Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Isntree Hyper Retinol EX 1.0 Serum versus COSRX The Retinol 0.1 Cream .
Last updated on May 04, 2024. Published on July 21, 2023
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe . They have a total of 14 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain retinoid and Vitamin E
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, parabens or sulfates
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.
Serum
Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.
Facial Treatment
Facial treatments are specially designed to treat a skin concern. Acne treatments and anti-aging products are common examples of facial treatments.
Price
Ingredient Info
Isntree Hyper Retinol EX 1.0 Serum 42 ingredients
COSRX The Retinol 0.1 Cream 51 ingredients
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Vegan
This product is vegan 🎉
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Contains Silicon
Ingredients in this product that are types of silicon:
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Contains Oils
Ingredients in this product that are types of oil:
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
- Cetearyl Alcohol
- Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
- Glycine Soja Oil
- Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
- Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate
- Glyceryl Stearate
- Oryza Sativa Bran Wax
- Stearic Acid
- Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
- Palmitic Acid
- Sorbitan Isostearate
- Elaeis Guineensis Oil
- Myristic Acid
- Lauric Acid
- Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Isntree Hyper Retinol EX 1.0 Serum 42 ingredients
COSRX The Retinol 0.1 Cream 51 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
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Concerns
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Notable Ingredients
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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Benefits
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Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Isntree Hyper Retinol EX 1.0 Serum 42 ingredients
COSRX The Retinol 0.1 Cream 51 ingredients
Water • Butylene Glycol • Glycerin • Niacinamide • Dibutyl Adipate • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Bakuchiol 0.6% • Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer • 1,2-Hexanediol • Hydrogenated Lecithin • Betaine • Hydroxyacetophenone • Retinyl Palmitate 0.3% • Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate • Tocopherol • Retinol 1% • Allantoin • Panthenol • Polysorbate 20 • Adenosine • Cetearyl Alcohol • Disodium EDTA • Stearic Acid • Dipropylene Glycol • Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin • Polydextrose • Ceramide NP • Asiaticoside • Madecassic Acid • Asiatic Acid • Ceramide Ns • Cholesterol • Phytosphingosine • Ferulic Acid • Ceramide As • Ceramide AP • Copper Tripeptide-1 • Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 • Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 • Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 • Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 • Ceramide EOP
Water • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Propanediol • Glycerin • Tocopheryl Acetate • Cetearyl Alcohol • Butyrospermum Parkii Butter • Panthenol • Trehalose • Glycine Soja Oil • Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer • Dimethicone • Glyceryl Polymethacrylate • Helianthus Annuus 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 • Allantoin • Glyceryl Caprylate • Oryza Sativa Bran Wax • Retinol • Tocotrienols • Stearic Acid • Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate • Palmitic Acid • Disodium EDTA • Ethylhexylglycerin • Adenosine • Sorbitan Isostearate • Elaeis Guineensis Oil • BHT • Beta-Carotene • Myristic Acid • Lauric Acid • 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid • Ascorbic Acid • Glutathione • Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil • Sodium Hyaluronate • 1,2-Hexanediol • Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid • Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer • Hyaluronic Acid • Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterIsntree Hyper Retinol EX 1.0 Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.
COSRX The Retinol 0.1 Cream contains this as ingredient number 1.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinIsntree Hyper Retinol EX 1.0 Serum contains this as ingredient number 3.
COSRX The Retinol 0.1 Cream contains this as ingredient number 4.
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride is an emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
Within a product, Caprylic Triglyceride can thicken the product and make spreadability easier by dissolving clumping compounds. An added benefit of Caprylic Triglyceride is its antioxidant properties.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Caprylic Triglyceride has not been found to be toxic for human use in concentrations under 50%.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideIsntree Hyper Retinol EX 1.0 Serum contains this as ingredient number 6.
COSRX The Retinol 0.1 Cream contains this as ingredient number 2.
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer (let's call it AAVC for short) is a synthetically created polymer. It's used as a film-forming agent and used to thicken the consistency of products.
AAVC is able to increase the consistency and viscosity of products due to its large molecule size. It also prevents ingredients from separating.
Isntree Hyper Retinol EX 1.0 Serum contains this as ingredient number 8.
COSRX The Retinol 0.1 Cream contains this as ingredient number 11.
1,2-Hexanediol is a multi-tasker ingredient. It acts as a preservative to increase shelf-life and can aid other preservatives in preventing microbe growth. 1,2-Hexanediol also helps the skin retain moisture as a humectant.
In products that are water-based, this ingredient can help stabilize perfumes and fragrances. It can also help make the texture of products softer and more smooth.
Isntree Hyper Retinol EX 1.0 Serum contains this as ingredient number 9.
COSRX The Retinol 0.1 Cream contains this as ingredient number 47.
Hydrogenated Lecithin is created from the hydrogenation of lecithin. Hydrogenation is a chemical reaction between molecule hydrogen and another element.
Hydrogenated Lecithin is an emollient and emulsifier. As an emollient, it helps soften skin by trapping moisture within.
The phospholipids in Hydrogenated Lecithin can produce liposomes. Liposomes help other ingredients get through the skin barrier to be better absorbed.
As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Learn more about Hydrogenated LecithinIsntree Hyper Retinol EX 1.0 Serum contains this as ingredient number 10.
COSRX The Retinol 0.1 Cream contains this as ingredient number 16.
Tocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolIsntree Hyper Retinol EX 1.0 Serum contains this as ingredient number 15.
COSRX The Retinol 0.1 Cream contains this as ingredient number 23.
Retinol is a gold-standard ingredient for anti-aging. It is a form of Vitamin A and belongs to the class of retinoids that also includes tretinoin.
Why is retinol famous?
It has the most scientific studies backing up its skin benefits out of all the non-prescription ingredients.
Retinol is proven to:
This is why retinol is effective at removing wrinkles, fading dark spots, treating acne, and reducing the appearance of pores.
Studies show retinol is less effective when exposed to UV. Be sure to look for appropriate packaging to keep your retinol potent (similar to Vitamin C).
Using retinol or any retinoids will increase sun-sensitivity in the first few months. Though studies show retinoids increase your skin's natural SPF with continuous use, it is best to always wear sunscreen and sun-protection.
We recommend speaking with a medical professional about using this ingredient during pregnancy.
Retinol may cause irritation in some people, so be sure to patch test. Experts recommend 'ramping up' retinol use: start using this ingredient once a week and work up to using it daily.
Read about Tretinoin
Learn more about RetinolIsntree Hyper Retinol EX 1.0 Serum contains this as ingredient number 16.
COSRX The Retinol 0.1 Cream contains this as ingredient number 28.
Allantoin plays a role in soothing and moisturizing the skin. Because of this, it is often added to products with strong active ingredients.
Some studies have shown this ingredient can promote wound healing with higher concentrations.
Allantoin is derived from the comfrey plant but produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Learn more about AllantoinIsntree Hyper Retinol EX 1.0 Serum contains this as ingredient number 17.
COSRX The Retinol 0.1 Cream contains this as ingredient number 25.
Panthenol (also referred to as pro-vitamin B5) is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin.
lt is a humectant, meaning that it helps the skin attract and retain moisture.
Another benefit is the anti-inflammatory abilities. This means that it's great for sensitive, irritation-prone skin.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
Learn more about PanthenolIsntree Hyper Retinol EX 1.0 Serum contains this as ingredient number 18.
COSRX The Retinol 0.1 Cream contains this as ingredient number 8.
Adenosine is in every living organism. It is one of four components in nucleic acids that helps store our DNA.
Adenosine has many benefits when used. These benefits include hydrating the skin, smoothing skin, and reducing wrinkles. Once applied, adenosine increases collagen production. It also helps with improving firmness and tissue repair.
Studies have found adenosine may also help with wound healing.
In skincare products, Adenosine is usually derived from yeast.
Learn more about AdenosineIsntree Hyper Retinol EX 1.0 Serum contains this as ingredient number 20.
COSRX The Retinol 0.1 Cream contains this as ingredient number 35.
Cetearyl alcohol is a mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is mainly used as an emulsifier. Emulsifiers help prevent the separation of oils and products. Due to its composition, it can also be used to thicken a product or help create foam.
Cetearyl alcohol is an emollient. Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Studies show Cetearyl alcohol is non-toxic and non-irritating. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient is usually derived from plant oils such as palm, vegetable, or coconut oils. There is debate on whether this ingredient will cause acne.
Due to the fatty acid base, this ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholIsntree Hyper Retinol EX 1.0 Serum contains this as ingredient number 21.
COSRX The Retinol 0.1 Cream contains this as ingredient number 6.
Disodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.
Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAIsntree Hyper Retinol EX 1.0 Serum contains this as ingredient number 22.
COSRX The Retinol 0.1 Cream contains this as ingredient number 33.
Stearic Acid is a fatty acid. It is an emollient, emulsifier, and texture enhancer.
As an emollient, stearic acid helps soften skin. It aids the skin's protective barrier by preventing water loss. It also provides a gentle cleansing effect without stripping away natural oils.
Stearic acid may also be used to enhance the texture of products. It can add volume and stabilize ingredients such as water and oil. This can help water and oil ingredients from separating.
Sources of stearic acid include animal or vegetable fats/oils such as coconut or shea. It can be naturally found in butter, cocoa butter, shea butter, vegetable fats, and animal tallow.
This ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidIsntree Hyper Retinol EX 1.0 Serum contains this as ingredient number 23.
COSRX The Retinol 0.1 Cream contains this as ingredient number 30.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Isntree Hyper Retinol EX 1.0 Serum 42 ingredients
COSRX The Retinol 0.1 Cream 51 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
Isntree Hyper Retinol EX 1.0 Serum 42 ingredients
COSRX The Retinol 0.1 Cream 51 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
COSRX The Retinol 0.1 Cream 51 ingredients
AshN.
(Started Dec 2023) This was a bit of an impulse buy with a friend, but I'm honestly glad I got it! I have previous experience with using retinoids...
(Started Dec 2023) This was a bit of an impulse buy with a friend, but I'm honestly glad I got it! I have previous experience with using retinoids (specifically from The Ordinary Line) and wanted to try something a bit stronger. On Amazon it is priced at $13, so I would say this is a wonderful budget buy. The formulation is very gentle given the strength and I experienced no problems with irritation! My skin actually ended up feeling smoother and softer the following morning with this. I would highly recommend this as a starter Retinol. Planning to get the .3 formulation after I go through another one.
sarahabma
Wonderful beginner retinol
Ny first ever retinol but 2nd time using a retinoid. for context I have highly acne-prone skin.
I've been using this...
Wonderful beginner retinol
Ny first ever retinol but 2nd time using a retinoid. for context I have highly acne-prone skin.
I've been using this every other night for a couple weeks now and I see that my acne is healing much faster than usual, i.e. less redness and irritation on acne that I would usually experience.
Though there are ingredients rated by SkinSort as not good for acne-prone skin (Cetearyl Alcohol, Myristic Acid and Lauric Acid), I have not noticed a negative reaction whatsoever. So, I would still recommend this product for other retinol beginners, especially those with acne-prone skin like me.
Alternatives
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