Retinol Boosting Serum
Medicube Retinol Boosting Serum is a serum led by Retinol on its own ingredient panel, sourced as the Korean-market formula.
No reviews yet30 ml
$54.87 per 100 ml
- Korean-market formula
- Ships from California or direct from Korea
- Korean barcode and batch code intact
- Suited to
- normal skincombination skindry skin
- Helps with
- early fine lines and uneven texturegeneral day-to-day maintenance as part of a full routinea routine that wants a Korean-market step in this category
In stock. Arrives in 3 to 7 business days
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How it works
Retinol leads the ingredient panel on this serum. 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. On this panel it sits alongside Niacinamide, Cholesterol and Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate. 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.
Key benefits
- Retinol named on this product's own ingredient panel, near the top of it
- Niacinamide on the same panel, the formula's active
- Cholesterol on the same panel, the formula's barrier lipid
- 30 ml to a unit
- Korean GS1 barcode matched against a Korea sourcing supplier's record for this item
Inside the formula
Inside the formula
What does the Retinol Boosting Serum actually contain?
Its ingredient list is led by Niacinamide, with the rest of the formula built to support that active rather than compete with it. We list the ingredients in the order the manufacturer prints them, so the ones near the top of the panel are doing the most work in the formula.
How do I use the Retinol Boosting Serum?
Use this serum as the treatment step right after toner. To apply, smooth or press onto cleansed, toned skin and follow with moisturizer. Keep it to AM/PM unless the packaging states otherwise, and give the rest of the routine a moment to settle before layering the next step. Give it a full bottle or box before judging the result, since most Korean routines are built for steady use rather than a single application.
Is the Retinol Boosting Serum the same formula sold in Korea, or a US version?
This Retinol Boosting Serum is the Korean-market formula, not a version reformulated for US shelves. It arrives with its original Korean-market barcode and batch code intact so the formula can be checked against the box on arrival.
Can I use the Retinol Boosting Serum with other actives in my routine?
Yes, as long as it is used in its own step, the treatment step right after toner, and not layered on top of a product doing the same job. Introduce any new step gradually over the first week or two and keep an eye on how the skin responds before adding a second new active alongside it.
Who is the Retinol Boosting Serum suited for?
It suits most skin types looking for treatment step right after toner rather than a single acute problem. It comes in a 30ml format. Anyone with a known sensitivity to a specific ingredient should check the full ingredient panel on this page before buying.
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 (63): Water, Glycereth-26, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Retinol, Brassica Campestris (Rapeseed) Sterols, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cholesterol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Aluminum/Magnesium Hydroxide Stearate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Tris(Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol) Citrate, Glyceryl Citrate/Lactate/Linoleate/Oleate, Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Oil, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Retinal, Squalane, Polyquaternium-51, Tocopherol, Panthenol, Allantoin, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Dipropylene Glycol, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, Beta-Glucan, Ceramide NP, Propanediol, Eriobotrya Japonica Leaf Extract, Mentha Viridis (Spearmint) Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Pentylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Nicotinamide Mononucleotide, Akebia Quinata Extract, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Carnosine, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Yeast Beta-Glucan, Ferulic Acid, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbic Acid
Ingredient list read from incidecoder.com on 30 August 2026.
62 of 63 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.
- Glycereth-26 humectant
- Glycereth-26 is a modified glycerin that hydrates with far less stickiness than glycerin itself. It is a common way to load water into a formula that has to stay light.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil emollient
- Macadamia Seed Oil is unusually high in palmitoleic acid, a fatty acid that human sebum also contains, which is why it absorbs faster than most nut oils. It is a cushioning emollient for dry skin.
- 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.
- 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.
- Brassica Campestris (Rapeseed) Sterols emollient
- Phytosterols are plant sterols, structurally close to the cholesterol in skin's own lipid layer. They soften skin and help the oil phase of a formula hold together.
- 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.
- 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.
50 more explained
- Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate emulsifier
- Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate is a sugar-derived emulsifier and solubiliser, mild enough to be a standard choice in Korean essences. It dissolves small amounts of oil into water without any tightening feel.
- Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate barrier lipid
- An amino-acid-based lipid built on plant sterols. It structures the oil phase of a cream and echoes the lipid mix that already sits between skin cells.
- Aluminum/Magnesium Hydroxide Stearate dispersant
- A mineral soap used to suspend powders and thicken an oil phase, which is what stops pigment settling to the bottom of a bottle.
- 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.
- Potassium Cetyl Phosphate emulsifier
- Potassium Cetyl Phosphate is an emulsifier prized for keeping powdered ingredients evenly suspended, which is why tinted and mineral-powder textures use it.
- Tris(Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol) Citrate antioxidant
- A hindered-amine antioxidant used to keep a formula from breaking down in light and air. It works on the product rather than on skin.
- Glyceryl Citrate/Lactate/Linoleate/Oleate emulsifier
- A mixed glycerin ester used as a mild emulsifier in plant-based cream bases. It holds oil and water together and conditions at the same time.
- Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Oil emollient
- Palm Oil is a rich emollient high in palmitic and oleic acids. In skincare it is more often a source material for esters and emulsifiers than an ingredient on its own.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6 thickener
- Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6 is a thickener chosen for a notably fresh, bouncy gel feel that breaks down to water on the skin.
- Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate absorbent
- Modified starch treated with aluminium so it resists water. It absorbs oil and gives a silky, matte finish.
- Retinal active
- Retinal is retinaldehyde, a vitamin A derivative one chemical step closer to retinoic acid than retinol is. It is yellow-orange and unstable in light, so products carrying it are usually opaque.
- 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.
- Polyquaternium-51 film former
- Polyquaternium-51 is a polymer, sometimes sold as Lipidure, built on the same phosphorylcholine structure as a cell membrane. It holds water in a film on the surface and gives a distinctive soft, dry finish.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Adenosine active
- Adenosine is a nucleoside that Korea's own cosmetic authority recognises as a wrinkle-care functional ingredient, which is why it appears on so many Korean lists at a low level. It is used for the look of fine lines and is stable and well tolerated.
- Disodium EDTA chelator
- EDTA is a chelator: it locks up trace metal ions from water and packaging that would otherwise turn a formula cloudy, off-colour or rancid. It does nothing to skin and appears at a fraction of a percent.
- Bifida Ferment Lysate ferment
- Bifida Ferment Lysate is a bifidobacteria ferment with the cells broken open. It is the ingredient behind the first-essence category and is used for the look of tired, reactive skin.
- Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate ferment
- Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate is the ferment with the bacterial cells broken open, so their contents are in the formula too. It is a conditioning ferment used in barrier-focused products.
- Lactococcus Ferment Lysate ferment
- Lactococcus Ferment Lysate is a lactic-culture ferment with the bacterial cells broken open, so their contents are in the formula too. It is used as a conditioning ferment in barrier-focused products.
- 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.
- Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract plant extract
- Centella Asiatica is the plant behind the whole cica category, sold as gotu kola or Madagascar centella. Its extract is the anchor of Korean formulas built for easily reddened skin, and its work is done by four triterpenes: asiaticoside, madecassoside, asiatic acid and madecassic acid.
- Asiaticoside active
- Asiaticoside is one of the four active triterpenes isolated from centella and the most studied of them. Korean formulas name it separately when they want to show which fraction of the plant they standardised.
- Asiatic Acid active
- Asiatic Acid is the third of centella's four triterpenes and the aglycone form, meaning it has no attached sugar. It is oil soluble, so it turns up in cica creams and balms more than in watery layers.
- Madecassic Acid active
- Madecassic Acid is the fourth centella triterpene. A list that names all four is telling you the extract was standardised rather than simply pressed, which is the difference between a cica claim and a cica formula.
- Beta-Glucan polysaccharide
- Beta-Glucan is a polysaccharide from oats or yeast. It holds a large amount of water, forms a soothing film, and is one of the ingredients formulators reach for in products aimed at reactive 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.
- 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.
- Eriobotrya Japonica Leaf Extract plant extract
- Eriobotrya Japonica is loquat. Its leaf extract carries triterpenes and is used as a conditioning antioxidant extract.
- Mentha Viridis (Spearmint) Extract plant extract
- Spearmint Extract carries aromatic plant compounds and gives a faint cooling sensation. It also scents a formula.
- 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.
- Pentylene Glycol humectant
- Pentylene Glycol hydrates and, like the other longer-chain glycols, makes a formula less hospitable to microbes so the preservative system can be lighter. It also improves how evenly a product spreads.
- 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.
- Nicotinamide Mononucleotide active
- Nicotinamide Mononucleotide is a nucleotide built from vitamin B3 and a sugar phosphate. Korean formulas use it as a conditioning active, usually alongside niacinamide itself.
- Akebia Quinata Extract plant extract
- Chocolate vine extract, from a climbing vine native to Korean woodland. It carries saponins and is used as a conditioning plant extract.
- Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside surfactant
- Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside is a sugar-derived cleansing surfactant. It foams modestly and is mild enough for low-pH cleansers built for reactive skin.
- Camellia Japonica Flower Extract plant extract
- Camellia Japonica Flower Extract comes from the flower of the Korean camellia. It is used as a conditioning, hydrating extract.
- Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate emulsifier
- Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate is a mild sugar-derived emulsifier and solubiliser used where a formula must stay clear.
- 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.
- Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5 peptide
- Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5 is a four-amino-acid peptide used in eye products for the look of puffiness and crepiness.
- Carnosine antioxidant
- Carnosine is a small peptide of two amino acids that acts as an antioxidant, particularly against the sugar-driven damage formulators call glycation. It is used for the look of dull, sallow skin.
- Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 peptide
- Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 is a four-amino-acid peptide with a fatty tail, used for the look of fine lines. With palmitoyl tripeptide-1 it forms the pairing sold as Matrixyl 3000.
- Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5 peptide
- Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5 is a fatted three-amino-acid peptide used for the look of firmness and fine lines. The palmitoyl tail is what lets it cross an oily surface.
- Ferulic Acid antioxidant
- Ferulic Acid is a plant antioxidant from bran and seeds. Its main formulation job is stabilising vitamins C and E so a serum keeps working for longer, which is why the three appear together so often.
- 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid antioxidant
- 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid is a stable vitamin C derivative that skin converts to ascorbic acid. It survives in a formula far better than pure vitamin C and works at a gentler pH, so it suits skin that finds the pure acid uncomfortable.
- Ascorbic Acid antioxidant
- Ascorbic Acid is pure vitamin C, the most researched form and also the least stable: it needs a low pH and airtight packaging to stay active. It is an antioxidant used for the look of dullness and uneven tone.
- Market
- Korean market, the version sold in Korea
- EAN (barcode)
- 8800289479090
- Made in
- Republic of Korea
- Volume
- 30 ml
- Category
- Serum & Ampoule
- Actives
- Adenosine, Allantoin, Beta-Glucan, Centella Asiatica, Ceramide NP, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Peptides, Retinol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Squalane, Vitamin C
- 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
- Cleanse and tone, then make sure skin is fully dry.
- Dispense a small amount and press evenly over the face at night, avoiding the eye area.
- Follow with a moisturizer rather than skipping that final step.
- Use sunscreen the next morning without exception, not only when skin looks irritated.
Worth knowing
- Introduce it two to three nights a week at first and watch how the skin responds before moving to nightly use.
- Pair it with a daily sunscreen step, since brightening and exfoliating actives can make skin more reactive to sun exposure.
Complete the routine
- This itemMedicube Retinol Boosting Serum$16.46

- Prep after cleansing, before the treatment stepmedicube Triple Collagen Toner 4.0 140ml$31.00

- Seal the routine in as the last stepmedicube Zero Pore Cream 2.0 50ml$30.00

Total for 3 items$77.46
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Medicube Retinol Boosting Serum
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Medicube, Korean-market original
Medicube's Korean-market serum led by Niacinamide, the same formula sold in 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.
Medicube prints a QR code on the inner box. Scan it with your phone camera and it resolves to the brand’s own verification site.
Verify on medicubeverify.com →Source: Medicube packaging and verification site
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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