0.1% Retinol Youth Serum

Mizon

Where to buy Possibly in stock

About this product

The Mizon 0.1% Retinol Youth Serum is a serums, essence, ampoule. Our analysis of its 66 ingredients (54 low-risk) rates it Excellent (98/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and dry skin.

Vegan-friendly Reef-safe

Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.

At a glance

Type
Serums, Essence, Ampoules
Ingredients
66
Low-risk
54
Fragrance
Fragrance-free
Origin
South Korea

The evidence

Quick Product Notes

Paraben-Free Sulfate-Free Alcohol-Free Silicone-Free EU Allergen-Free Fungal Acne (Malassezia) Safe

Notable Effects & Ingredients

No Notable Effects & Ingredients

Ingredients Related to Skin Types

Good   Bad — tap a skin type to see which ingredients · estimated from ingredient functions
Dry Skin 19/17
Good for dry skin
Glucose Glyceryl Stearate Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprate Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer Squalane Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Caprylyl Glycol Sodium Hyaluronate Glycerin Cholesterol Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid Hyaluronic Acid Sodium Polyacrylate Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract Larix Leptolepis Bark Extract
Caution for dry skin
Cyclodextrin Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer Sorbitan Oleate Xanthan Gum Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside Glycerin Potassium Cetyl Phosphate Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose Ceteth-5 Alcohol Hydrogenated Lecithin Sodium Polyacrylate Polysorbate 20 PEG-5 Rapeseed Sterol Ceteth-3
Oily/Acne-Prone Skin 2/0
Good for oily/acne-prone skin
Alcohol Retinol
Sensitive Skin 6/8
Good for sensitive skin
Sophora Flavescens Root Extract Glycerin Hydroxyacetophenone BHT Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract Larix Leptolepis Bark Extract
Caution for sensitive skin
Dipropylene Glycol Sorbitan Oleate Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Glycerin Citric Acid Alcohol BHT Retinol

Ingredients list

66 total
Lower hazard (1) Higher hazard (9)
All66 Skin Conditioning50 Humectant14 Surfactant11 Emulsifying11 Film Forming10 Viscosity Controlling9 Solvent9 Emulsion Stabilising8
EWG CIR Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions Notes
1
Water
(Solvent)
1
Methylpropanediol
(Solvent)
1
A
Niacinamide
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Smoothing)
2
A
Glycerin
(Denaturant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Oral Care Agent, Oral Health Care Drug, Skin Protecting, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Perfuming, Solvent)
Good for Dry Skin
Good for Dry Skin
Fungal Acne
Fungal Acne Trigger
1
Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprate
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Viscosity Increasing Agent)
1
A
Cyclodextrin
(Absorbent, Chelating Agent)
1
A
1,2-Hexanediol
(Solvent)
2
A
Hydrogenated Lecithin
(Skin Conditioning, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Suspending Agent Nonsurfactant)
1
Propanediol
(Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling)
1
B
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
(Skin Conditioning, Emulsifying, Surfactant)
1
A
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
(Emollient, Masking, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Solvent)
1
Hydroxyacetophenone
(Antioxidant)
1
Bakuchiol
(Cosmetic Biocide, Antimicrobial)
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
(Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Controlling)
1
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
(Anticaking Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Opacifying, Suspending Agent Nonsurfactant, Viscosity Increasing Agent)
1
A
Glyceryl Stearate
(Emollient, Emulsifying)
Fungal Acne
Fungal Acne Trigger
1
A
Polyisobutene
(Binding Agent, Film Forming, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Viscosity Controlling)
3
B
Sodium Polyacrylate
(Absorbent, Emulsion Stabilising, Film Forming, Hair Fixing, Skin Conditioning Agent Emollient, Viscosity Controlling Agent, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Skin Conditioning)
1
A
Panthenol
(Antistatic Agent, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning)
Good for Dry Skin
Good for Dry Skin
1
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
(Emollient)
1
A
Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
(Skin Conditioning, Emulsifying, Surfactant)
1
A
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
(Adhesive, Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Film Forming, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Antistatic Agent, Binding, Surfactant, Viscosity Controlling)
1
A
Squalane
(Emollient, Hair Conditioning, Refatting, Skin Conditioning)
1
A
Pullulan
(Binding Agent, Film Forming, Binding)
6
A
BHT
(Antioxidant, Fragrance, Masking)
1
A
Dipropylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Masking, Viscosity Controlling)
3
B
Polysorbate 20
(Emulsifying, Surfactant)
Fungal Acne
Fungal Acne Trigger
2
Alcohol
(Antifoaming Agent, Antimicrobial, Astringent, Masking, Solvent, Viscosity Controlling)
Bad for Dry Skin
Bad for Dry Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
9
A
Retinol
(Skin Conditioning)
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
2
A
Citric Acid
(Chelating Agent, Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent, Masking)
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Citrus Reticulata Peel Extract
(Skin Conditioning)
Gleditsia Australis Fruit Extract
(Skin Conditioning)
1
Sophora Flavescens Root Extract
(Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning)
3
PEG-5 Rapeseed Sterol
(Sufactant, Surfactant, Emulsifying)
Brassica Campestris Sterols
(Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Emollient)
1
Adenosine
(Skin Conditioning)
1
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
(Cleansing, Foaming, Surfactant)
1
A
Sorbitan Oleate
(Fragrance, Emulsifying, Surfactant)
Bad for Oily Skin
Bad for Oily Skin
Fungal Acne
Fungal Acne Trigger
1
A
Xanthan Gum
(Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Skin Conditioning, Surfactant Emulsifying Agent, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Gel Forming, Viscosity Controlling)
Citrus Nobilis Peel Extract
(Fragrance, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning)
1
A
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
(Flavoring Agent, Skin Conditioning, Humectant)
2
B
Ceteth-5
(Emulsifying, Surfactant)
B
Ceteth-3
(Emulsifying, Surfactant)
Larix Leptolepis Bark Extract
(Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting)
1
Poterium Officinale Root Extract
(Antimicrobial, Tonic)
1
3
B
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
(Emollient, Humectant, Oral Care Agent, Skin Conditioning)
Good for Sensitive Skin
Good for Sensitive Skin
1
A
Sodium Hyaluronate
(Skin Conditioning, Humectant)
Good for Dry Skin
Good for Dry Skin
1
A
Cholesterol
(Emulsion Stabilising, Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emollient, Emulsifying, Stabilising, Viscosity Controlling)
1
Crithmum Maritimum Extract
(Skin Conditioning, Tonic)
1
Porphyridium Cruentum Extract
(Skin Conditioning)
Hexapeptide-61 Dimer
(Skin Conditioning)
1
B
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
(Emulsifying, Surfactant)
1
A
Caprylyl Glycol
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Humectant)
1
A
Glucose
(Flavoring Agent, Humectant, Skin Conditioning Agent Miscellaneous)
1
A
Copper Tripeptide-1
(Skin Conditioning)
1
Ceramide NP
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning)
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-15
(Skin Conditioning)
1
A
Disodium EDTA
(Chelating Agent, Viscosity Controlling)
1
A
Hyaluronic Acid
(Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Antistatic Agent, Humectant, Moisturising)
1
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
(Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Skin Conditioning)
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
(Skin Conditioning)
1
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
(Film Forming, Humectant)
1
Potassium Hyaluronate
(Skin Conditioning)
1
A
Pentylene Glycol
(Skin Conditioning, Solvent)
1
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
(Humectant, Skin Conditioning)
1
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
(Humectant)

My Ingredient Notes

No personal ingredient notes yet. Save ingredients to your profile to get good/bad alerts here.

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Key ingredients

Niacinamide
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant, Skin Protecting
Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprate
Skin Conditioning, Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Emollient, Skin Conditioning

Benefits

Good for dry skin
Good for oily/acne-prone skin

Concerns

Not fungal acne (malassezia) safe
Retinol — higher EWG
May not suit sensitive skin

EWG flags hazard, not real-world risk — ratings don't account for how much of an ingredient a product contains. Treat these as things to research, not verdicts. How we score →

Ingredients explained

Water
Solvent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Solvent
Methylpropanediol
Solvent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Solvent
Niacinamide
Hair conditioning, Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Hair conditioningSkin conditioningSmoothing
Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprate
Skin conditioning, Emollient
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Skin conditioningEmollientViscosity increasing agent
Cyclodextrin
Absorbent, Chelating agent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A AbsorbentChelating agent
1,2-Hexanediol
Solvent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Solvent
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Skin conditioning, Emulsifying
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 2 CIR A Skin conditioningEmulsifyingSurfactantSuspending agent- nonsurfactant
Propanediol
Solvent, Viscosity decreasing agent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 SolventViscosity decreasing agentViscosity controlling
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin conditioning, Emulsifying
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR B Skin conditioningEmulsifyingSurfactant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Emollient, Masking
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A EmollientMaskingPerfumingSkin conditioningSolvent
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Antioxidant
Bakuchiol
Cosmetic biocide, Antimicrobial
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Cosmetic biocideAntimicrobial
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin conditioning, Viscosity controlling
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A Skin conditioningViscosity controlling
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Anticaking agent, Emulsion stabilising
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Anticaking agentEmulsion stabilisingOpacifyingSuspending agent - nonsurfactantViscosity increasing agent
Polyisobutene
Binding agent, Film forming
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Binding agentFilm formingViscosity increasing agentBindingViscosity controlling
+ 40 more — see the full ingredients list above
Glycerin
Denaturant, Fragrance
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 2 CIR A DenaturantFragranceHair conditioningHumectantOral care agentOral health care drugSkin protectingViscosity decreasing agentPerfumingSolvent Good for Dry SkinFungal-acne trigger
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient, Emulsifying
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A EmollientEmulsifying Fungal-acne trigger
Panthenol
Antistatic agent, Hair conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Antistatic agentHair conditioningSkin conditioning Good for Dry Skin
BHT
Antioxidant, Fragrance
Moderate-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 6 CIR A AntioxidantFragranceMasking
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying, Surfactant
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 CIR B EmulsifyingSurfactant Fungal-acne trigger
Alcohol
Antifoaming agent, Antimicrobial
Causes moisture evaporation - prone to dry out skinRead moreShow less
EWG 2 Antifoaming agentAntimicrobialAstringentMaskingSolventViscosity controlling Bad for Dry SkinBad for Sensitive Skin
Retinol
Skin conditioning
Potentially a skin irritantRead moreShow less
EWG 9 CIR A Skin conditioning Bad for Sensitive Skin
Citric Acid
Chelating agent, Fragrance
Skin irritation can occur at high concentrationRead moreShow less
EWG 2 CIR A Chelating agentFragrancePh adjusterBuffering agentMasking Bad for Sensitive Skin
Sorbitan Oleate
Fragrance, Emulsifying
Potentially comedogenic - can block poresRead moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A FragranceEmulsifyingSurfactant Bad for Oily SkinFungal-acne trigger
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient, Humectant
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 1–3 CIR B EmollientHumectantOral care agentSkin conditioning Good for Sensitive Skin
Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin conditioning, Humectant
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Skin conditioningHumectant Good for Dry Skin

How to use

How to use

  • 1 Where it fits: Apply after toner and before moisturiser — thinnest to thickest.
  • 2 Evening: Use at night — start 2–3× a week and build up as your skin tolerates it.
  • 3 Wear SPF the next day: Acids and retinoids increase sun sensitivity — daily sunscreen is a must while using this.

General guidance from this product's category and active ingredients — always follow the directions on the package.

Trust & honesty

Pregnancy & breastfeeding

Contains ingredients some choose to avoid or double-check while pregnant or nursing.

Often avoided
Retinoids (Vitamin A) (Retinol)

Topical retinoids (retinol, retinaldehyde, retinyl esters) are widely advised against in pregnancy as a precaution. The strongest evidence is for ORAL retinoids; topical absorption is low, but most clinicians err on the side of caution.

This is general information, not medical advice. Pregnancy guidance varies and depends on concentration and your individual situation — always check with your doctor, midwife or pharmacist. How we flag this.

Effective levels — general guide

The concentrations these actives are typically effective at in research — not a measurement of this product.

Retinoids (Vitamin A) 0.01–1%

Most studied between 0.1% and 1%. Higher is not automatically better — irritation climbs with dose, so a well-formulated lower strength is often the sweet spot.

Retinol

Niacinamide 2–5% (up to 10%)

Most research uses 2–5%; some formulas go to 10%. Very high levels can cause flushing in sensitive skin.

Niacinamide

INCI lists don't disclose amounts, and we don't claim to know this product's levels — these are the ranges these ingredients are usually effective at, so you can tell a real formula from "fairy-dusting" a marketed active. How we estimate this.

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