Retinol (Vitamin A)
AKA “SYNTHETIC, >=95% (HPLC)”
Vitamin A
Ingredient Facts
Retinol (Vitamin A)
AKA: SYNTHETIC, >=95% (HPLC)
Vitamin A · Skin Conditioning · EWG: 9
Synthetic
Skin Conditioner
Retinoid
Vitamin A
Not Clean
This ingredient's score is higher if a product contains it at levels above the concentration determined to be safe by EWG’s risk assessment, 0.01 parts per million retinol equivalence. EWG used National Toxicology Program data on retinoid exposure in mice and the development of skin cancer lesions to calculate a safe level of retinoids in a product. The ingredient score will be lower if the total concentration of retinoids in the product is at or below EWG’s calculated safe level.
Formula
C20H30O
Mol. Weight
286.5
CAS #
68-26-8 / 11103-57-4
Form
Liquid
See origin →
Functions
Skin Conditioning
A catch-all term for ingredients that improve how skin looks and feels — softer, smoother, more supple. The workhorse behind most moisturizers.
Boosts collagen production
Reduces fine lines
Supports cell turnover
Evens pigmentation
Smooths skin texture
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
Wrinkles
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
No
Safety Assessment of Synthetic Fluorphlogopite as Used in Cosmetics.
Becker LC, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Hill RA, Klaassen CD et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2015
Novel Cyclized Hexapeptide-9 Outperforms Retinol Against Skin Aging: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Active- and Vehicle-Controlled Clinical Trial.
Chang H, Tao K, Yang Y, Wang Y, Ge M et al.
Journal of cosmetic dermatology, 2025
Amended Safety Assessment of Synthetically Manufactured Amorphous Silica and Hydrated Silica as Used in Cosmetics
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Extended Re-review Summary: Safety Assessment of Fossil and Synthetic Waxes as Used in Cosmetics
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Fossil and Synthetic Waxes
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Retinyl Palmitate and Retinol
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Safety Assessment of Synthetic Fluorphlogopite as Used in Cosmetics
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Retinol
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Retinol (Vitamin A)
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Synthetic Beeswax
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Synthetic Jojoba Oil
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Synthetic Wax
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Prospective, randomized, double-blind assessment of topical bakuchiol and retinol for facial photoageing.
Dhaliwal S, Rybak I, Ellis SR, Notay M, Trivedi M et al.
The British journal of dermatology, 2019
Retinol (Vitamin A)
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Synthetic Beeswax
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Synthetic Jojoba Oil
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Synthetic Wax
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Mitigation of retinol-induced skin irritation by physiologic lipids: Evidence from patch testing.
Fang Y, Ying Y, Xiaolan W, Lin S, Chenlan X et al.
Journal of cosmetic dermatology, 2024
Curarizants, synthetic
Health Canada
Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist
Narcotics, natural and synthetic
Health Canada
Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist
Retinol and its esters
Health Canada
Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist
Improvement of naturally aged skin with vitamin A (retinol).
Kafi R, Kwak HS, Schumacher WE, Cho S, Hanft VN et al.
Archives of dermatology, 2007
Natural soap is clinically effective and less toxic and more biodegradable in aquatic organisms and human skin cells than synthetic detergents.
Kanyama T, Masunaga A, Kawahara T, Morita H, Akita S
PloS one, 2025
Natural soap is clinically effective and less toxic and more biodegradable in aquatic organisms and human skin cells than synthetic detergents.
Kanyama T, Masunaga A, Kawahara T, Morita H, Akita S
PloS one, 2025
Dermal exposure to synthetic musks: Human health risk assessment, mechanism, and control strategy.
Li X, He W, Zhao Y, Chen B, Zhu Z et al.
Ecotoxicology and environmental safety, 2022
Establishing biosynthetic pathway for the production of p-hydroxyacetophenone and its glucoside in Escherichia coli.
Lu L, Wang X, Zhou L, Liu Q, Zhang G et al.
Metabolic engineering, 2023
Jojoba Oil Soft Colloidal Nanocarrier of a Synthetic Retinoid: Preparation, Characterization and Clinical Efficacy in Psoriatic Patients.
Nasr M, Abdel-Hamid S, Moftah NH, Fadel M, Alyoussef AA
Current drug delivery, 2017
Tensile properties and contours of aging facial skin. A controlled double-blind comparative study of the effects of retinol, melibiose-lactose and the
Piérard-Franchimont C, Castelli D, Cromphaut IV, Bertin C, Ries G et al.
Skin research and technology : official journal of International Society for Bioengineering and the Skin (ISBS) [and] International Society for Digital Imaging of Skin (ISDIS) [and] International Society for Skin Imaging (ISSI), 1998
Human Skin Aging and the Anti-Aging Properties of Retinol.
Quan T
Biomolecules, 2023
Do Synthetic Fragrances in Personal Care and Household Pr...
Gandhi Rádis-Baptista
Journal of xenobiotics, 2023
Retinol Wrinkle Reduction Clinical Trial
Randhawa M, Wang S, Leyden JJ, Cula GO, Pagnoni A, Southall MD
Dermatologic Surgery, 2015
Usage of Synthetic Peptides in Cosmetics for Sensitive Skin.
Resende DISP, Ferreira MS, Sousa-Lobo JM, Sousa E, Almeida IF
Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland), 2021
The Neolignan Honokiol and Its Synthetic Derivative Honokiol Hexafluoro Reduce Neuroinflammation and Cellular Senescence in Microglia Cells.
Sasia C, Borgonetti V, Mancini C, Lori G, Arbiser JL et al.
Cells, 2024
Revision of the scientific Opinion (SCCS/1576/16) on Vitamin A (Retinol, Retinyl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate)
Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS)
European Commission — SCCS
Chitosan/β-glucan/cystine multifunctional hydrogel loading retinol liposomes for efficiently treating UV-induced skin damage and aging.
Song Q, Wang Y, Tan Z, Xiang H, Liu Q et al.
Carbohydrate polymers, 2026
Semisynthetic Derivative of Artemisia annua-Loaded Transdermal Bioadhesive for the Treatment of Uncomplicated Malaria Caused by Plasmodium falciparum
Volpe Zanutto F, McAlister E, Marucci Pereira Tangerina M, Fonseca-Santos B, Costa Salles TH et al.
Journal of pharmaceutical sciences, 2019
Bioprospecting photosynthetic microorganisms for the remo...
Birgitta Narindri Rara Winayu, Feng-Jen Chu, Christoper Caesar Yudho Sutopo, Hsin Chu
World journal of microbiology & biotechnology, 2024
Verified Jun 2026
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR