Retinyl Palmitate is the ester of Retinol and palmitic acid.
- Lines C
- Set amount
- 10,000 IU/g (MFDS anti-wrinkle notice)
- When
- evening
- Irritation
- low
Grades were set by reading this ingredient’s studies. They describe the ingredient, not every product that contains it.
How much products actually contain
25 products state the amountmedian 0.00004%0% at or above the amount studies used (10,000 IU/g (MFDS anti-wrinkle notice))
- under 0.01% 23
- 0.01–0.1% 0
- 0.1–1% 2
- 1% or more 0
Amounts are mostly stated by products named after the ingredient, so they may lean towards token amounts.
Of the products containing it, 68 list it before the 1% line and 146 after it (usually 1% or less).
Where no amount is stated, a product listing it early reaches the study amount about 34% of the time, one listing it late about 2%.
Clinical evidence grade by skin concern
- C
- uncontrolled or multi-ingredient studies
2 references
- Korea MFDS, Regulation on the Review of Functional Cosmetics, Annex 4 notified ingredient (efficacy and amount approved together)
- Duell 1997, retinyl palmitate penetrates far less than retinol (0.6% against 0.025%)
Products using this ingredient
12 of 214 confirmed · likeliest to carry enough first · See all 214
ISNTREEHyper Retinol EX 1.0% Serum0.3% stated · below study amount
Bio-OilSkincare Oil 125ml34% chance of enough
ORLYORLY Nail Tip Primer34% chance of enough
ORLYORLY Nail Tip Primer - 0.6fl oz34% chance of enough
TENZEROTENZERO Brightening Vitamin Body Wash34% chance of enough
PUREDERMGold Energy Hydrogel Eye Patch34% chance of enough
Design EssentialsDesign Essentials Scalp Care Vitamin Drops34% chance of enough
TENZEROTENZERO Brightening Vitamin Body Lotion34% chance of enough
OuidadOuidad Curl Quencher® Moisturizing Shampoo34% chance of enough
TheralogicRetinA Anti Wrinkle 3D Pore Ampoule 30ml34% chance of enough
Butter LondonButter London Horse Power Nail Rescue Basecoat, 0.2 fl oz34% chance of enough
Butter LondonButter London Horse Power Nail Rescue Basecoat, 0.4 fl oz34% chance of enough
Definition
Retinyl Palmitate is the ester of Retinol and palmitic acid.
All-trans-retinyl palmitate is an all-trans-retinyl ester obtained by formal condensation of the carboxy group of palmitic (hexadecanoic acid) with the hydroxy group of all-trans-retinol. It is used in cosmetic products to treat various skin disorders such as acne, skin aging, wrinkles, dark spots, and also protect against psoriasis. It has a role as an antioxidant, a human xenobiotic metabolite and an Escherichia coli metabolite. It is a retinyl palmitate and an all-trans-retinyl ester. It is functionally related to an all-trans-retinol.
Source: PubChem
US FDA substance register · UNII 1D1K0N0VVC · registered name VITAMIN A PALMITATE · single chemical substance
Cosmetic roles
Safety & regulatory references
Canada
- Maximum Concentration Permitted : 1.0% retinol equivalents; 1.15% w/w retinyl acetate; 1.83% w/w retinyl palmitate.
European Union
- Product Type, body parts : (a) Body lotion (b) other leave-on and rinse-off products
- Maximum concentration in ready for use preparation : (a) 0,05 % Retinol Equivalent (RE) (b) 0,3 % RE
- Wording of conditions of use and warnings : For any cosmetic product containing Retinol, Retinyl Acetate or Retinyl Palmitate the following, labelling is obligatory: ‘Contains Vitamin A. Consider your daily intake before use’.
Source: MFDS (Korea) cosmetic regulatory information
Restriction III/376 · SCCS opinion: OPINION ON Vitamin A (Retinol, Retinyl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate)
Source: EU CosIng ingredient list
Reviewed by CIR: 40th Anniversary Overview and Rereview Summaries From 2011 to 2015
Reviewed by CIR: Annual Review of Cosmetic Ingredient Safety Assessments: 2005/2006
Reviewed by CIR: Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Retinyl Palmitate and Retinol
More data — names, identifiers, properties, test records, literature
Official labels & definitions
JCIA labelling name パルミチン酸レチノール: 本品は、パルミチン酸（＊）とレチノール（＊）のエステルである。
Source: JCIA labelling names (Japan)
Names & identifiers
- CAS No.chemical registry number
- 79-81-2
- EC No.EU chemical inventory number
- 201-228-5
- DTXSIDUS EPA chemical ID
- DTXSID1021241
- DTXCIDUS EPA compound ID
- DTXCID101241
- IUPAC
- O~15~-Hexadecanoylretinol
- Molecular formula
- C36H60O2
- Molecular weight
- 524.874 g/mol
Measured properties
- Appearance
- Solid
- Melting point
- 28.5 °C
- Initial boiling point and range
- 607.5 ℃(760 mmHg)
- Flash point
- 79.7 ℃
- Relative density
- 0.92 (g/cm3)
- n-Octanol/water partition coefficient (Kow)
- 15.51
- Molecular weight
- 524.86
Values measured on the substance itself. The KOSHA data are a reference for writing and reviewing safety data sheets, not a specification for a commercial raw material.
Source: PubChem · KOSHA safety data sheets (Korea)
What products actually use it for
What the 16 products reported to the US EPA with this ingredient use it for. Products outside cosmetics are included, so the top few rows are its main uses.
- Softener and conditioner12
- Flavouring and nutrient1
- Dye1
- Antioxidant1
- Pharmaceutical (EPA)1
Source: US EPA CompTox dashboard
Irritation and sensitisation studies
1 skin studies and 0 eye studies are on record.
The study conclusions largely agree (100%). These tests are on the raw material itself; irritation at the amount in a finished product is a different question.
See all 1 studies
- Not likely to be sensitizing
skin sensitisation: in vivo (non-LLNA) · Screening · according to OECD Guideline 406 (Skin Sensitisation)
Source: US EPA CompTox dashboard
Related literature
- Photo‐co‐carcinogenesis of Topically Applied Retinyl Palmitate in SKH‐1 Hairless Mice · 2017
- Stability and Applicability of Retinyl Palmitate Loaded Beeswax Microcapsules for Cosmetic Use · 2021
- Microbial Production of Retinyl Palmitate and Its Application as a Cosmeceutical · 2020
- Nanoemulgel for Improved Topical Delivery of Retinyl Palmitate: Formulation Design and Stability Evaluation · 2020
- Retinol and Retinyl Palmitate · 2017
Linked databases 22
- Australian Industrial Chemicals Inventory (AICIS)
- ChEBI
- ChEMBL
- China inventory of existing ingredients (IECIC)
- EU CosIng ingredient list 2
- Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist
- JCIA labelling names (Japan)
- Korea Cosmetic Association ingredient dictionary
- KOSHA safety data sheets (Korea)
- MFDS (Korea) cosmetic ingredient register 2
- MFDS (Korea) cosmetic regulatory information 2 3
- NIST Chemistry WebBook
- PubChem 2
- Tlooto literature search 2 3 4 5
- UniChem cross-reference IDs
- US Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) 2 3 4
- US EPA CompTox dashboard 2
- US EPA DSSTox chemical database
- US FDA substance registration (GSRS)
- US FDA Unique Ingredient Identifier (UNII)
- Wikidata
- Wikipedia · English · Japanese