Rarely do I succumb to a TikTok beauty product recommendation. But the A313 Vitamin A pomade has been in my orbit long before social media claimed it; for years many of my US editor friends and go-to beauty experts have raved about its effects on skin. So now that my algorithm is being fed an endless amount of French pharmacy hauls, I finally made it a goal to brave the Paris summer crowds at the Pharmacie Citypharma on 26 Rue du Four to buy my first tube.
To my surprise, the French don’t actually consider A313 an anti-aging skincare product. As Natacha Bonjout, French pharmacist and founder of Bonjout Beauty, explains, it has been used for decades as more of a functional medicine. “The reality is more nuanced,” Bonjout says. “The product is old, but the story around it is new.”
But thanks to America’s fascination with French pharmacy culture, the product has gotten a new life thanks to social media. Whether intended or not, it has become the skin-care symbol of French beauty. “It feels like an insider secret,” she goes on to say. “So I don’t think [US] consumers are only buying A313; they’re buying into the idea of French pharmacy.”
In This Story:
A313 Retinol Cream
- What We Love It: One of the few viral products that really lives up to its internet hype, this cream does it all. It gently exfoliates the skin to reveal a more radiant complexion and smoother texture, boosts collagen production for firmer skin, and helps with pesky breakouts. Though it is an occlusive gel-like cream, it absorbs so easily and doesn’t feel too heavy on the skin. It works great as a spot treatment or you can use it all over in thin layers; it works however you want to use it.
- Key Ingredients: Retinyl Esters, Archis Hypogaea Oil, Tocopherol
- Type: Occlusive gel-cream
- Size: 1.76 oz.
About A313
As mentioned before, technically speaking, A313 is an inexpensive medical ointment. Paris-based esthetician Sophie Carbonari explains that it was created to soothe irritation and help the skin barrier heal, not to target any anti-aging concerns. It’s made with a vitamin A derivative called retinyl esters, which very gently smooths uneven texture. It also has an occlusive gel-like texture to it, to help lock in moisture. Now, A313 has now become a go-to retinoid for anyone looking for firmer, brighter, and clearer skin—at least in the US market.
“What’s happening in the US is a lovely bit of reinvention,” Carbonari says. “People have discovered it for its retinol content and give it a second life as an anti-aging balm. In France, it was never worn for that. Here, it has always been a gentle pharmacy staple, quietly kept on hand for irritated skin.”
