Retinol Serum
3 RESTRICTED
Boots Ingredients

Retinol Serum

Facial Serums, Essences, Ampoules
Contains Restricted Substances
🔶 3 restricted
View details
🔶 Restricted (Annex III) — 2
  • (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] acetate; [(2E,4E,6E,8E)-3,7-dimethyl-9-(2,6,6-trimethylcyclohexen-1-yl)nona-2,4,6,8-tetraenyl] hexadecanoate
  • Potassium or sodium hydroxide
Updated: 4/3/2026, 12:57:40 PM
Ingredient composition · 27 total
Safe (3)Restricted (3)Prohibited (0)Unknown (21)

Composition

22% natural26% synthetic
🌿 6 natural❓ 14 unknown origin🧪 7 synthetic

Based on 27 ingredients analyzed. 22% natural, 52% unknown origin and 26% synthetic.

Ingredients data:25 / 27explained
3 restricted (EU Annex III)
5 need review

Ingredient Analysis

🌟
Goodies
Proven actives & beneficial ingredients
Butylene Glycol
Glycerin
Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil
🧪
Base Formula
Main ingredients by concentration
Butylene Glycol#2
Glycerin#3

Ingredients List

Showing 5 of 27 ingredients

Ingredients Explained

27 / 27
Safe — well-studied, low concernNeutral / Unknown — limited dataConcern — high comedogenic/irritancy
⚠️4 of 27 ingredients missing description or function
Aqua#1
musical group
Danish-Norwegian music group
Comedogenic: 0/5 Irritancy: 0/5
Butylene Glycol#2
Humectant
A humectant and solvent that helps ingredients penetrate the skin.
Comedogenic: 2/5 Irritancy: 0/5
Glycerin#3
Humectant
A powerful humectant that attracts moisture to the skin, keeping it hydrated and soft.
Comedogenic: 0/5 Irritancy: 0/5
Isononyl Isononanoate#4
ANTISTATIC, SKIN CONDITIONING, SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT
3,5,5-Trimethylhexyl 3,5,5-trimethylhexanoate
Comedogenic: 0/5 Irritancy: 0/5
Diisostearyl Malate#5
SKIN CONDITIONING, SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING
Bis(16-methylheptadecyl) malate
Comedogenic: 0/5 Irritancy: 0/5
PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate#6
SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING
Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-hydro-.omega.-hydroxy-, ether with methyl .beta.-d-glucopyranoside (4:1), octadecanoate (2:3) (20 mol EO average molar ratio)
Comedogenic: 0/5 Irritancy: 0/5
Phenoxyethanol#7
Preservative
A common preservative that is generally well-tolerated by most skin types.
Comedogenic: 0/5 Irritancy: 1/5
Acrylates/​C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer#8
Acrylates/​C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a cosmetic ingredient used in this formulation.
Comedogenic: 0/5 Irritancy: 0/5
No descriptionNo function
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate#9
HUMECTANT, SKIN CONDITIONING
.alpha.-d-Glucopyranosiduronic acid, (3.beta.,20.beta.)-20-carboxy-11-oxo-30-norolean-12-en-3-yl 2-O-.beta.-d-glucopyranuronosyl-, dipotassium salt
Comedogenic: 0/5 Irritancy: 0/5
Chlorphenesin#10
ANTIMICROBIAL, PRESERVATIVE
1,2-Propanediol, 3-(4-chlorophenoxy)-
Comedogenic: 0/5 Irritancy: 0/5
Bisabolol#11
(R*,R*)-.alpha.,4-dimethyl-.alpha.-(4-methyl-3-pentenyl)cyclohex-3-ene-1-methanol;
Comedogenic: 0/5 Irritancy: 0/5
No function
Xanthan Gum#12
gum
food additive and thickener
Comedogenic: 0/5 Irritancy: 0/5
Potassium Hydroxide#13⚠️ Restricted
BUFFERING
Potassium hydroxide
Comedogenic: 0/5 Irritancy: 0/5
Retinyl Palmitate#14⚠️ Restricted
type of chemical entity
chemical compound
Comedogenic: 0/5 Irritancy: 0/5
Disodium EDTA#15
type of chemical entity
chemical compound
Comedogenic: 0/5 Irritancy: 0/5
Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil#16
Emollient
A natural oil rich in vitamin E and fatty acids.
Comedogenic: 0/5 Irritancy: 0/5
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice#17
SKIN CONDITIONING
Aloe Vera is one of today’s magic plants. It does have some very nice properties indeed, though famous dermatologist Leslie Baumann warns us in her bo…
Comedogenic: 0/5 Irritancy: 0/5
Maltodextrin#18
ABSORBENT, BINDING, EMULSION STABILISING, FILM FORMING, HAIR CONDITIONING, SKIN CONDITIONING
Maltodextrin
Comedogenic: 0/5 Irritancy: 0/5
Polysorbate 20#19
group of chemical entities
chemical substance
Comedogenic: 0/5 Irritancy: 0/5
Caprylic/​Capric Triglyceride#20
Caprylic/​Capric Triglyceride is a cosmetic ingredient used in this formulation.
Comedogenic: 0/5 Irritancy: 0/5
No descriptionNo function
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin#21
FRAGRANCE, SKIN CONDITIONING
.beta.-Cyclodextrin, 2-hydroxypropyl ethers
Comedogenic: 0/5 Irritancy: 0/5
Retinol#22⚠️ Restricted
SKIN CONDITIONING, SKIN CONDITIONING - MISCELLANEOUS
If you like to read about skincare (and if you are here, it seems that you do :)), we are sure that you have already read a lot about retinol. It is the...
Comedogenic: 1/5 Irritancy: 0/5
Potassium Sorbate#23
type of chemical entity
chemical compound
Comedogenic: 2/5 Irritancy: 2/5
Sodium Benzoate#24
ANTICORROSIVE, FRAGRANCE, PRESERVATIVE
Sodium benzoate
Comedogenic: 2/5 Irritancy: 0/5
Sodium Metabisulfite#25
Disodium disulphite
Comedogenic: 0/5 Irritancy: 0/5
No function
Tocopherol#26
group of chemical entities
antioxidant compounds with vitamin E activity
Comedogenic: 2/5 Irritancy: 2/5
BHT#27
ANTIOXIDANT, FRAGRANCE
2,6-Di-tert-butyl-p-cresol
Comedogenic: 0/5 Irritancy: 0/5
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