Authority source
Safety basis: EU SCCS / CIR
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) assessment, EU SCCS opinion
Retinol
Vitamin Aall-trans-retinol
Skin conditioning agent, antioxidant
Retinol is a form of Vitamin A that helps skin cells renew themselves more quickly. It can make your skin look smoother and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
What it is
Retinol is a fat-soluble vitamin and a type of retinoid that is widely used in skincare for its ability to promote skin cell turnover and improve skin texture.
Found in
anti-aging serums, night creams, acne treatments, moisturizers
The concern
Retinol can cause skin irritation, redness, dryness, and increased sun sensitivity, especially when first introduced or used at high concentrations.
Legal status
In the EU, retinol is regulated with maximum concentration limits in cosmetic products, and the FDA provides guidance on its use in cosmetics.
Context-dependent
Its safety depends on concentration, frequency of use, and whether it's used during pregnancy, as it can cause skin irritation and increase sun sensitivity.
Evidence & sources
Article / explainer
Article / explainer
No highly relevant article explainer found yet.
Video explainer
What Retinol Does and Why You NEED It!! | Dr Sam Bunting
Video
Dr Sam Bunting
Watch videoCommunity questions
Community questions
Community discussions are not used as safety evidence and no highly relevant discussion is shown for this ingredient.
Related ingredient guides
Compare this ingredient with related ingredients and common alternatives.
Retinal
A related retinoid often compared with retinol.
Retinyl Palmitate
A gentler vitamin A derivative often compared with retinol.
Niacinamide
Often paired with retinoids in skincare routines.
Bakuchiol
A common retinol alternative people compare for irritation tradeoffs.
Adapalene
Another retinoid or retinoid-adjacent ingredient commonly compared in skincare routines.
Tretinoin
Another retinoid or retinoid-adjacent ingredient commonly compared in skincare routines.
Last updated: July 29, 2026