Pharma Développement A313 Vitamin A Retinol Cream for oily skin
Retinyl Palmitate
Peg-4000
Polysorbate 80Average
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily skin; other serums fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. 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 benefits for your oily skin due to the presence of multiple forms of retinol, which help with seboregulation and keratolytic action to minimize fine lines and wrinkles.
- While the retinol forms provide general skincare benefits, they are not specifically targeted to address your primary concern of oily shine.
- The product is safe for your oily skin as it lacks harsh ingredients and poses no risk of irritation.
How to apply
- Use this serum in your PM routine. Start by applying it 3 times a week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply the serum after cleansing and toning, but right before your moisturizer for the best results.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin. Let it absorb ⏱ for a minute before applying the next product.
- Apply the serum on clean and dry skin since your skin is not sensitive and you want to target oily shine. This helps control excess oil throughout the night.
- Avoid the delicate eye area and do a patch test before using the serum for the very first time.
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 oily skin?
This cream is an average fit for oily skin because it offers moderate benefits for fine lines but does not target oily shine. A product for oily skin needs ingredients like niacinamide, zinc pca, and soothing extracts to control excess oil and brighten the complexion comfortably.
Colloids and Surfaces. B, Biointerfaces, 2011The British Journal of Dermatology, 2010
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for oily skin?
This cream contains multiple forms of retinol like retinyl palmitate, retinyl acetate, and retinyl propionate that help smooth fine lines, but it is not specifically targeted to control oily shine. To truly manage oily skin, a product needs sebum-controlling ingredients like niacinamide and zinc PCA, along with soothing extracts and lightweight hydrators.
Colloids and Surfaces. B, Biointerfaces, 2011The British Journal of Dermatology, 2010
What does Retinyl Palmitate do for oily skin?
Retinyl palmitate helps manage breakouts and smooth texture in oily skin with a low likelihood of irritation. This type of skin also benefits from ingredients that balance oil production and keep pores clear.
International Journal of Nanomedicine, 2021American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2019
What does Retinyl Acetate do for oily skin?
Retinyl acetate helps keep oily skin clear and smooth by supporting normal cell renewal and managing oil glands. Vitamin A derivatives help maintain healthy skin tissue, though they may cause dryness as your skin adjusts.
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This cream goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, because Lovi routines put treatments with active ingredients in the evening for simplicity and safety around sun exposure. An oily skin type needs oil-balancing and exfoliating ingredients like niacinamide, salicylic acid, or clay to properly manage excess shine.
Can I use this cream with niacinamide, and in what order?
Yes, you can use this cream with niacinamide by applying niacinamide first in your routine, but this product works better when it specifically targets oily shine with oil-controlling ingredients.
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this treatment in your evening routine, starting once a week and carefully building up frequency if your skin tolerates it well. Nonprescription retinols serve as a low-risk mainstay for skin rejuvenation.
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This cream is unlikely to cause purging or breakouts since it has a safe profile with no harsh ingredients, though its heavy texture may feel greasy on oily skin. Oily skin dealing with excess shine typically needs lightweight, oil-controlling ingredients and formulas that balance oil without heavy feel.
Colloids and Surfaces. B, Biointerfaces, 2011The British Journal of Dermatology, 2010
What the research says
Retinyl 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 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, 2010A 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, 2024Over-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, 2021Topical 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, 1998A 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, 2013Topical 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
Why other serums fit oily skin better
A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Niacinamide and ferulic acid incorporated in a stable multiple emulsion successfully reduced melanin, sebum, and skin erythema while improving skin elasticity and hydration in human skin compared to a placebo.
BioMed Research International, 2022
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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