Retinyl Palmitate

Also known as: Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A Ester)

INCI: Retinyl Palmitate | Function: Anti-aging, Cell Communicating | Type: Retinoid (Vitamin A ester)

What Is Retinyl Palmitate?

Retinyl Palmitate is an ester of retinol and palmitic acid, making it a milder, more stable form of Vitamin A. It must be converted by skin enzymes to retinol then retinoic acid, resulting in a slower, gentler effect than pure retinol. Suitable for sensitive skin and beginners.

Key Skin Benefits

+ Gentler Vitamin A alternative for sensitive skin
+ Improves skin texture and smoothness
+ Provides antioxidant protection
+ More stable than pure retinol in formulations

Pros

+ Minimal irritation compared to retinol
+ Can be used at higher concentrations with less risk
+ Good starting point for retinoid beginners
+ More photostable than retinol

Cons

− Requires 2-3 enzymatic conversion steps (less potent)
− Slower results than retinol or retinaldehyde
− Can still cause irritation at high concentrations
− Oil-soluble — limited to anhydrous/oil-phase formulations

Specifications

Property	Value
Usage Areas	Face, Eye, Body
Product Type	Leave-On
Source	Synthetic
Natural Level	Synthetic (nature-identical)

Safety Ratings

Metric	Rating
Skin Sensitivity	2/5 (low)
Comedogenic Rating	0-1/5
EWG Score	8/10

Regional Regulatory Limits

Region	Leave-on %	Rinse-off %	Status
EU (CosIng)	Max 0.3% (face, as retinol equiv.)	Not applicable	Restricted — under Vitamin A limits
US (CIR/FDA)	Up to 2%	Not applicable	Allowed — CIR safe as used
Japan (MHLW)	No specific limit	Not applicable	Allowed
ASEAN	Max 0.3% (as retinol equiv.)	Not applicable	Restricted — follows EU
China (NMPA)	No specific limit	Not applicable	Allowed

Typical Usage % by Product Type

Product Type	Typical %
Anti-aging serum	0.5 - 2%
Moisturizer	0.3 - 1%
Eye cream	0.1 - 0.5%

References

Mukherjee S et al. (2006) — Retinoids in skin. PMID: 17147561
CIR (2013) — Retinol and Retinyl Palmitate safety assessment
EWG Skin Deep — Score 8/10

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