Side-by-side comparison

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

Both are serums. They share a 70% active-ingredient overlap, so the real decision is about price, texture and the supporting ingredients. Here's the side-by-side.

70%Active overlap
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 sit in the Budget tier, so cost isn't the deciding factor here — choose on texture, finish and the supporting ingredients. The COSRX leans toward Dullness, Fine Lines. The The Ordinary leans toward Aging, Dark Spots.

The overlap

What they share

At 70% active overlap, these are the ingredients doing comparable work in both formulas:

Retinol
The formulation

Ingredient stacks, side by side

COSRX — 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 — 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

COSRXThe Ordinary
CategorySerumSerum
Price tierBudgetBudget
Best forFine Lines, Rough Texture, DullnessAging, Rough Texture, Dark Spots
Usage notesEvening onlyEvening only
Active overlap70% — Retinol
Questions

Common questions

Is the COSRX The Retinol 0.5 Oil or the The Ordinary Retinol 1% in Squalane better?
Neither is clearly better — they overlap 70% on active ingredients and sit in the same price tier. The difference comes down to texture, finish and the supporting ingredients, so the right choice depends on your skin type and preferences.
What's the difference between the COSRX The Retinol 0.5 Oil and the The Ordinary Retinol 1% in Squalane?
Both are serums that share Retinol. Where they differ: the COSRX targets Dullness, Fine Lines; the The Ordinary targets Aging, Dark Spots.
Are the COSRX The Retinol 0.5 Oil and The Ordinary Retinol 1% in Squalane dupes for each other?
They share 70% active-ingredient overlap based on published INCI lists, so one can stand in for the other on the actives that matter — chiefly Retinol. A dupe matches the hero actives, not the full sensory experience, so expect differences in texture, fragrance and exact concentrations.
Can I use the COSRX The Retinol 0.5 Oil and The Ordinary Retinol 1% in Squalane together?
They both fill the serum slot in a routine, so you'd normally pick one rather than layer both. If you want to use both, treat one as your daytime option and the other for evening, and patch-test when introducing anything new.
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70% overlap

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