Is A313 Vitamin A Pommade (Retinol Ester) worth it?

The gurus are split. 3 of the 7 gurus give it their stamp of approval while 2 would skip it, which lands it in the middle at a Guru Score of 62%.

What is A313 Vitamin A Pommade (Retinol Ester)'s Guru Score?

A313 Vitamin A Pommade (Retinol Ester) holds a Guru Score of 62%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 7 expert reviewers we have collected.

Who is A313 Vitamin A Pommade (Retinol Ester) best for?

A313 Vitamin A Pommade (Retinol Ester) is generally suited to mature skin.

A313

A313 Vitamin A Pommade (Retinol Ester).

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Retinoids

About this product

A lightweight French pharmacy retinol ester blend combining retinol palmitate, retinol acetate, and retinol propionate in an emollient ointment base with peptides and vitamin E.

Full ingredients

Retinyl Acetate, Retinyl Propionate, Retinyl Palmitate, Peg-4000, Peg 400, Polysorbate 80

Guru Score

62%

Mixed

7 experts · Strong agreement

What the gurus are saying

This cult-favorite delivers visible smoothness and a glow by morning, though experts sharply split on whether that payoff comes from actual retinoid work or clever formulation. Dr. Shereene Idriss praises the instant radiance and gentle texture for beginners, and others find it soothing in winter, but Doctorly and Dr. Dray argue retinol esters are essentially antioxidants with no collagen-building power, ranking it no different from any other antioxidant serum. The one consistent catch: it itches on application for most who use it, sometimes enough to make daily tolerance tricky. Those with barrier damage or active irritation may want to test it on a small patch first.

Synthesized from 7 expert reviews · most recent take April 2026

What they liked

Instant brightening and smoothness the next day
Thick emollient base helps with dryness

What they flagged

Causes itching during and after application

Best for

Mature skin

Type

RetinoidsBalm & ointment

Key actives

Retinoid

Formula notes

Fragrance-freeNo drying alcohol

Where to buy

Ulta → Amazon → Google →

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What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

All takes Yay takes Nay takes Mixed takes Hide sponsored

Dr Dray

2.69M subs

~Nay

"A313 is a cream that contains retinyl palmitate. [...] Retinyl esters are vitamin A derivatives that don't do what tretinoin, retinol, retinoic acid, retinaldehyde, tazarotene, trifarotene, and adapalene do. It doesn't do the collagen boosting. It just acts as an antioxidant. Using a retinyl topical is not going to prime your skin for getting used to a topical retinoid. It's not a gentler version of that, and it's no different than using any other antioxidant."

Dr. Shereene Idriss

1.73M subs

~Yay

"The cult classic A313, that French pharmacy retinol. It has the combination of these two peptides and matrix 3000 in it. I honestly think that's probably why you see those instant gratification effects when you use that particular product."

All 10 takes from Dr. Shereene Idriss

Top 8 Peptides You Want In Your Skincare Routine — Expert Tips from a Dermatologist! | Dr. Idriss

Anti-Aging Skincare for 50s+, Mature Skin, & Menopause | Dr. Shereene Idriss

"A313 is a French Pharmacy retinol which is relatively light but it gives instant gratification effects the next day. It does itch, FYI it does itch. I like it for this video because it is a much thicker base and almost feels like Vaseline."

40s Skincare Must Haves for YOUTHFUL Aging (Anti-Aging) from a Dermatologist! | Dr. Shereene Idriss

"It's a combination of some of the lightest retinoids on the market which are the retinol esters, retinol acetate, palmate and propionate. But what's amazing about this is that it has some sort of like magic voodoo in it where your face has an instant effect the next morning and you look somewhat smoother. But you will get itchy. I still get itchy. I can't fully tolerate it all the time. I'm not going to lie. But it does give a nice instant gratification the next day if you can tolerate it."

Bio-Retinoids: Boosting Your Collagen & Reducing Wrinkles The Natural Way?! | Dr. Shereene Idriss

"A313 is the lightest on the market and [...] I love this. [...] Why? Because it does some magic voodoo on your face where the next day you wake up looking airbrushed. But I will say when I put it on I do get itchy and sometimes I can't tolerate it. I think it depends on your barrier that day."

Top 5 Ingredients for Acne, Breakouts, Blackheads, Oily Skin! | Dr. Shereene Idriss

"It is very light but do not be fooled, it does give an instant sort of glow the next day where your skin just feels tight and beautiful. But it can also be itchy when you apply it. [...] To this day I still get itchy every now and then. [...] It is a beautiful gel-like texture that goes on to your skin. A word to the wise: never use any sort of retinoid around this area because you will shed like a snake. I've been there and I still can't tolerate it."

How to Prevent Skin Thinning & Boost Your Collagen! From a Dermatologist | Dr. Shereene Idriss

"A313 is a French Pharmacy cult favorite made up of three different retinol esters. [...] This is good for beginners. [...] There is one thing about this product where you get some instant gratification the next day, which is odd even to me, but you look better. I can't explain it."

Skincare for Your 40s: Anti-aging, Discoloration, & Redness | Dr. Shereene Idriss

"The A313 is the lightest retinol form. Even though it is the lightest form of retinol, when you apply it, I think it has to do with the Matrixyl 3000 that comes in it, or the Macrogol 400, which is a peptide, you get this instant result the next day. I really like it for people who are beginning and who want to see instant gratification the next day. The A313 is the way to go, but it itches slightly on the face."

French Pharmacy Skincare I Love! | Dr. Shereene Idriss

"So they're not that strong, but for whatever reason and I cannot fully explain it, maybe it is the polyethylene glycol base that this baby is in, it gives not only an instant gratification effect but it really does feel stronger than some of the retinols that are over the counter, [...] especially when you're talking about retinols that are complexes and not actual percentages."

Nighttime Skincare Routine: Summer to Fall | Dr. Shereene Idriss

"I use A313 retinol. It is lighter than a prescription strength retinoid, obviously. I like it because I like the base of it and I find that the delivery mechanism of this gives you much stronger effects than the lightest version of a retinol that you can find over the counter in the U.S. It does tingle a bit, so I make sure never to apply it on sensitive areas."

5 Golden Rules To Incorporate Retinol In Your Routine! | Dr. Shereene Idriss

"When you look at the actual composition of the A313, it is a light version of retinoids. It is actually a retinol, a mix of retinol esters: retinal acetate, retinal palmitate, and retinol propionate. It has a very silky and ointment-like texture. [...] I still get occasionally itchy when I use this, again due to formulation, but my skin the next day looks extremely smooth and like an ice skating rink. I can't explain it. It's almost like it filters your skin overnight. That's all formulation."

Dr. Aleksandra Brown

151k subs

~Yay

"It's a really gentle, beginner-friendly retinoid. It uses vitamin A ester, which is used instead of pure retinol. It still gives you a smooth texture and it still enhances radiance, and it will help support gradual skin renewal. It's a thicker emollient ointment base, so it's going to help with some of the irritation or dryness if you're somebody who's really sensitive to retinols. The key ingredients are retinol palmitate and tocopherol, or vitamin E."

Caroline Hirons

250k subs

~Yay

"I'm a [tret] girl. I use A313 in the winter. Some people say it doesn't work, but I [...] find it works. As a dry skin girl in the winter, it's just enough."

No BS Beauty

89k subs

~Mixed

"A313 which markets in the US that this is the retinol all French women use and I literally just saw Reddit thread last night about how no French women uses this, nobody uses this, this is more like an ointment. It expired one month ago but I did review it."

Doctorly

3.59M subs

~Nay

"I don't really see a good reason why using this product anymore. I think in the past when retinol wasn't as widely available or as stable as it is today then there could be a reason to use this type of product, but I think now there are products that are way more available, way more effective, and you can really expect to see results with. [...] I actually do not like this product. I [...] tried it for a while and didn't love [...] it. I personally don't want it and don't need it."

All 3 takes from Doctorly

Skin QnA

"A313, your retinol ester product trash trash absolute trash."

Weekend SkinCare Live!

"There's so many studies showing retinal esters have no significant effect on the skin, and yet this is a cult favorite, like the castor oil of retinoids. There's a deep love for it, an obsession over it, but it doesn't do what you think it does. [...] I've been to France, this is where I bought it in France, I tried the product on paper beforehand and it didn't work. Aesthetically I don't enjoy it either, so I just don't understand how that continues to get so much love."

Skincare That You DON'T NEED (But Might Want)

Nipun Kapur

412k subs

~Mixed

"A313 is good but it's overhyped because obviously when you're looking at the French world it's just another basic retinol. Yeah, you should be using tretinoin if it has been prescribed to you, it works really well."

All 2 takes from Nipun Kapur

SKINCARE LIVE!

SKINCARE LIVE! | Nipun Kapur