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Retinyl Palmitate

What Retinyl Palmitate is & what it does

A gentle, stable ester of vitamin A that converts slowly to retinol in the skin, offering mild smoothing and conditioning benefits. It is less potent but better tolerated than retinol.

What is Retinyl Palmitate and what does it do in sunscreen?

Retinyl Palmitate is a gentle, stable ester of vitamin A. It conditions and smooths the skin, and once absorbed it converts slowly into retinol, so it delivers a mild, vitamin A style benefit. It is less potent than pure retinol but tends to be better tolerated, which is why it shows up in daily moisturizers with SPF.

Is Retinyl Palmitate safe in sunscreen?

Yes, it is generally regarded as well tolerated and is the mildest, most stable form of vitamin A. Some people prefer to keep stronger vitamin A derivatives to their nighttime routine, but retinyl palmitate is commonly included in daytime SPF products. As with any vitamin A ingredient, it is sensible to be diligent with sun protection, which a sunscreen already provides.

Does Retinyl Palmitate clog pores?

Generally no. Our data does not flag it as comedogenic, and it is used at low levels for its conditioning, vitamin A role rather than as a heavy oil. As with any vitamin A derivative, very sensitive or acne-prone skin can occasionally react, but it is not a notable pore-clogging ingredient.

Is Retinyl Palmitate the same as retinol?

No, but they are related. Retinyl Palmitate is a milder, more stable ester of vitamin A that the skin converts step by step into retinol, and then into the active form. Because of those extra conversion steps it is gentler and less potent than retinol, which makes it suitable for everyday products like SPF moisturizers.

Is Retinyl Palmitate vegan?

The retinyl palmitate used in modern cosmetics is typically made synthetically, so it is usually suitable for vegan formulas. Vitamin A esters can in principle come from different sources, so anyone who needs certainty should check the specific brand's sourcing or vegan certification.

Sunscreens with Retinyl Palmitate

We rate 221 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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