Pharma Développement A313 Vitamin A Retinol Cream for mature skin
Retinyl Palmitate
Peg-4000
Polysorbate 80Average
- AverageNormal Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for mature skin; other serums fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with mature skin: fine lines, wrinkles, and loss of firmness. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Offers moderate anti-aging benefits for your normal skin due to the presence of multiple forms of retinol, which help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
- While the retinol forms provide mild retinoid activity, the formula lacks sufficient humectants and emollients to fully support hydration and barrier function for your skin.
- The product is safe for your normal skin, as it does not contain any harsh or prohibited ingredients that could cause irritation.
How to apply
- Use this serum in your PM routine. Start by applying it 3 times a week, and work up to daily use if your skin likes it.
- Apply this serum after your toner and before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
- You can apply the serum on dry skin for the best results against fine lines.
- Always do a patch test before your first use and avoid the sensitive eye area.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 2.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this French pharmacy favorite is celebrated for delivering radiant, smooth skin and reducing acne, with users frequently waking up to a glowing complexion. However, its thick, Vaseline-like consistency and initial itching are polarizing aspects. While many praise its hydrating and plumping effects, some find it too mild for significant anti-aging results.
Highlights
Incredible glow Mostly Mentioned
- “Users consistently report waking up with "glass skin," a "dewy complexion," and a "noticeable glow" after overnight use.”
Intense itching Mostly Mentioned
- “the most common complaint is the "unbearable itch" or "tingling sensation" that can last for 20-30 minutes after application.”
Smoother texture Often Mentioned
- “Reviews frequently mention the cream makes skin feel "baby soft," "plumps fine lines," and "refines pores" significantly.”
Greasy texture Often Mentioned
- “Users dislike the "Vaseline-like goo" consistency that "never fully absorbs" and "sticks to pillowcases."”
Acne reduction Sometimes Noted
- “Many users claim it "flattens pimples overnight," "fades acne scars," and helps "unclog pores" effectively.”
Affordable price Sometimes Noted
- “Users appreciate it is a "fraction of the cost" of luxury retinols, often calling it a "budget holy grail."”
Occlusive hydration Sometimes Noted
- “Fans love that it "seals in moisture," acts like a "hydrating mask," and prevents "flaky patches."”
Ineffective for some Sometimes Noted
- “Several users and dermatologists argue it is "too weak" and saw "no anti-aging difference" compared to stronger retinoids.”
Application difficulty Rarely Noted
- “Reviews mention it is "hard to spread" on dry skin and requires "warming up" in hands first.”
Pore clogging Rarely Noted
- “A minority of users with oily skin reported it "caused congestion" or "led to more blackheads" due to the heavy base.”
Sources: lovi.care, frenchpharmacy.com, amazon.com, bustle.com, youtube.com, thingtesting.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does A313 Retinol Cream work for mature skin?
Pharma Développement A313 Vitamin A Retinol Cream is an average fit for mature skin, offering moderate anti-aging benefits and helping reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. However, it lacks sufficient hydrating and softening ingredients to fully support your skin barrier, so mature skin of this type needs added nourishing oils, peptides, and strong moisturizers.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2010Colloids and Surfaces. B, Biointerfaces, 2011
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for mature skin?
Retinyl Palmitate, Retinyl Acetate, and Retinyl Propionate make this cream a good fit because they help smooth out fine lines and wrinkles. However, a product for this skin also needs nourishing oils, peptides, and extra moisturizing ingredients to fully support hydration and barrier function.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2010Colloids and Surfaces. B, Biointerfaces, 2011
What does Retinyl Palmitate do for mature skin?
Retinyl palmitate helps smooth out fine lines and wrinkles on mature skin while improving overall firmness, texture, and dryness. It may also help protect against sun-induced aging by supporting skin structure and reducing collagen breakdown.
Colloids and Surfaces. B, Biointerfaces, 2011Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2013
What does Retinyl Acetate do for mature skin?
Retinyl acetate helps mature skin by smoothing fine lines and keeping it soft. It may help boost collagen to make dry or aging skin feel firmer and look healthier over time.
Archives of Dermatology, 2007The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for mature skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing. A product of this type needs enough hydrating and softening ingredients to fully support mature skin.
Can I use this cream with niacinamide, and in what order?
Yes, you can use this cream with niacinamide by applying niacinamide in your hydrating toner or serum before this treatment. Pairing them helps smooth fine lines while minimizing potential discomfort from the retinol forms.
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this treatment in your evening routine, starting slowly to see how your skin reacts. To work best for mature skin, a product of this type needs enough hydrating ingredients and softening agents to support moisture and skin barrier function.
Facial Plastic Surgery, 2014The British Journal of Dermatology, 2010
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for mature skin?
This cream is unlikely to cause purging since its retinol forms work gently, but it has a greasy texture that may clog pores on some skin. Mature skin generally needs formulas with rich moisturizers and hydrating ingredients to stay balanced when using vitamin A treatments.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2010Colloids and Surfaces. B, Biointerfaces, 2011
What the research says
A cosmetic niacinamide/peptide/retinyl propionate regimen significantly improved periorbital wrinkle appearance relative to a 0.02% tretinoin regimen at 8 weeks with comparable benefits at 24 weeks, while demonstrating significantly better tolerability in 196 women.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2010Retinyl palmitate-loaded non-ionic lamellar liquid crystalline systems provided a significant reduction of orbicular wrinkles in human volunteers compared to systems without retinyl palmitate.
Colloids and Surfaces. B, Biointerfaces, 2011A vitamin A palmitate and antioxidant-containing oil-based moisturizer improved fine lines, wrinkles, pigmentation, tone, texture, dryness, firmness, and clarity across various body sites compared to a no-treatment group over 12 weeks.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2013Over-the-counter retinol products provided only weak evidence for a mild ameliorating effect on fine facial skin wrinkle lines in randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled trials, and major methodological flaws call the validity of positive results into question.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2021A novel triple-active cosmetic formulation containing 4-hexylresorcinol, retinyl propionate, and niacinamide improved the visual appearance of photoageing similarly to 0.02% tretinoin and reversed a consensus gene signature associated with ageing in female adults while causing less skin irritation.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024Topical retinyl propionate cream produced no statistically significant differences compared to placebo for any clinical, histological, or profilometric parameters of skin photoageing in 80 subjects.
Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 1998Topical application of 20% 2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin in a polyethylene glycol formulation resulted in significantly more herpes labialis relapses compared to the vehicle control among 40 patients over 6 months.
Dermatology, 2013Binary systems of trans-resveratrol with polyethylene glycol or beta-cyclodextrin enhanced its antioxidant activity and in vivo skin anti-aging effects compared to trans-resveratrol alone in human keratinocytes and volunteers.
Drug Development and Industrial Pharmacy, 2014Topical application of 30% salicylic acid in polyethylene glycol effectively cleared comedones and papules in 436 patients with acne while causing no stinging, burning, edema, bleeding, or crusting.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2008Hempseed or flaxseed oil-based lyotropic liquid crystals with the highest oil content and lecithin/Tween 80 mixture provided a 2-fold reduction in TEWL values and decreased skin erythema levels in healthy adult subjects compared to baseline.
Acta Pharmaceutica, 2024Liquid crystalline emulsions formulated with camellia seed oil and four different surfactant combinations reduced transepidermal water loss and increased skin hydration without causing skin irritation, with the formulation containing Lecinol S-10 and Tween 80 demonstrating the best clinical results.
Scientific Reports, 2023The cytotoxic effect of sodium lauryl sulphate on normal human keratinocytes was significantly decreased when combined with cocamidopropyl betaine, Tween 20, and Tween 80 at concentrations well below the critical micelle concentration.
Skin Pharmacology and Applied Skin Physiology, 2003
Ingredients
Retinyl Acetate, Retinyl Propionate, Retinyl Palmitate, Peg-4000, Peg 400, Polysorbate 80
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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