads softer in the same light after two or three months.
Key benefits
- On this formula's own list, Squalane shows up near the top. It is a lightweight, non-comedogenic emollient that mimics skin's own lipids.
- This one's ingredient list carries Retinol near the top, a retinoid used at night to support skin's natural renewal cycle.
- Tocopherol sits near the top on this product's own ingredient list, vitamin E, an antioxidant that also helps stabilise the rest of the formula.
Key actives
Retinol
The reason the bottle exists, carried in an oil base rather than a water based cream so the first few weeks are easier to get through.
Squalane
A light emollient high on this list, and the part that makes the oil sink in rather than sitting on the surface all night.
Tocopherol
An antioxidant on this list, a standard partner in oil based formulas where it also helps keep the oil phase stable in the bottle.
Butyrospermum
The shea butter on this list, giving the oil enough body that a small dose spreads across the face without running.
Panthenol
A comfort humectant on this list, included so the first weeks of a retinoid routine feel less tight than they otherwise would.
How do I start with a retinoid?
Slowly. Two nights a week for a fortnight, then three, and only go higher if there is no flaking or stinging. Put a moisturizer over the top for the first month. Most people who abandon retinoids went nightly from day one and gave up within a week.
Where does it go in my routine?
At night, after your serum and before or under your moisturizer. Never in the morning, since light breaks a retinoid down and the daytime routine is where sunscreen belongs instead. Keep the rest of that evening simple, with no exfoliating step in the same sitting.
Why an oil rather than a cream?
The oil base softens how the first few weeks feel, which is the part that decides whether people keep going. It also means you can control the dose by drops. If you prefer a cream texture, a retinoid cream does the same job with a different feel and a slightly different build up.
Do I need sunscreen with it?
Yes, every single morning. A retinoid routine assumes that last layer is going on, and freshly turned over surface skin is more sensitive to light. If daily sunscreen is not something you will commit to, choose a gentler alternative serum rather than starting a retinoid at all.
Is this the Korean-market formula?
Yes. This is the Original Korean Formula 20ml bottle, the same one sold on Korean shelves. A charge on arrival.
- 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
We accept
How to use
- Start at two nights a week and add a night only after a fortnight with no flaking or stinging.
- Apply two or three drops at night after your serum, pressing it over the face and avoiding the eye area.
- Follow with a moisturizer over the top, since a cream on top makes the first weeks considerably easier.
- Do not use it on the same night as an exfoliating product, and never in the morning, since light breaks a retinoid down.
Worth knowing
- Wear sunscreen every morning while using it, since a retinoid routine assumes that last layer is going on.
- Build up slowly from two nights a week rather than starting nightly, which is where most people give up.
- Stop for a week if the skin starts flaking or stinging, then restart at a lower frequency.
Reviews
No reviews yet. Tell us how much you love the product!
Write Reviews (opens in a new tab)We’re on gram!
Creators trying on authentic Korean skincare routines and products from us.
Rating a shelf of Dr. Althea products one by one.
Jasmine Loo · YouTube
Two hydrating serums side by side, IUNIK and Dr. Althea.
Kristin · YouTube
A walk through the Dr. Althea serum lineup and who each one suits.
auraofmahmuda · YouTube
A blunt first take on the Dr. Althea range.
Lexi Chang · YouTube
A first look at the viral 345 Relief Cream before buying.
Shelley Nayak · YouTube
A first try of the Dr. Althea serum on camera.
Hannah Ziad · YouTube
Korean-market original
A 20ml retinoid facial oil used at night, 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.
Match the batch code on the box against the code printed on the bottle or tube itself; the two are stamped separately and should agree.
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 Squalane comes from a lipid that occurs naturally in your skin.
Alok Vij, MDDermatologist, Cleveland Clinic
1 more professional perspective
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
Ask an AI assistant about this product
Ask an AI assistant about this product
Opens ChatGPT, Perplexity or Claude in a new tab with the question prefilled. Claude asks you to sign in first.