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COSRX The Retinol 0.5 Oil vs The Ordinary Retinol 1% in Squalane
COSRX The Retinol 0.5 Oil and The Ordinary Retinol 1% in Squalane are both treatments — both are dosed with Retinol. They earn the same efficacy grade (C, 63/100). The Ordinary Retinol 1% in Squalane costs $20 less (71% cheaper). So it comes down to higher efficacy (COSRX The Retinol 0.5 Oil) versus better value (The Ordinary Retinol 1% in Squalane).
Side by side
Grade, key actives, and price — the actives they share (Retinol) are what do the work.
How we grade
Both products are graded A–F on the same standard: the active, its published effective concentration, and the study behind it — never marketing. A cheaper product can out-grade a pricier one. See the full methodology. Buy links are affiliate links; we may earn a small commission at no cost to you, and it never changes a grade.
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Get the appBased on published concentration thresholds and formulation science. Our algorithm predicts likely efficacy — it does not test the product. Individual results vary. Not evaluated by the FDA. Comparisons are based on graded efficacy, shared actives, and published dosing — not side-by-side clinical testing; textures and tolerability still differ.