Type: Ingredient entity — regulatory & claim record
Topic: Retinol (레티놀) — cosmetic functional ingredient (wrinkle improvement)
Evidence basis: MFDS 기능성화장품 심사에 관한 규정 (Notice No. 2025-88), KCIA ingredient list (no.5489), PubChem (CAS 68-26-8)
Last Verified: 2026-05-23
This page does not make treatment, disease prevention, or efficacy claims. See the Evidence Boundaries section below for what this page does and does not assert.
What Is Retinol in the Context of Korean Cosmetics?
Retinol (레티놀) is a form of Vitamin A widely used in cosmetic formulations. In South Korea, it holds a distinct regulatory position: it is listed as a notified (고시형) functional cosmetic ingredient for wrinkle improvement under the MFDS (Ministry of Food and Drug Safety) functional cosmetic framework. This means products formulated with retinol at the specified concentration and in specified dosage forms can, after completing the required MFDS reporting or review process, carry a wrinkle improvement functional claim.
The regulatory classification as a functional cosmetic ingredient (기능성화장품 원료) is specific to cosmetic products and does not extend to pharmaceutical or medical claims. Retinol used in prescription retinoid products — such as tretinoin — is governed under an entirely different regulatory framework and should not be conflated with cosmetic retinol.
This page records the regulatory status, permitted claim scope, and claim boundaries for retinol as a cosmetic ingredient in Korea. It does not endorse specific products or guarantee individual results.
Ingredient Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Ingredient Name | Retinol |
| Korean Name | 레티놀 |
| INCI Name | RETINOL |
| Synonyms | Vitamin A; Vitamin A alcohol; all-trans-Retinol |
| CAS No. | 68-26-8 |
| Ingredient Type | Cosmetic functional ingredient (기능성화장품 고시형 원료) |
| Cosmetic Role | Wrinkle improvement (주름개선); skin conditioning |
| Supplement Function | Not applicable in this context (cosmetic scope only) |
| Status | To Review |
Note: CAS 11103-57-4 refers to a Vitamin A mixture and is not the primary CAS for retinol as a cosmetic INCI ingredient.
Regulatory Records
| Record Type | Jurisdiction | Issuing Body | Record Number | Scope | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 기능성화장품 고시형 원료 | Republic of Korea | MFDS (식품의약품안전처) | 식품의약품안전처고시 제2025-88호 | Wrinkle improvement; 2,500 IU/g; specified dosage forms only | Active | 기능성화장품 심사에 관한 규정 별표 4 (S-NEW-01) |
Record review status: To Review. Direct verification of original document completed (별표 4, MFDS PDF). Retinyl Palmitate is listed separately in the same regulation and must not be merged with this retinol record.
Claim Safety Matrix
| Claim Text | Claim Type | Why It Matters | Safer Alternative Wording | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helps improve the appearance of wrinkles (피부의 주름개선에 도움을 준다) | Allowed | This is the MFDS-notified functional claim expression for retinol at 2,500 IU/g in qualifying product forms. Applicable only when the product has completed the MFDS functional cosmetic reporting or review process. | 피부의 주름개선에 도움을 줄 수 있음 (within MFDS-approved functional cosmetic scope) | MFDS 고시 제2025-88호 별표 4 |
| Retinol reverses skin aging / reverses wrinkles | Prohibited | Treatment or reversal claims for aging imply a disease or medical condition. Cosmetics in Korea may not claim to treat, cure, or reverse biological aging processes. | Omit. Use only the MFDS-approved wrinkle improvement wording. | 화장품법 제2조, 식품의약품안전처고시 제2025-88호 |
| Equivalent to prescription retinoids / works like tretinoin | Prohibited | Prescription retinoids (tretinoin, isotretinoin) are pharmaceutical drugs regulated under the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act, not the Cosmetics Act. Implying equivalence would mislead consumers and violate cosmetic labeling regulations. | Omit entirely. Retinol and prescription retinoids are governed by separate regulatory frameworks. | 화장품법 제2조; 약사법 |
| Stimulates collagen production / increases collagen synthesis | Avoid | Collagen synthesis claims imply a physiological mechanism that goes beyond the permitted cosmetic functional scope. The MFDS-permitted claim is limited to the appearance of wrinkles, not underlying biological mechanisms. | 피부의 주름개선에 도움을 줄 수 있음. Mechanism-level claims require separate clinical substantiation and MFDS approval. | 기능성화장품 심사에 관한 규정 제2025-88호 |
Claim review status: To Review. Claim Type for “Allowed” row reflects the MFDS-notified expression and requires human review confirmation before use in consumer-facing content.
Evidence Boundaries: What This Page Does Not Claim
The following claims are outside the scope of this ingredient record:
This page does not claim retinol treats or cures any skin disease or condition. The MFDS functional cosmetic classification covers the appearance of wrinkles in a cosmetic context. Conditions such as acne, eczema, psoriasis, or dermatitis are medical conditions regulated under a separate framework.
This page does not claim retinol is equivalent to prescription retinoids. Tretinoin, isotretinoin, and adapalene are pharmaceutical drugs governed by the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act. Retinol in cosmetics operates under the Cosmetics Act only.
This page does not guarantee individual results. The MFDS functional claim scope describes a permitted claim category, not a guaranteed outcome for any individual user or product.
This page does not make mechanism-level biological claims. References to collagen synthesis, cell turnover, or receptor activity go beyond the approved cosmetic functional claim scope and are not supported by this record.
Related Entities
Related Ingredients
- Niacinamide (나이아신아마이드) — whitening functional cosmetic ingredient
- Adenosine — wrinkle improvement functional cosmetic ingredient
- Retinyl Palmitate — separate MFDS regulatory record; not to be merged with retinol
- Arbutin — whitening functional cosmetic ingredient (record forthcoming)
Related Product Types
- 기능성화장품 (Functional cosmetics) — wrinkle improvement category
- Anti-aging serums and creams with MFDS functional cosmetic status
Related Claims
- Wrinkle improvement functional claim (주름개선 기능성) — MFDS 고시형
- Functional cosmetic reporting/review completion requirement
Related Regulatory Concepts
- 기능성화장품 심사에 관한 규정 (MFDS Notice 2025-88)
- 별표 4 — 고시형 기능성화장품 성분·함량 기준
- 고시형 vs. 개별인정형 functional cosmetic classification
Source Transparency Note
This page uses the following source classification:
| Source | Role | Authority Scope | Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| MFDS 고시 제2025-88호 (별표 4) | Regulatory | Allowed claims, regulatory status, permitted concentration | Cosmetic scope only; does not cover pharmaceutical retinoids |
| KCIA (no.5489) | Naming | INCI name, Korean name, synonym confirmation | Not valid as functional claim evidence |
| PubChem (CAS 68-26-8) | Chemical identity | CAS number, molecular structure | No regulatory or claim information |
KCIA is used for naming and synonym confirmation only. KCIA alone is not valid evidence for functional or medical claims.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is retinol a regulated ingredient in Korean cosmetics?
Yes. Retinol is listed as a notified functional cosmetic ingredient (고시형 기능성화장품 원료) for wrinkle improvement under MFDS Notice No. 2025-88, Appendix 4. Products using retinol at 2,500 IU/g in specified dosage forms can carry a wrinkle improvement functional claim after completing the required MFDS process.
What claims are permitted for retinol in Korean functional cosmetics?
The MFDS-notified permitted expression is: 피부의 주름개선에 도움을 준다 (“Helps improve the appearance of wrinkles”). This claim applies only to products that have completed the MFDS functional cosmetic reporting or review process and meet the specified concentration and dosage form requirements.
Can retinol cosmetic products claim to work like prescription retinoids?
No. Prescription retinoids such as tretinoin are pharmaceutical drugs regulated under Korea’s Pharmaceutical Affairs Act, which is separate from the Cosmetics Act. Implying equivalence between cosmetic retinol and prescription retinoids is prohibited under Korean cosmetic labeling regulations.
Can retinol claims mention collagen synthesis or cell turnover?
These are mechanism-level biological claims that go beyond the permitted cosmetic functional scope. The MFDS-permitted claim for retinol is limited to the appearance of wrinkles. Claims about underlying biological mechanisms require separate clinical substantiation and regulatory approval.
What is the difference between retinol and retinyl palmitate in Korean regulations?
Retinol (CAS 68-26-8) and Retinyl Palmitate are listed as separate ingredients with separate regulatory records under MFDS Notice 2025-88. They should not be treated as equivalent for regulatory or claim purposes.