Re
Retinyl palmitate
Retinyl PalmitateActive
Ester form of vitamin A. Mildest retinoid — also the least clinically effective.
What it does
Retinyl palmitate must be converted twice (to retinol, then to retinoic acid) before becoming active. Common in moisturizers and SPF products as a marketing-friendly retinoid that rarely irritates. Evidence for visible benefit is limited compared to retinol or tretinoin.
The evidence, graded
strongAll topical retinoids — tretinoin, adapalene, retinol, retinaldehyde, retinyl palmitate, and hydroxypinacolone retinoate — are not recommended during pregnancy. Direct human data exist mainly for the prescription retinoids (tretinoin, adapalene); the caution extends to the others as a precautionary class-effect. Data on inadvertent exposure reassure but aren't strong enough to recommend any retinoid in pregnancy.Kaplan 2015 · British Journal of Dermatology ↗
Graded per the methodology: strong · moderate · emerging · expert consensus. A weak source on a strong claim gets the weaker label.
Also known as
vitamin a palmitate
Pairs worth knowing
This page is public and indexed on purpose (unlike profiles and drops, which are unlisted) — it’s the citation behind shared ingredient cards, and it should be findable.
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