COSRX The Retinol 0.1 Cream for oily acne-prone skin
Retinol
Super Vitamin E
Panthenol
Sodium Hyaluronate
AllantoinHigh
- HighOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for oily acne-prone skin; a few serums fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- This formulation is highly suitable for your oily skin, as retinol effectively promotes cell turnover and pore clearing, while vitamin C derivatives offer antioxidant protection and brightening benefits for your acne, blemishes, and breakouts. Tocopheryl acetate further supports antioxidant activity, complementing the retinol's action on desquamation regulation.
- The inclusion of ingredients like tocopherol and allantoin ensures a gentle experience, minimizing the risk of irritation for your oily skin.
- The product is safe for your skin, with no harsh ingredients and a good balance of soothing components.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your PM routine. Start 3 times a week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply your serum after cleansing and toning, but before putting on your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2 to 3 drops of the serum into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
- Apply the serum on clean, dry skin to help manage your blemishes safely.
- Do a patch test before your first use and avoid the delicate eye area.
People Say
★4.4Overall rating based on 1.2k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this cream is highly recommended as a beginner-friendly retinol, effectively smoothing skin and reducing fine lines with its hydrating formula and minimal irritation. Users frequently note the small tube size and packaging issues, while some experienced users find the 0.1% concentration too mild for significant or rapid results.
Highlights
Gentle for beginners Mostly Mentioned
- “perfect for first-time retinol users”
- “didn't damage my skin barrier”
- “extremely gentle and doesn't dry out my skin”
- “no stinging or redness”
Small quantity Mostly Mentioned
- “tube is tiny”
- “finished it in 2 weeks”
- “wish it came in a bigger size”
- “expensive for the amount you get”
Improves texture Often Mentioned
- “skin feels smoother and firmer”
- “helped with rough texture”
- “woke up with baby soft skin”
- “bumps and texture smoothed out”
Poor packaging Often Mentioned
- “tube cracked on the side”
- “product oozes out when opened”
- “packaging flakes off”
- “hard to get the last bit out”
Moisturizing formula Sometimes Noted
- “leaves a thin moisture film”
- “feels hydrating not drying”
- “creamy and spreads softly”
- “no dryness or flaking”
Reduces fine lines Sometimes Noted
- “diminished fine lines under eyes”
- “softened my forehead lines”
- “helped with early signs of aging”
- “wrinkles look less deep”
Unpleasant smell Sometimes Noted
- “smells like onions”
- “has a weird metallic scent”
- “smell is off-putting”
- “funky odor”
Slow results Rarely Noted
- “didn't see much difference”
- “too weak for my skin”
- “results take forever to show”
- “good for maintenance but not correction”
Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, sokoglam.com, yesstyle.com, stylekorean.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes COSRX Retinol 0.1 Cream a great fit for oily acne-prone skin?
This cream is a great fit because retinol clears pores by speeding up cell renewal, which helps manage breakouts while soothing ingredients keep irritation low. Antioxidants like vitamin E derivatives protect your skin and help brighten marks left by blemishes.
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2017
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Retinol makes this cream a great fit for oily acne-prone skin by clearing pores, while vitamin C derivatives and tocopheryl acetate help brighten blemishes and provide antioxidant protection. Ingredients like panthenol and allantoin also help keep the experience gentle and lower the risk of irritation.
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2017
What does Retinol do for oily acne-prone skin?
Retinol helps oily acne-prone skin by clearing up breakouts and smoothing the skin, though it may occasionally cause some mild scaling or stinging. This ingredient works by addressing the root causes of acne, making it a reliable choice for keeping pores clear and skin smooth.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2019Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2018
What does Vitamin E do for oily acne-prone skin?
Vitamin E helps nourish oily acne-prone skin and may reduce dryness and redness when paired with other supportive ingredients. Daily supplementation is safely transported to the skin surface by oil glands, though acne-prone skin also needs ingredients that clear pores and calm breakouts.
Der Hautarzt; Zeitschrift Fur Dermatologie, Venerologie, und Verwandte Gebiete, 2006Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2014
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This treatment goes in your evening routine, after cleansing and before moisturizing, for simplicity and extra safety around sun exposure. It helps clear pores and manage breakouts while soothing components help minimize the risk of irritation.
Can I use this cream with niacinamide, and in what order?
You can use this cream with niacinamide, applying the niacinamide first and letting it absorb before putting on this treatment in your evening routine. This combination helps clear pores and soothe your skin while keeping irritation unlikely.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024American Family Physician, 2012
How often should I use this cream?
Use this treatment in the evening, starting once a week and slowly increasing frequency if your skin tolerates it well. Retinol helps clear pores and smooth your skin while soothing ingredients keep irritation low.
Facial Plastic Surgery, 2014International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2017
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This cream is a great fit for oily acne-prone skin because retinol helps clear out pores and manage breakouts, while soothing ingredients help keep irritation low. It is unlikely to clog pores, and the included vitamins and soothing components have a safe profile for this skin type.
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2017
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
What the research says
Topical 0.4% retinol significantly increased epidermal thickness, dermal vascularity, and extracellular matrix production by stimulating keratinocyte proliferation, endothelial cell proliferation, and fibroblast activation in naturally aged human skin compared to vehicle.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2017Dermatological products containing d-alpha tocopheryl acetate showed non-comedogenic potential with less than a 50% increase in microcomedones in 12 healthy male subjects compared to octyl palmitate.
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021Topical dexpanthenol acts as a moisturizer, improves stratum corneum hydration, accelerates wound healing and epidermal regeneration, reduces erythema, and improves symptoms of skin irritation compared to vehicle or no pretreatment.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002A new topical panthenol-containing emollient significantly improved transepidermal water loss reduction, stratum corneum hydration, and intercellular lipid lamellae length compared with control in healthy subjects without negatively impacting bacterial viability.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017Topical bakuchiol 0.5% applied twice daily compared with retinol 0.5% applied daily significantly decreased wrinkle surface area and hyperpigmentation with no statistical difference between the compounds in 44 patients over 12 weeks, while retinol users reported more facial skin scaling and stinging.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2019Silicone particles encapsulating retinol increased its half-life by 9-fold and yielded 12-23% lower skin irritation in human subjects compared to Microsponge particles while maintaining biological activity.
Journal of Controlled Release, 2018Topical stabilized retinol treatment induced HAS gene expression and increased hyaluronic acid production in human skin in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo compared to vehicle.
Archives of Dermatological Research, 2017Topical application of an antioxidant serum containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented particulate matter-induced degradation of extracellular matrix components, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the skin of 15 female volunteers compared to untreated controls.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Topical application of an antioxidant mix containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented PM and UV-induced skin barrier perturbation, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory markers, MMP9 activation, and Type I collagen loss in 15 healthy females compared to untreated exposed skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024A topical antioxidant serum significantly reduced air pollution-induced skin pigmentation and proinflammatory gene expression ex vivo, and improved skin aging signs in 40 healthy adult females after 90 days of daily use.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022Moisturizer containing 5% panthenol, madecassoside, and copper-zinc-manganese decreased adverse reactions and downtime after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing with comparable efficacy to 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in 20 subjects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Topical dexpanthenol formulated in lipophilic vehicles improved stratum corneum hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in humans.
Arzneimittel-Forschung, 2000Hyaluronic acid, hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol, and isotonic saline nasal sprays all significantly improved dry nose symptoms over four weeks in 240 patients, with hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol providing superior nasal moisturisation compared to the other two.
Auris, Nasus, Larynx, 2020Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.
Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.
BMC Oral Health, 2019Topical gel containing chitosan, 0.2% chlorhexidine, allantoin and dexpanthenol did not improve postoperative comfort regarding swelling and pain, but improved the wound's aesthetic appearance following impacted lower third molar extraction compared to no gel.
Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2016A topical gel containing chitosan, chlorhexidine, allantoin, and dexpanthenol significantly reduced postoperative pain, trismus, swelling, and analgesic consumption, while improving wound healing after third molar surgery compared to a placebo.
Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2020An overnight patch containing Allium cepa extract and allantoin safely promotes scar healing after dermatologic surgery, resulting in significantly greater reductions in observer- and patient-assessed POSAS scores compared to no treatment.
Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 2018
Ingredients
Water, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Propanediol, Glycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Trehalose, Panthenol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Shea Butter, Glycine Soja Oil Soybean Oil, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Vp Copolymer, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Sunflower Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Glyceryl Stearate, Polysilicone-11, Sodium Sulfite, Tocopherol, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract Carrot Root Extract, Retinol, Allantoin, Glyceryl Caprylate, Rice Bran Wax, Tocotrienols, Stearic Acid, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Palmitic Acid, Disodium Edta, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Sorbitan Isostearate, Palm Oil, Bht, Beta-Carotene, Myristic Acid, Lauric Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Glutathione, Sodium Hyaluronate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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