Ingredient glossary
Retinyl Palmitate
On your shelf ✓What Retinyl Palmitate does for your skin, who it suits, and what to watch for.
INCI: Retinyl Palmitate · Also: Vitamin A Palmitate
In short: Retinyl Palmitate delivers anti-aging support and antioxidant support, suits most skin types, and the evidence behind it is moderate. One thing to know: not for pregnancy or breastfeeding.
- What it does
- Anti aging, antioxidant support
- Best for
- Most skin types
- Watch out
- Not for pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Evidence
- Moderate
The molecule
The Glow take
Nice to have, and nothing to overthink.
Retinyl Palmitate plays a quiet supporting role, rounding out a formula rather than being the reason you buy it.
— Maya
What it does
- anti aging
- antioxidant support
moderate evidenceEx vivo and formulation data show that retinyl palmitate can stimulate collagen when used at several times the concentration of retinol, but clinical anti-aging data are more limited.
On a label: works best above 0.3%.
Who it's for, and who should skip it
Tends to suit
- dry
- normal
- sensitive
Approach with care
- pregnancy
- breastfeeding
- Clogs poresLow
- Irritation riskLow
How it fits each skin type
- DrySuits
- CombinationSuits
- OilySuits
- SensitiveSuits
Take extra care if any of these apply to you: pregnancy, breastfeeding.
Where it fits in your routine
Plays well with
- ceramides
- antioxidants
Retinyl Palmitate, answered
Is Retinyl Palmitate safe during pregnancy?
No. Retinyl Palmitate is best avoided during pregnancy and breastfeeding. If you are pregnant or trying, leave this one out and ask your doctor about a safe alternative.
Who should avoid Retinyl Palmitate?
Approach Retinyl Palmitate with care if any of these apply to you: pregnancy and breastfeeding.
What concentration of Retinyl Palmitate actually works?
Research tends to show Retinyl Palmitate starts pulling its weight above 0.3%. If a brand prints the percentage, that is the number to look for.
During pregnancy
Leave Retinyl Palmitate out while you are pregnant or breastfeeding. It sits on the list of ingredients usually held back during this time.
When in doubt, check with your doctor or midwife. They outrank any website, including this one.
Commonly confused with
- RetinolRetinyl palmitate is the gentlest, weakest retinoid; your skin converts it into retinol, so it does less and works more slowly.
Compare Retinyl Palmitate with
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