After finally rolling up their sleeves to join the Retinol bandwagon in 2020, the Korean skincare industry really went to work in 2021 by releasing countless gentle yet super effective options. Retinol skincare from brands like Laneige and Dr. Different soon became skinthusiast staples. Then in early 2022, we saw K-beauty exploring Retinol infused Cica serums and toners. Now, let’s look at the best of the best Korean Retinol / Retinal from 2022 that will be top hits of 2023.
COSRX (Beginner Friendly Korean Retinol)
Cosrx released two new Retinol products in 2022. The Retinol 0.1 Cream is the gentle cream version recommended for Retinol newbies or for those freaking out at their first signs of aging in their mid to late 20s. And The Retinol 0.5 Oil is a stronger Retinol oil for when you might actually start seeing fine lines or loss of firmness.
Age isn’t a factor for specific Retinol concentrations. The right Retinol for you depends on your skin’s current condition and needs.
The Retinol 0.1 Cream
The CosRx The Retinol 0.1 Cream is a solid beginner friendly Retinol cream. You’ll see smoother skin without the usual Retinol downsides of dryness and irritations. This is the gentlest option we’re loving—but don’t expect life changing transformations within a few weeks. It may take up to 12 weeks before you can see significant results.
Features:
- 0.1% Retinol
- Panthenol
- Adenosine
- Tocotrienol (Super Vitamin E)
BEST FOR: Oily, combination, acne prone, sensitive skin
DOWNSIDE: Must be refrigerated daily for potency stability, dispensing a desired amount is difficult due to aluminum packaging
The Retinol 0.5 Oil
Cosrx also released The Retinol 0.5 Oil for the slightly more adventurous, or for those that seek intensity even in gentle skincare. It boasts 0.5% Retinol. We recommend moving on to this Retinol oil after finishing a tube of CosRx The Retinol 0.1 Cream for a smooth transition from a novice to an intermediate user.
Features:
- 0.5% Retinol
- Plant-derived Squalane
- Soybean oil
- Tocotrienol (Super Vitamin E)
BEST FOR: Normal, dehydrated, dry, or lackluster dull skin
DOWNSIDE: Must be refrigerated daily for potency stability, oily texture
BY WISHTREND (Beginner to Intermediate Korean Retinol)
Let’s move on to Retinal, Retinol’s big sister that works 11 times faster! By Wishtrend ingeniously paired Retinal with Bakuchiol and created a gentle-enough-formula for beginners but ‘intense enough’ to keep seasoned users also happy.
Read THIS if you’re wondering about the difference between Retinol and Retinal.
By Wishtrend Vitamin A-mazing Bakuchiol Night Cream
The By Wishtrend Vitamin A-mazing Bakuchiol Night Cream is a gentle night cream with skin smoothing and firming benefits. This one is mainly focused on Bakuchiol, a plant based alternative to Retinol. But just to give it that extra oomph and speed, it also contains 0.03% Retinal. This is a great choice for a Retinol beginner or if you find Retinol over 0.5% intolerable but want to still move up to Retinal with a Bakuchiol boost.
Features:
- 0.03% Retinal (Retinaldehyde)
- 1% Bakuchiol
- Niacinamide
- Macadamia Seed Oil
BEST FOR: Normal or dehydrated skin
DOWNSIDE: Not the best skin-balancing formula—oily parts of the face may get oilier within a few hours, while drier parts may require additional moisturizer
HSGN (Intermediate+ Korean Retinol / Retinal)
HSGN Retinally Liposomal Retinal
Boasting a solid 0.05% stabilized Retinal with an effective Liposomal delivery system, the HSGN Retinally Liposomal Retinal won our hearts, fast. A whopping 2% Niacinamide plus the golden standard ratio of Ceramide, Cholesterol, and Fatty Acid make this one more than just a Retinal cream. This is a night treatment cream that will not only smooth out skin textures, tighten enlarged pores, and reduce fine lines and wrinkles, but also boost your skin barrier health.
Features:
- 0.05% Retinal (Retinaldehyde)
- 2% Niacinamide
- Panthenol
- Ceramide/ Cholesterol/ Fatty Acid
BEST FOR: For normal, combination to dehydrated, sensitive skin
DOWNSIDE: None
For more on HSGN Retinally Liposomal Retinal Cream, click HERE.
2023 Best Korean Retinol / Retinal Products
Whether you are a Retinol skincare newbie or ready to come off prescription Tretinoin, these best Korean Retinol / Retinal products will make your Retinol skincare journey (and skin) smoother than ever.
