Glossary · Actives
Vitamin A derivatives used in cosmetics, including retinol, retinal and retinyl esters. In the EU, Regulation (EU) 2024/996 caps retinol and its esters at 0.05% retinol equivalent in body lotions and 0.3% in other leave-on and rinse-off products.
The right active at the right level and pH is what makes a claim credible; Guires CSL scientists choose actives on published evidence and check every level against the rules of your target markets.
Guires CSL formulation, testing, clinical and regulatory teams work with Retinoids on client projects every week, from the first brief to the final product file.
Retinol evidenceRelated terms
Alpha hydroxy acids such as glycolic and lactic acid are water-soluble exfoliants that loosen dead surface cells; the beta hydroxy acid salicylic acid is oil-soluble and works inside pores.
Read definition →Short chains of amino acids used as cosmetic actives, such as signal peptides that target the look of fine lines.
Read definition →Regulations and standards are listed first, then peer-reviewed literature. Sources checked October 2026.
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