Retinyl Acetate and other retinoids are used as antiaging chemicals. Vitamin A is absorbed through the skin and increases the rate of skin turnover, and gives an increase in collagen resulting in a more youthful appearance.
Please note that this is NOT retinoic acid, the ingredient in Retin-A, a prescription medicine. Retinoic acid, termed Tretinoin in clinical usage, is used in the treatment of acne and keratosis pilaris in a topical cream. An isomer of tretinoin, isotretinoin is also used orally (under the trade names Accutane and Roaccutane), generally for severe or recalcitrant acne.
Retinoids (retinoic acid, retinol, retinyl esters) inhibit synthesis of matrix proteases, increase collagen synthesis, stimulate division of keratinocytes and fibroblasts, and stimulate synthesis of extracellular matrix by fibroblasts.