Japanese or Korean retinol? 128 answers from a Japanese Q&A

In January 2026, a post on the @cosme Q&A board in Japan asked: "Japanese or Korean retinol, which do you use?" The poster wrote that in Korea, products can go to higher retinol concentrations if they pass an official review, and that these can be personally imported into Japan; they use COSRX's 0.5% oil with no reaction. It drew 128 answers.

What the replies said

• By far the most common reply was a one-liner: "Japanese"
• Reasons given: safety, clearer ingredient information, and not having tough skin, so sticking with what feels safe
• Some said very high concentrations feel a bit scary
• Others use both, and reach for Korean ones more because more of them are high-strength
• One pointed out that some affordable Japanese brands also sell higher-strength retinol
• And some said consistency over years matters more than concentration, or simply pick whatever doesn't cause a retinoid reaction

"Japanese" won by a wide margin, but many who explained themselves judged by whether their skin could stick with it, not by country.

Desk note In Korea, a retinol product can be recognized as a wrinkle-improving functional cosmetic at the level notified by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (2,500 IU/g, about 0.075%); other concentrations need supporting evidence such as clinical tests and a separate review, according to the Kyunghyang Shinmun. With a "high-strength Korean" retinol, it is worth checking whether it went through that review.

Where does your retinol come from, and what made you choose it?

Original thread: @cosme Q&A — Japanese or Korean retinol? · Reference: Kyunghyang Shinmun

#Retinol #KBeauty #AntiAging