A-Z of Cosmetic Ingredients and Terms
Retinoids is the general term covering all forms of vitamin A. The acid (retinoic acid or vitamin A acid) is prohibited from cosmetic products under the UK Cosmetics Regulation.
Other forms of vitamin A (retinol and retinyl esters such as retinyl palmitate and retinyl acetate) are safely used in skin care products to boost skin cell renewal. Retinoids may help with skin elasticity and it is most often used as an anti-ageing ingredient.
The safety of retinoids as cosmetic ingredients has recently been reconfirmed by the European panel of independent scientific experts. The UK panel is currently undertaking similar work.
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