Side-by-side comparison

COSRX The Retinol 0.5 Oil vs The Ordinary Retinol 1% in Squalane

Both are serums built on the same key active: Retinol. That makes them genuine alternatives, so price, texture and the supporting ingredients decide it.

1Shared hero active
COSRX
The Retinol 0.5 Oil
SerumBudgetEvening only
Fine LinesRough TextureDullness

A beginner-friendly 0.5% retinol in a squalane-rich oil base with sea buckthorn. A gentle introductory retinol that buffers irritation through its oil base; build up slowly and follow with SPF in the morning.

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The Ordinary
Retinol 1% in Squalane
SerumBudgetEvening only
AgingRough TextureDark SpotsSensitive skinDamaged barrier

The advanced-strength option in The Ordinary's retinol ladder — oil-based, no water, stable. For users who've already tolerated 0.2% and 0.5% and are ready to escalate. Expect visible purging and dryness in the first 2–4 weeks; pair with a barrier-supporting moisturiser and strict AM SPF.

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The verdict

Which should you choose?

Both formulas lean on Retinol, so for the ingredient doing the work they're close alternatives. COSRX The Retinol 0.5 Oil is the better fit for fine lines and dullness; The Ordinary Retinol 1% in Squalane for signs of aging and dark spots. Both sit in the Budget price tier.

The overlap

What they share

This hero active appears in both formulas:

Retinol
The formulation

Ingredient stacks, side by side

COSRX The Retinol 0.5 Oil — top of the list

  • Caprylic/Capric…~30–70%
  • Squalane~5–25%
  • Helianthus Annu…~3–10%
  • Retinol~2–6%
  • Hippophae Rhamn…~1.5–4%
  • Tocopherol~1–2%

The Ordinary Retinol 1% in Squalane — top of the list

  • Squalane~50–80%
  • Caprylic/Capri…~5–25%
  • Retinol1%
  • Solanum Lycope…~2–6%
  • Simmondsia Chi…~1.5–4%
  • Rosa Rubiginos…~1–2%

● marks ingredients that appear near the top of both lists. Percentages are positional estimates from INCI order, not disclosed doses.

At a glance

The specs

COSRX The Retinol 0.5 OilThe Ordinary Retinol 1% in Squalane
CategorySerumSerum
Price tierBudgetBudget
Best forFine Lines, Rough Texture, DullnessAging, Rough Texture, Dark Spots
Usage notesEvening onlyEvening only
Shared hero activesRetinol
Questions

Common questions

Is the COSRX The Retinol 0.5 Oil or The Ordinary Retinol 1% in Squalane better?
Neither is clearly better on ingredients, since both rely on Retinol. Choose on price, texture and how your skin responds to the rest of the formula.
What's the difference between the COSRX The Retinol 0.5 Oil and The Ordinary Retinol 1% in Squalane?
COSRX The Retinol 0.5 Oil's hero actives are Retinol, Squalane and Sea Buckthorn. The Ordinary Retinol 1% in Squalane's are Retinol.
Are the COSRX The Retinol 0.5 Oil and The Ordinary Retinol 1% in Squalane dupes for each other?
Yes, on the ingredient that matters. Both are built around Retinol, though concentrations, texture and the supporting ingredients can still differ.
Can I use the COSRX The Retinol 0.5 Oil and The Ordinary Retinol 1% in Squalane together?
There's no benefit to using two retinoids at once, and it raises the risk of irritation. Pick one.
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1 shared hero active

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