1st on the list, which puts it at an estimated 10–40% of the formula.
2,6,10,15,19,23-Hexamethyltetracosane
Hydration
Anti-Aging
COSRX
The Retinol 0.5 Oil
face eyes neck oil
COSRX
The Retinol 0.5 Oil
face eyes neck oil
Added Last edited
Fit by skin type
General, ingredient-based — not your personalized match.
Dry
92%
Combination (dry)
92%
Balanced
78%
Combination (oily)
48%
Oily
48%
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10
Ingredients
6
Benefits
1
Actives
The COSRX The Retinol 0.5 Oil is a skincare product that contains 0.5% retinol, a derivative of vitamin A known for its anti-aging and skin rejuvenating benefits. This oil is designed to target fine lines, wrinkles, uneven skin tone, and texture. This formula is enriched with a blend of natural oils such as soybean oil and palm, which work together to deeply hydrate the skin and improve its elasticity.
Key Insights
Benefits
6
Anti-Acne
Anti-Aging
Evens Skin Tone
Hydration
Pore Minimizer
Soothing
Active Ingredients
1
Retinoids
Risks
1
Pregnancy Unsafe
Full Ingredients
10 total
About The Retinol 0.5 Oil
Overview
The Retinol 0.5 Oil is a rich oil from COSRX, a brand based in Korea. The formula is built mainly around hydration. The ingredient list runs to 10 ingredients, each broken down in full below.
Texture and finish
By its ingredient list the formula reads as rich: occlusives and butters sit high enough in the order to give it real weight on skin. Hydration is handled by Squalane, Glycine Soja Oil and Caprylic/capric Triglyceride, humectants that pull water into the upper layers of skin rather than sealing it there.
What the formula does
Hydration: High. Ingredients that pull and hold water in the upper layers of skin, and here that comes from Squalane, Glycine Soja Oil, Caprylic/capric Triglyceride and Elaeis Guineensis Oil.
Barrier support: Moderate. Lipids and repair signals that support skin barrier integrity, and here that comes from Squalane.
Soothing: Moderate. Ingredients aimed at visible redness and reactivity, and here that comes from Tocotrienols, Tocopherol and Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone.
Oil control: Moderate. Ingredients that moderate sebum or absorb shine, and here that comes from Retinol.
Who it suits
On richness alone it suits Dry and Combination (dry) skin best, and is the least natural fit for Combination (oily) and Oily skin. Nothing in the list is flagged as a common irritant, which is a reasonable starting point for reactive skin — though a patch test is still the only way to know.
What it does not target
The formula contributes little or nothing on firmness signalling. That is not a fault — most products are not meant to do everything — but if one of those is your priority, this is not the product that will address it.
What is not in it
Reading the full list, the formula is fragrance-free, essential-oil-free, no drying alcohol, paraben-free, silicone-free and microplastic-free. Those claims come from the ingredient list itself, not from the packaging.
Where it fits in a routine
It can be used morning and evening. In a routine it goes before moisturiser. Tap along the orbital bone with your ring finger; product migrates upward on its own.
This summary is generated from the product's ingredient list. It is not a review, it is not the brand's own marketing claims, and it does not replace advice from a dermatologist.
Pros and cons
Drawn purely from the ingredient list
Pros
- No fragrance or declared allergens
- No essential oils
- No drying alcohol
- Silicone-free
- No microplastics
- Strong humectant content for hydration
- No common irritants flagged in the list
- No recognised malassezia (fungal acne) triggers
Things to know
- Contains ingredients usually flagged for review during pregnancy
Which skin types it suits
Scored on how rich or light the formula reads from its INCI order.
Suitable for
- Dry skin
- Combination (dry) skin
May suit
- Balanced skin
Less suitable for
- Combination (oily) skin
- Oily skin
Sensitive skin
No ingredient in this formula carries a common-irritant flag, making it a reasonable option for reactive skin. A patch test is still recommended, as individual skin reactivity varies.
Skin concerns
Based on the curated benefits documented for this product's ingredients.
Helps with
-
Anti-Aging 7 ingredients
Boosts collagen and cell turnover to reduce fine lines and wrinkles
-
Hydration 4 ingredients
Attracts and locks in moisture to keep skin plump and dewy
-
Soothing 3 ingredients
Calms redness, irritation, and inflammation for sensitive skin
-
Evens Skin Tone 2 ingredients
Brightens and balances complexion for a more uniform appearance
-
Anti-Acne 1 ingredient
Targets breakouts by reducing bacteria and unclogging pores
-
Pore Minimizer 1 ingredient
Tightens and refines the look of enlarged pores
Does not target
Blackhead Reducing
Dark Spot Fading
Oil Control
Smooths Bumpy Skin
None of the ingredients in this formula are associated with these benefits. This is not unusual, as most products are designed to target a limited number of concerns.
Key ingredients
The actives, UV filters and benefit-carrying ingredients in this formula, in the order they are listed.
2nd on the list, which puts it at an estimated 5–20% of the formula.
Glycine Soja Oil is the oil obtained from the soybean, Glycine soja, Leguminosae, by extraction or expression. It consists esentially of triglycerides of oleic, linoleic and saturated acids
Anti-Aging
Hydration
Retinol
Retinoids
4th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 2–10% of the formula.
Retinol; vitamin A
Anti-Aging
Anti-Acne
Pore Minimizer
5th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 2–10% of the formula.
Decanoic acid, ester with 1,2,3-propanetriol octanoate; Glycerides, mixed decanoyl and octanoyl
Hydration
7th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 1–5% of the formula.
Tocotrienol
Anti-Aging
Evens Skin Tone
Soothing
8th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
3,4-Dihydro-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-(4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)-2H-benzopyran-6-ol; .alpha.-tocopherol; Vitamin E
Anti-Aging
Evens Skin Tone
Soothing
9th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Elaeis Guineensis Oil is a natural oil obtained from the fruits of the Palmoil Tree, Elaeis guineensis, Palmaceae
Hydration
Anti-Aging
10th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
3-Decanone, 1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-,[6]-Gingerone
Anti-Aging
Soothing
Formula analysis
Each axis is scored from the ingredients present and how high up the list they sit.
Hydration
High
Ingredients that pull and hold water in the upper layers of skin
Barrier support
Moderate
Lipids and repair signals that support skin barrier integrity
Antioxidant support
Low
Ingredients that mop up free radicals from UV and pollution
Oil control
Moderate
Ingredients that moderate sebum or absorb shine
Brightening
Moderate
Ingredients that act on uneven tone and post-inflammatory marks
Soothing
Moderate
Ingredients aimed at visible redness and reactivity
Cell renewal
Moderate
Retinoids, acids and enzymes that speed surface turnover
Firmness signalling
None
Peptides and growth factors that signal for collagen support
Active and supporting ingredients
"Active" here means an ingredient carrying a recorded active type or a recognised UV filter.
Active ingredients (1)
- Retinol · 2–10%
Supporting ingredients (9)
Solvents, emollients, texture agents and preservatives — the formula that carries the actives.
Squalane
Glycine Soja Oil
Di-c12-13 Alkyl Malate
Caprylic/capric Triglyceride
BHT
Tocotrienols
Tocopherol
Elaeis Guineensis Oil
Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone
What is and is not in it
Read from the full ingredient list. A brand's own claim may differ.
Free from
- Fragrance-free
- Essential-oil-free
- No drying alcohol
- Paraben-free
- Silicone-free
- Microplastic-free
- Sulfate-free
- Dye-free
- Oil-free
- No animal-derived ingredients
What to layer it with
Judged by the same curated rules our routine checker uses. It reads the ingredients, not the label.
Compatible with
- Retinoids (retinol, retinal)
- Copper peptides
- Bakuchiol
- Niacinamide
- Hyaluronic acid
- Ceramides
- Signal peptides
- Panthenol
- Sunscreen
Use with caution
-
AHAs (glycolic, lactic)
Best kept to separate routines — one in the morning, one at night, or on alternate days.
-
BHA (salicylic acid)
Best kept to separate routines — one in the morning, one at night, or on alternate days.
-
PHAs (gluconolactone)
Best kept to separate routines — one in the morning, one at night, or on alternate days.
-
Benzoyl peroxide
Best kept to separate routines — one in the morning, one at night, or on alternate days.
-
Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid)
Can be layered, but the combination raises the irritation risk. Go slowly.
-
Azelaic acid
Can be layered, but the combination raises the irritation risk. Go slowly.
Where it fits in a routine
Morning
Evening
- Cleanse
- Toning
- Eye
- Moisturise
- Protect
This product is the "Eye" step.
- Tap along the orbital bone with your ring finger; product migrates upward on its own.
Safety and suitability
Flags to check, not verdicts. None of this is medical advice — if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or treating a skin condition, ask a doctor.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Contains Retinol, usually reviewed with a doctor during pregnancy.
- Fungal acne (malassezia)
- No ingredient here is a recognised food source for malassezia.
- Sensitive and reactive skin
- No ingredient in this formula carries a common-irritant flag, making it a reasonable option for reactive skin. A patch test is still recommended, as individual skin reactivity varies.
- Recorded ingredient risks
- Pregnancy Unsafe
Ingredients by function
Most ingredients do more than one job, so these counts add up to more than the 10 ingredients on the label.
4
Emollient
Softens and smooths by filling gaps between skin cells
2
Antioxidant
Neutralises free radicals from UV and pollution
1
Active
Changes how skin behaves rather than how it feels
1
UV filter
Absorbs or scatters ultraviolet light
Ingredient breakdown
Every ingredient on the label, in order, with what it does and roughly how much of it is likely to be there.
- Estimated level
- 10–40%
- Confidence
- Moderate — INCI order above the 1% line
- Roles
- Emollient
1st on the list, which puts it at an estimated 10–40% of the formula.
2,6,10,15,19,23-Hexamethyltetracosane
Hydration
Anti-Aging
9 scientific references
- Cosmetics Ingredient Review, 2019, ePublication
- ACS Open, July 2017, pages 3, 989–3, 996
- Indian Journal of Dermatology, May-June 2016, pages 279-297
- The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, June 2014, pages 25-32
- Journal of Cosmetic Science, January-February 2013, pages 59-66
- Advances in Food and Nutrition Research, 2012, pages 223-233
- Molecules, January 2009, pages 540-554
- Journal of Investigative Dermatology, November 2006, pages 2, 430-2, 437
- Free Radical Research, April 2002, pages 471-477
- Estimated level
- 5–20%
- Confidence
- Moderate — INCI order above the 1% line
- Roles
- Emollient
2nd on the list, which puts it at an estimated 5–20% of the formula.
Glycine Soja Oil is the oil obtained from the soybean, Glycine soja, Leguminosae, by extraction or expression. It consists esentially of triglycerides of oleic, linoleic and saturated acids
Anti-Aging
Hydration
8 scientific references
- Phytotherapy Research, March 2020, pages 435-437
- AAPS PharmSciTech, October 2018, pages 3, 029-3, 039
- The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, February 2018, pages 28-37
- International Journal of Molecular Sciences, December 2017, ePublication
- Molecules, Volume 22, September 2017, ePublication
- Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, September 2013, pages s123-s127
- Journal of Medicinal Food, January 2012, pages 89-95
- International Journal of Dermatology, April 2011, pages 470-477
- Estimated level
- 5–20%
- Confidence
- Moderate — INCI order above the 1% line
- Roles
- Emollient
3rd on the list, which puts it at an estimated 5–20% of the formula.
Butandioic acid, hydroxy-, bis-(C12-13-alkyl) esters
- Estimated level
- 2–10%
- Confidence
- Moderate — INCI order above the 1% line
- Roles
- Active
4th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 2–10% of the formula.
Retinol; vitamin A
Anti-Aging
Anti-Acne
Pore Minimizer
Pregnancy Unsafe
10 scientific references
- Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, September 2019, pages 918-923; and March 2015, pages 271-280
- Experimental Dermatology, August 2019, pages 906-913
- Archives of Dermatological Research, May 2017, pages 275-283
- International Journal of Cosmetic Science, February 2017, pages 56-65
- Dermatology, May 2014, pages 314-325
- Dermatoendocrinology, July 2012, issue 3, pages 308-319
- Toxicological Research, March 2010, pages 61-66
- Archives of Dermatology, May 2007, pages 606-612
- The Journal of Pathology, January 2007, issue 2, pages 241-251
- Clinical Interventions in Aging, December 2006, pages 327-348
- Estimated level
- 2–10%
- Confidence
- Moderate — INCI order above the 1% line
5th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 2–10% of the formula.
Decanoic acid, ester with 1,2,3-propanetriol octanoate; Glycerides, mixed decanoyl and octanoyl
Hydration
5 scientific references
- International Journal of Toxicology, September 2020, pages 34-35
- Periodica Polytechnica Chemical Engineering, 2014, pages 43-48
- International Journal of Toxicology, January 2003, pages 4-5
- Food and Chemical Toxicology, January 2000, pages 79-98
- Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists, August 1985, pages 303-311
- Estimated level
- 2–10%
- Confidence
- Moderate — INCI order above the 1% line
- Roles
- Antioxidant
6th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 2–10% of the formula.
2,6-Di-tert-butyl-p-cresol
- Estimated level
- 1–5%
- Confidence
- Moderate — INCI order above the 1% line
- Roles
- UV filter
7th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 1–5% of the formula.
Tocotrienol
Anti-Aging
Evens Skin Tone
Soothing
11 scientific references
- Plants, May 2021, pages 1-10
- https://wwwdeepdyvecom/lp/pubmed-central/red-raspberry-rubus-idaeus-l-seed-oil-a-review-OuvirNhxkE?articleList=%2Fsearch%3Fquery%3Dtocotrienols%2Bcosmetics
- Herba Polonica, December 2018, pages 63-70
- https://wwwdeepdyvecom/lp/de-gruyter/oils-from-fruit-seeds-and-their-dietetic-and-cosmetic-significance-WFZr5c5AfV?articleList=%2Fsearch%3Fquery%3Dtocotrienols%2Bcosmetics
- International Journal of Toxicology, September 2018, pages 61S-94S
- https://wwwdeepdyvecom/lp/sage/safety-assessment-of-tocopherols-and-tocotrienols-as-used-in-cosmetics-NE9VU0e0X0?articleList=%2Fsearch%3Fquery%3Dtocotrienols%2Bcosmetics
- Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology & Venereology, November 2012, pages 1, 449-1, 453
- https://wwwdeepdyvecom/lp/wiley/clinical-evaluation-of-photoprotective-effect-by-a-topical-zqajFtTpEY?articleList=%2Fsearch%3Fquery%3Dtocotrienols%2Bcosmetics%26page%3D2
- Journal or Agricultural and Food Chemistry, June 2010, pages 7, 013–7, 020
- Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology, April 2008, pages 117–123
- Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2003, pages 355-362
- Estimated level
- under 1%
- Confidence
- Moderate — listed below the 1% line
- Roles
- Antioxidant
8th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
3,4-Dihydro-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-(4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)-2H-benzopyran-6-ol; .alpha.-tocopherol; Vitamin E
Anti-Aging
Evens Skin Tone
Soothing
4 scientific references
- Journal or Agricultural and Food Chemistry, June 2010, pages 7013-7020
- Journal of Investigative Dermatology, November 2001, pages 1212-1217
- Canadian Family Physician, July 2006, pages 855-856
- Dermatologic Surgery, April 1999, pages 311-315
- Estimated level
- under 1%
- Confidence
- Moderate — listed below the 1% line
- Roles
- Emollient
9th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Elaeis Guineensis Oil is a natural oil obtained from the fruits of the Palmoil Tree, Elaeis guineensis, Palmaceae
Hydration
Anti-Aging
- Estimated level
- under 1%
- Confidence
- Moderate — listed below the 1% line
10th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
3-Decanone, 1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-,[6]-Gingerone
Anti-Aging
Soothing
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Frequently asked questions
What ingredients are in The Retinol 0.5 Oil?
SQUALANE, GLYCINE SOJA OIL, DI-C12-13 ALKYL MALATE, RETINOL, CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE, BHT, TOCOTRIENOLS, TOCOPHEROL, ELAEIS GUINEENSIS OIL, HYDROXYMETHOXYPHENYL DECANONE.
What are the active ingredients in The Retinol 0.5 Oil?
RETINOL.
How do I use The Retinol 0.5 Oil?
During evening care, apply 1 to 2 drops to hand and tap with fingertips from inside out, let absorb. Limit initial use to three times per week; gradually increase frequency to every other night, use as tolerated. After cleansing, at the moisturizer step, apply 1–2 drops to areas of concern or spread over the entire face.
What skin types is The Retinol 0.5 Oil good for?
Judged on how rich the formula reads from its ingredient list, it suits Dry, Combination (dry) skin best. It is the least natural fit for Combination (oily), Oily skin.
Is The Retinol 0.5 Oil good for sensitive skin?
No ingredient in this formula carries a common-irritant flag, making it a reasonable option for reactive skin. A patch test is still recommended, as individual skin reactivity varies.
Is The Retinol 0.5 Oil fungal acne safe?
No ingredient in this formula is a recognised food source for malassezia, the yeast behind fungal acne.
Can I use The Retinol 0.5 Oil while pregnant?
It contains Retinol, which are usually reviewed with a doctor during pregnancy. Ask your doctor or midwife before using it.
Is The Retinol 0.5 Oil fragrance free?
Yes. Reading the full ingredient list, this formula is fragrance-free.
Does The Retinol 0.5 Oil contain alcohol?
No. Reading the full ingredient list, this formula is no drying alcohol.
Is The Retinol 0.5 Oil silicone free?
Yes. Reading the full ingredient list, this formula is silicone-free.
Does The Retinol 0.5 Oil contain essential oils?
No. Reading the full ingredient list, this formula is essential-oil-free.
Is The Retinol 0.5 Oil paraben free?
Yes. Reading the full ingredient list, this formula is paraben-free.
What can I layer with The Retinol 0.5 Oil?
It layers well with Retinoids (retinol, retinal), Copper peptides, Bakuchiol, Niacinamide, Hyaluronic acid, Ceramides. Take more care combining it with AHAs (glycolic, lactic), BHA (salicylic acid), PHAs (gluconolactone), Benzoyl peroxide, Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid), Azelaic acid — use them in separate routines or on alternate days.
When should I apply The Retinol 0.5 Oil?
Use it morning and evening, before moisturiser.
How many ingredients does The Retinol 0.5 Oil have?
It lists 10 ingredients, of which 1 are recorded as actives.
Who makes The Retinol 0.5 Oil?
COSRX, a brand based in Korea.