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Cosmetic and personal care ingredients

Retinol vs retinyl palmitate

Retinol (C20H30O, CAS 68-26-8) and retinyl palmitate (C36H60O2, CAS 79-81-2) are both listed under vitamins and nutraceutical actives.

Retinol has a molar mass of 286.46 g/mol, retinyl palmitate 524.87 g/mol.

Both carry the GHS signal word Danger.

On CompoundList, 119 suppliers list retinol and 121 suppliers list retinyl palmitate.

Data last updated 7 October 2026

Retinol and retinyl palmitate compared side by side
Retinol chemical structure, C20H30O, CAS 68-26-8
Retinol
Retinol palmitate chemical structure, C36H60O2, CAS 79-81-2
Retinyl palmitate
Identity
Name in our databaseRetinolRetinol palmitate
CAS number68-26-879-81-2
Molecular formulaC20H30OC36H60O2
Molar mass286.46 g/mol524.87 g/mol
IUPAC name(2E,4E,6E,8E)-3,7-dimethyl-9-(2,6,6-trimethylcyclohexen-1-yl)nona-2,4,6,8-tetraen-1-ol[(2E,4E,6E,8E)-3,7-dimethyl-9-(2,6,6-trimethylcyclohexen-1-yl)nona-2,4,6,8-tetraenyl] hexadecanoate
EC number200-683-7201-228-5
Physical properties
AppearanceSolvated crystals from polar solvents, such as methanol or ethyl formateNot recorded
Melting point62 to 64Not recorded
Boiling point137 to 138Not recorded
SolubilityPractically insoluble in water or glycerol, soluble in absolute alcohol, methanol, chloroform, ether, fats and oilsNot recorded
LogP (octanol/water)Computed from the structure5.5111.54
Safety (GHS)
Signal wordDangerDanger
Pictograms
GHS07: Harmful or irritant
GHS08: Serious health hazard
GHS07: Harmful or irritant
GHS08: Serious health hazard
Hazard statements
  • H302 Harmful if swallowed.
  • H317 May cause an allergic skin reaction.
  • H319 Causes serious eye irritation.
  • H360 May damage fertility or the unborn child.
  • H413 May cause long lasting harmful effects to aquatic life.
  • H315 Causes skin irritation.
  • H360 May damage fertility or the unborn child.
  • H361 Suspected of damaging fertility or the unborn child.
  • H413 May cause long lasting harmful effects to aquatic life.
Uses and classification
Uses and functions
  • Vitamins and supplements
  • Skin conditioning agents
  • Vitamins, minerals and nutrients
  • Feed vitamins
  • Animal metabolite
  • Eukaryotic metabolite
  • Vitamins and supplements
  • Antioxidants
  • Skin conditioning agents
  • Vitamins, minerals and nutrients
  • Feed vitamins
  • Escherichia coli metabolite
CategoryPharmaceuticals and APIs › Vitamins and nutraceutical activesPharmaceuticals and APIs › Vitamins and nutraceutical actives
HS code293621Vitamins A and their derivatives293621Vitamins A and their derivatives
Market on CompoundList
Suppliers119 suppliers121 suppliers
Supplier countries26 countries, most in China, United States, Germany27 countries, most in China, United States, India
Price rangeOnly prices set by suppliers who manage their own profilePrice on requestPrice on request

Measured and computed values as shown on each chemical page, plus live listings on CompoundList. Details may have changed, please confirm them with the supplier. Safety data is a summary, not an SDS.

Retinol
Retinyl palmitate

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