Common Name(s): Retinyl tallate,retinyl tallate,retinyl ester,tallow-esterified retinoid
CAS Number: N/a
DESCRIPTION
What It Does: Provides enzymatic hydrolysis-released retinol for rar receptor activation and retinaldehyde oxidation to retinoic acid in epidermis.
Why It's Used: Retinyl tallate delivers retinol activity via the ester hydrolysis pathway โ the tall oil fatty acid carrier providing an alternative lipophilic skin penetration matrix to the standard c16 palmitate ester.
How It Works: Retinyl ester โ sc esterase hydrolysis โ retinol โ retinal dehydrogenase โ all-trans-retinoic acid โ rar-ฮฑ/ฮฒ/ฮณ nuclear receptor binding โ retinoid response element gene activation.
Typically Found In: Anti-aging,sensitive skin retinoid
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Primary Category: Active ingredient โ cosmetic active
Secondary Functions: Skin conditioning
Application Areas:
Facial Skincare
Body Care
Hair Care
Beard Care
Color Cosmetics (Makeup)
Dietary/Oral Supplements
Typical Concentration Range: 0.01%โ1%
SOURCING & ETHICS
Vegan Status: Conditional - feedstock declaration required
Halal Status: Unverified - feedstock declaration required (plant, animal and petrochemical routes all exist)
Source Notes: Commercially produced for cosmetic use. verify vegan/halal status with supplier. [audit 2026-07-29 rev2: origin-dependent: the same inci exists in plant, animal and petrochemical versions and the name does not discriminate. determination requires shariah-panel sign-off.]
SKIN COMPATIBILITY
Irritancy Rating: 1/5 โ very low
Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 โ non-comedogenic
Sensitivity Concerns: Well-tolerated.
Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes
SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY
Safety Profile: Good safety profile at recommended concentrations. ewg score: 1โ2.
Works Well With: Standard skincare actives
Avoid Combining With: No known significant incompatibilities
SCIENTIFIC NOTE
Retinyl esters provide significantly reduced irritancy versus retinol and retinoic acid โ the ester bond acting as a stability and controlled-release pro-drug mechanism.
Last Verified: 2026-03-22
Primary Sources: Cosing database,retinyl tallate retinyl ester review