UK vs Korea

Retinol and retinal serums: UK vs Korea

Two UK brands and two Korean brands, judged on the same scorecard. The budget picks from each country are neck and neck.

How we judged

We set the scorecard before looking at the results: shelf price per 10ml, the type and strength of retinoid, what kind of product it is, and who it suits best. We compared shelf prices for all four, because UK shops often deliver free over £25 and Korean shops charge delivery on small orders.

Price per 10ml, cheapest first

ProductBrand fromPer 10ml
Beauty of Joseon Revive Eye Serum Ginseng + RetinalKorea£4.18
The INKEY List Retinol SerumUK£4.67
COSRX The Retinol 0.1 CreamKorea£9.11
Medik8 Crystal Retinal 3UK£16.67

The four products

The INKEY List Retinol SerumUK brand

£14.00 for 30ml (Boots and Cult Beauty, RRP) · £4.67 per 10ml

Key retinoid: 1% retinyl acetate and 0.5% Granactive Retinoid (two gentle retinoids), plus squalane

Type: Face serum

Best for: Budget beginners

Medik8 Crystal Retinal 3UK brand

£50.00 for 30ml (Space NK, RRP) · £16.67 per 10ml

Key retinoid: 0.03% retinal, with stability technology

Type: Face serum

Best for: Beginners who want a step-by-step path to stronger retinal

Beauty of Joseon Revive Eye Serum Ginseng + RetinalKorean brand

£12.53 for 30ml (Olive Young, before delivery) · £4.18 per 10ml

Key retinoid: About 0.02% retinal in liposomes, with 10% ginseng

Type: Eye serum, often used on the face

Best for: Trying retinal on a budget, and the eye area

COSRX The Retinol 0.1 CreamKorean brand

£18.22 for 20ml (Olive Young, before delivery) · £9.11 per 10ml

Key retinoid: 0.1% retinol in a cream

Type: Face cream

Best for: Beginners who prefer a cream to a serum

Our take: there’s no single winner. On price, the budget picks are neck and neck: Beauty of Joseon (Korea) is slightly cheaper per 10ml on the shelf, but The INKEY List (UK) often works out cheaper once Korean delivery is added. Beauty of Joseon gives you retinal, the faster-working form, though it’s made for the eye area. Medik8 (UK) costs the most, but gives you a clear path up to stronger strengths. Whichever you choose, start two or three nights a week and wear sunscreen every day.

Read more in Retinal and retinol, explained, or see the Medik8 vs Beauty of Joseon dupe check.

Sources

  1. The INKEY List Retinol Serum at Boots
  2. Medik8 Crystal Retinal 3 at Space NK
  3. Beauty of Joseon Revive Eye Serum retinal strength

UK prices are recommended retail prices, checked 31 October 2026, and are often discounted. Korean shelf prices checked 28 October 2026. Retinoids aren’t recommended during pregnancy. Some links may earn us a commission from UK and Korean shops alike, which never changes our verdicts. How we check