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PDRN Pink Collagen Capsule Cream$19.99Pure Retinol 0.15% Cream
A retinol cream from Dr. Althea's Korean-market lineup. Retinol sits at position 19 of 40 on the brand's own ingredient list, a retinoid driving this formula's renewal work; Panthenol follows at position 10, a barrier-support humectant that also settles visible irritation. 20g to a unit.
No reviews yet$19.99
20g
$10.00 per 10 g
- Korean-market formula
- Ships from California or direct from Korea
- Korean barcode and batch code intact
- Suited to
- Dry skinCompromised barrierDehydrated skinSkin that has lost bounce
- Helps with
- Shoppers looking for Retinol in a creamRoutines that want Retinol and Bakuchiol in one stepFilling the cream step with a Korean-market formulaAnyone who wants the Retinol cream sold on Korean shelves
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$19.99
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$16.46
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How it works
The Pure Retinol 0.15% Cream is a 20g cream, used as the last skincare step, morning and evening, over serum. The active it is built around is Retinol, named eighteenth on its own ingredient list. The same list carries Bakuchiol, Allantoin and Madecassoside, 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. This is the Original Korean Formula, the cream Dr.Althea sells in Korea, Retinol and all.
Key benefits
- Retinol, the active this cream is built around
- Bakuchiol, Allantoin, Madecassoside and Kojic Acid on the same list, actives
- Sodium DNA and Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 further down the same list
- Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate and Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl p-Cresol further down the same list
- Retinol named eighteenth on the manufacturer list printed on this page
- The Korean-market release of this cream, confirmed against its Korean barcode
Inside the formula
Inside the formula
39
Ingredients declared
No fragrance
on the list
Dr. Althea Pure Retinol 0.15% Cream
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.
Is this the Korean-market cream or a US version?
The Korean-market one, Retinol and all. We match this cream to its Korean barcode before it reaches the shelf, which is the check that tells you which market release you are holding.
What else is on the list besides Retinol?
Bakuchiol, Allantoin and Madecassoside. 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: Kojic Acid, Sodium DNA and Acetyl Hexapeptide-8.
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 (39): Water, Centella Asiatica Leaf Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Betaine, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Polyacrylamide, Hydroxyacetophenone, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Retinol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tromethamine, Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl p-Cresol, Bakuchiol, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, HDI/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Laureth-7, Xanthan Gum, Cholesterol, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Sodium Phytate, Methylpropanediol, Tocopherol, Allantoin, Caprylyl Glycol, Ceramide NP, Phenylpropanol, Madecassoside, Kojic Acid, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Sodium DNA
39 of 39 explained
- 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.
- Centella Asiatica Leaf Water plant extract
- Centella Asiatica Leaf Water is the distilled water of the centella leaf, used in place of plain water as a formula base. It is far more dilute than the extract, so it sets the base rather than supplying the actives.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Hydrogenated Polydecene emollient
- Hydrogenated Polydecene is a synthetic hydrocarbon emollient used in place of mineral oil. It is stable, has no scent, and gives a cushioned slip without oxidising.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer thickener
- This is a synthetic thickener that gels quickly and holds an emulsion stable across a wide pH range. It gives a light, non-tacky body.
- Polyacrylamide film former
- A polymer used to thicken and to hold an emulsion together. It leaves a light film that helps a formula stay put.
27 more explained
- 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.
- C13-14 Isoparaffin emollient
- A light branched hydrocarbon, usually part of the thickener system in a lotion. It gives a smooth, quick-spreading feel.
- Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer thickener
- This is a carbomer relative with fatty side chains, so it thickens and stabilises an emulsion at the same time. It gives a light gel-cream body rather than a heavy one.
- Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate antioxidant
- This is a stabiliser that keeps the oils and fragrance in a formula from oxidising. Its job is the shelf life of the product rather than any effect on skin.
- 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.
- Retinol active
- 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. It can leave skin flaking while it acclimatises.
- 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.
- 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.
- Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl p-Cresol antioxidant
- A light stabiliser. Its job is to keep the formula itself from degrading in light, so it is a product-stability ingredient rather than one aimed at skin.
- Bakuchiol active
- Bakuchiol is a compound from the babchi seed, used as a plant-derived alternative to retinol. It is oil soluble, stable in daylight and does not carry retinol's acclimatisation period, which is why sensitive-skin formulas choose it.
- Glyceryl Polymethacrylate film former
- Glyceryl Polymethacrylate is a polymer that forms a smooth, water-holding film and gives a formula a cushioned, non-sticky feel.
- HDI/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer absorbent
- A spherical polymer powder. The spheres roll under the fingers, absorb a little oil and scatter light, which softens the look of pores and fine lines.
- Laureth-7 emulsifier
- Laureth-7 is a mild emulsifier and wetting agent. It helps oils and water mix and improves how evenly a formula spreads.
- Xanthan Gum thickener
- Xanthan Gum is a polysaccharide made by fermenting sugar. It thickens a watery formula into a gel and holds the whole thing in suspension so nothing separates. Too much of it and a serum turns stringy, which is why it appears in fractions of a percent.
- Cholesterol barrier lipid
- Cholesterol is the third of the three lipids the outer layer of skin is built from, with ceramides and fatty acids. Formulas that carry all three are following the ratio skin itself holds.
- Polyvinyl Alcohol film former
- Polyvinyl Alcohol is the polymer behind peel-off masks: it dries into a continuous film that lifts away in one piece.
- 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.
- Methylpropanediol humectant
- Methylpropanediol is a small glycol used to hydrate and to help water-soluble actives penetrate the outer layer of skin more evenly. It leaves almost no tack, which suits watery textures.
- 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.
- Allantoin active
- Allantoin is a comfrey-derived compound used to condition skin and soften the outer layer so it feels smoother. It is one of the standard additions to a formula built for easily irritated skin.
- 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.
- 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.
- Phenylpropanol solvent
- Phenylpropanol is an aromatic alcohol with a faint hyacinth smell. It works as a solvent and strengthens a preservative system, so it appears in formulas built without parabens.
- Madecassoside active
- Madecassoside is the centella triterpene most associated with the look of redness, and the one brands lead with in cica products. It is water soluble and stable, so it appears in essences as readily as in creams.
- Kojic Acid active
- Kojic Acid comes from the fermentation of rice by Aspergillus, the mould used to make sake. It is used in formulas addressed to the look of uneven tone, and it darkens in air.
- Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 peptide
- Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 is a six-amino-acid peptide used for the look of expression lines, particularly around the eyes. It is the peptide sold under the name Argireline and is water soluble and stable.
- Sodium DNA active
- Sodium DNA is the salt of DNA, in Korean skincare almost always salmon derived, and it is the ingredient behind the PDRN category. It is used as a humectant and for the look of tired skin; the fragments themselves are what the name PDRN refers to.
- Market
- Korean market, the version sold in Korea
- EAN (barcode)
- 8809447257068
- Made in
- Republic of Korea
- Volume
- 20g
- Category
- Moisturizer / Retinol treatment cream
- Actives
- Allantoin, Bakuchiol, Centella Asiatica, Ceramide NP, Madecassoside, Panthenol, PDRN (Sodium DNA), Peptides, Retinol
- Ships from
- California or Korea
LightTextureRich
MatteFinishDewy
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
- Use the Pure Retinol 0.15% Cream as the last skincare step, in the evening, over serum.
- A pea for the face and another for the neck. Warm it between fingertips first so it spreads in one pass.
- It closes the routine at night, and in the morning it is the layer sunscreen goes over. Retinol is the entry that puts this step in the evening rather than the morning.
- Start at two or three evenings a week and build up from there, because retinol is on this list. Do not use it in the same routine as another retinoid or a resurfacing acid.
Worth knowing
- Patch test this cream on a small area and wait a day before using it more widely, especially with Retinol on the list.
- Retinol is on this list, so keep this cream to the evening and build the nights up slowly rather than starting nightly.
Reviews
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Dr. Althea Pure Retinol 0.15% Cream
How it felt, how your skin took it, what you layer it with. Straight answers help the next person choose.
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
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A blunt first take on the Dr. Althea range.
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A first look at the viral 345 Relief Cream before buying.
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A first try of the Dr. Althea serum on camera.
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Dr.Althea, Korean-market original
The Original Korean Formula cream from Dr.Althea, 20g formulated with Retinol and Bakuchiol, shipped from California or direct from Korea.
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.
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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