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COSRX

COSRX The Retinol 0.5 Oil

Ingredient analysis and how the ad lines read

Read on 2026-09-19

What is this product?

COSRX The Retinol 0.5 Oil is a 20 ml anhydrous retinol oil. Its Korean statutory ingredient list prints retinol at 0.5 percent in position 4 of 10 entries, set in squalane, soybean oil and a light ester with caprylic/capric triglyceride, BHT, tocotrienols and tocopherol. No water, no fragrance entry, no essential oil. The statutory cell says it is not a filed functional cosmetic, although a badge in the brand's detail imagery says wrinkle improvement functional product. The irritation test reports pictured on its page name the brand's 0.1 cream rather than this oil. The brand's usage guide is evening only: two to three evenings a week for two weeks, then every other evening.

What makes it different?

A disclosed 0.5 percent retinol in a short, anhydrous oil base, which is simple and legible on the label. The brand's own usage guide caps it at every other evening. Several of the page's supporting badges and tests belong to other products or categories, including irritation tests run on the brand's 0.1 cream.

What is in it?

The full ingredient list as the brand publishes it, in the printed order. Each name links to what we know about that ingredient.

This brand publishes its ingredient list in Korean only. Names below are the matching INCI names from the Korean Cosmetic Association ingredient dictionary, except 2 with no dictionary entry, left in Korean.

Key ingredient

Ingredients with no mark are ones we found nothing notable about, and when marks overlap on one ingredient we show the caution first.

We could not place these in the list above: 돌콩오일, 오일팜오일, 다이-C12-13알킬말레이트, 레티놀

Did the ad claims hold up?

We checked 53 lines this product advertises against the ingredient list and public documents. 8 of them look likely, though none are proven outright.

Claims translated from Korean, originals preserved.

likely, not proven8

  • Powerful skin slow-aging effect in a single drop
    Korean original

    한 방울에 담긴 강력한 피부 슬로우에이징 효과

  • Lightly absorbs for a shimmering silky oil formula
    Korean original

    가볍게 스며들어 반짝이는 실키 오일 포뮬러

  • + Firmness & Smooth + Improve radiance
  • Retinol #PoreCare Normalizes slowed cell turnover and makes skin smooth!
    Korean original

    레티놀 #모공케어 느려진 턴오버 주기를 정상화하고 피부를 매끄럽게!

  • An oil formula with a light feel
    Korean original

    산뜻함이 느껴지는 오일 제형

  • A watery formula that spreads instantly on contact for a dewy feel!
    Korean original

    워터리한 제형으로 피부에 닿는 순간 퍼지는 촉촉함!

  • Fast absorption and a light finish make next-step care easy.
    Korean original

    빠른 흡수력과 산뜻한 마무리감으로 다음 단계 케어가 쉬워요.

  • Perfect-match synergistic ingredients deliver smooth glow and hydration
    Korean original

    찰떡궁합 시너지 성분으로 매끄러운 윤광과 보습까지

partly backed18

  • Super Vitamin E + Squalane
  • Skin aging index improvement, pore improvement
    Korean original

    피부 노화지수 개선, 모공 개선

  • Lifting care
    Korean original

    리프팅 케어

  • Inner elasticity and outer elasticity care
    Korean original

    속탄력, 겉탄력 케어

  • Begin a different level of slow-aging with pure retinol 0.5%
    Korean original

    순수 레티놀 0.5%로 차원이 다른 슬로우에이징 시작

  • Retinol for the experienced that delivers pure retinol 0.5% special slow-aging effect
    Korean original

    순수 레티놀 0.5% 스페셜 슬로우에이징 효과를 보여주는 숙련자용 레티놀

  • Squalane #MoistureCare Protects the skin from external irritants / harmful ingredients / moisturizes
    Korean original

    스쿠알란 #보습케어 외부 자극 / 유해 성분으로부터 피부를 보호 / 보습

  • High-concentration formulation of pure retinol 0.5%, more effective than retinol derivatives
    Korean original

    레티놀 유도체보다 효과적인 순수 레티놀 0.5% 고농축 처방

  • Improvement effect of *skin aging index by 4% confirmed through human application test
    Korean original

    인체적용시험으로 확인한 *피부 노화지수 4% 개선 효과

  • Eye area skin angle 12.2%
    Korean original

    눈가 부위 피부 각도 12.2%

  • Cheek area skin angle 10.3%
    Korean original

    볼 부위 피부 각도 10.3%

  • Mouth corner skin angle 13.7%
    Korean original

    입꼬리 피부 각도 13.7%

  • Jawline skin angle 13.5%
    Korean original

    턱 선 피부 각도 13.5%

  • More compact and dense, smooth and firm, texture & elasticity care
    Korean original

    더 촘촘하고 치밀하게 매끈 쫀쫀, 결 & 탄력 케어

  • Soft to the touch, *surface elasticity +16% increase
    Korean original

    만지고 싶은 보들보들 *겉탄력 +16% 증가

  • Firming from within, *inner elasticity +13% increase
    Korean original

    속부터 쫀쫀하게 차오르는 *속탄력 +13% 증가

  • #HighStrengthRetinol Special Slow-Aging (Night Intensive)
    Korean original

    #고강도레티놀 스페셜 슬로우에이징 (나이트 집중)

  • Pure retinol 0.5%, Super Vitamin E, plant-derived squalane
    Korean original

    순수 레티놀 0.5% 슈퍼비타민E 식물성 스쿠알란

overstated ad line8

  • The Slow-Aging secret of Cosrx Retinol that thoroughly cares for sagging / elasticity / pores
    Korean original

    피부 처짐 / 탄력 / 모공을 확실히 케어하는 코스알엑스 레티놀의 Slow-Aging 비법

  • Clinically proven skin aging index improvement effect
    Korean original

    임상으로 증명된 피부 노화지수 개선 효과

  • The Slow-Aging secret of Cosrx Retinol that thoroughly cares for sagging / elasticity / pores, the main culprits of skin aging
    Korean original

    피부 처짐 / 탄력 / 모공 피부 노화의 주범을 확실히 케어하는 코스알엑스 레티놀의 Slow-Aging 비법

  • The daily anti-aging oil that the reviews speak for
    Korean original

    리뷰가 말해주는 데일리 안티에이징 오일

  • Satisfaction with skin changes over approximately 4 weeks, experienced by 100% of consumers without exaggeration
    Korean original

    거짓없이 100% 소비자가 경험한 약 4주간의 피부변화 만족도

  • 100% felt that fine lines across the face were reduced
    Korean original

    얼굴 전체 잔주름이 완화된 느낌 100%

  • 100% felt their skin became elastic and lifted
    Korean original

    피부에 탄력이 생기고 리프팅 된 느낌 100%

  • 100% felt their skin texture became smooth, moist, and softer
    Korean original

    피부결이 매끈 촉촉하게 부드러워진 느낌 100%

no evidence19

  • 1st place Beauty AWARDS 2022 Wrinkle Functional - Cream
    Korean original

    1위 Beauty AWARDS 2022 주름 기능성 - 크림

  • 2位 K-COSME AWARDS 2023 乳液クリーム Qoo10
  • BEST OF Forbes VETTED 2024
  • Wrinkle improvement functional product
    Korean original

    주름 개선 기능성 제품

  • Refreshing retinol oil that relieves burden
    Korean original

    부담을 덜어준 산뜻한 레티놀 오일

  • One-step synergy care that completes radiance, hydration, and elasticity
    Korean original

    윤광 · 보습 · 탄력까지 한 번에 완성되는 시너지 케어

  • Teukoteurienol #ElasticityCare Synergy with retinol for an elasticity-enhancing effect
    Korean original

    트코트리에놀 #탄력케어 레티놀과 함께 시너지를 내는 탄력 증진 효과

  • No.1 on Hwahae just 3 months after launch!
    Korean original

    런칭 3개월만에 화해 1위 등극!

  • 1st place Beauty AWARDS Best New Product 2022 H2 Face Oil category
    Korean original

    1위 Beauty AWARDS 베스트 신제품 2022 하반기 페이스오일 부문

  • In just 2 weeks! Improves large, enlarged pores
    Korean original

    단 2주만에! 크고 늘어진 모공 개선

  • Soothes skin troubles and marks at once for smooth, clean skin care
    Korean original

    트러블 진정과 흔적 한 방에 매끈하고 깔끔한 피부 케어

  • Refreshingly erases *the 4 major trouble concerns
    Korean original

    산뜻하게 지우는 *트러블 고민 4대 요소

  • Pore volume -21.95%
    Korean original

    모공 부피 -21.95%

  • Pore area -20.91%
    Korean original

    모공 면적 -20.91%

  • Pore count -29.48%
    Korean original

    모공 수 -29.48%

  • Pore depth -33.34%
    Korean original

    모공 깊이 -33.34%

  • Completed 2 skin irritation tests; safe for sensitive skin
    Korean original

    피부 자극 테스트 2종 완료 민감성 피부도 사용 가능

  • Skin primary irritation test completed
    Korean original

    피부 일차자극 테스트 완료

  • Primary irritation test completed for sensitive skin
    Korean original

    민감성피부대상 일차자극 테스트 완료

Each line is quoted as the brand published it, and each one was read on its own against the ingredient list and the documents the brand publishes.

How we read these lines

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