Vitamin A, which is mostly stored in the liver as vitamin A palmitate, is often referred as the Normalizing Vitamin, because it is essential not only for normal skin development, but also for the growth and maintenance of bones, teeth, glands, nails and hair. As most other retinoids, it exerts dose-dependent effects suggesting qualitative differences in the effects caused by high and low doses.
Over the last ten years, the vitamin A group received additional publicity because of the clinical studies conducted with one of its analogs - retinoic acid, which has shown reversal of photoaging.
On the other hand, Retinyl Palmitate which also belongs to the vitamin A group, has not been used extensively in previous years as a cosmetic ingredient because of the belief that it could not penetrate the skin.
Studies have shown that if formulated properly and at the right levels, it can penetrate the skin and impart similar benefits but without the side effects of other retinoids. The most important benefits are:
- Penetration into the skin
- Anti-keratinization
- Increase of skin elasticity
- Thickening of the epidermis and the dermis
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Normalization of dry, parched skin
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Reversal of photodamage
- Reduction of scaliness and normalization of the scalp when used in hair care products
