Pharma Développement A313 Vitamin A Retinol Cream for sensitive skin
Retinyl Palmitate
Peg-4000
Polysorbate 80Average
- AverageNormal Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for sensitive skin; other serums fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with sensitive skin: redness, stinging, and reactions to new products. 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 retinyl acetate and retinyl propionate, which help minimize fine lines and wrinkles by promoting cell turnover.
- While providing general skincare benefits like hydration and cleansing, the formula's focus on cell turnover is not directly supportive of your primary concerns of redness and irritation.
- The product is safe for your sensitive skin, as it lacks prohibited or harsh ingredients that could cause irritation.
How to apply
- Use your serum in the PM routine, starting 3 times a week before building up to daily use if your skin is happy.
- Apply the serum after cleansing and toning, but before putting on your moisturizer for the best results.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and wait a minute ⏱ for it to soak in.
- Since your skin is sensitive and easily irritated, apply the serum on completely dry skin to help keep it calm.
- Always do a patch test before your first use and avoid getting the serum too close to your eyes .
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 sensitive skin?
Pharma Développement A313 Vitamin A Retinol Cream is an average fit for sensitive skin because its focus on cell turnover does not directly target redness and irritation. A product of this type needs soothing ingredients like niacinamide and snail secretion filtrate, along with potent antioxidants and hydrating components, to properly calm and protect sensitive skin.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2010International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for sensitive skin?
This cream is a safe choice for sensitive skin because it is free of harsh ingredients that cause irritation, though it does not actively target redness. Treatments that fit sensitive skin better need soothing ingredients like niacinamide and snail secretion filtrate, along with antioxidants and hydrating agents to calm the skin and keep it healthy.
What does Retinyl Palmitate do for sensitive skin?
Retinyl palmitate helps improve fine lines, wrinkles, and texture, but for sensitive skin it requires careful testing because it may cause irritation. This skin type needs gentle, hydrating ingredients and barrier-repairing components to stay calm and comfortable.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2013International Journal of Nanomedicine, 2021
What does Retinyl Acetate do for sensitive skin?
Retinyl acetate helps improve skin texture and supports overall appearance while minimizing irritation for sensitive skin. Advanced delivery systems help enhance its stability and penetration so it remains gentle on delicate skin.
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for sensitive skin?
This treatment goes in your evening routine, applied after your soothing toner and before your moisturizer. Putting it at night helps keep your skin safe from sun exposure while it works.
Can I use this cream with niacinamide, and in what order?
You can use this cream with niacinamide, applying the niacinamide first and letting it absorb before putting on this treatment. Combining them helps improve fine lines and wrinkles while keeping the skin calm.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2010International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this treatment in your evening routine, starting just once a week to see how your skin reacts since it focuses on cell turnover rather than calming redness and irritation. Sensitive skin of this type needs gentle, hydrating ingredients and soothing formulas that reduce redness while still supporting a smooth, youthful look.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2010International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for sensitive skin?
This cream is unlikely to cause purging, but it has a very greasy texture that may clog pores on sensitive skin. A product of this type needs a lightweight, soothing formula with calming ingredients to keep sensitive skin clear and comfortable.
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, 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, 2024A combination of retinyl propionate and climbazole (RPC) resulted in significant improvement in aging attributes, including deep wrinkles and hyperpigmentation, with significantly less irritation compared to 0.1% retinol in 45 healthy Caucasian females with moderately photodamaged facial skin.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2017Exposure of mouse epidermal cell cultures to beta-retinyl acetate inhibited cellular proliferation, strongly reduced benz[a]anthracene-induced aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity to 20% of controls, markedly decreased DNA binding of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene, and significantly increased its binding to cellular protein.
Chemico-biological Interactions, 1977Over-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 sensitive skin better
Topical application of TAT-SOD significantly suppresses UVB-induced erythema formation, blood flow rise, and apoptotic sunburn cell formation in human volunteers compared to a vehicle control.
European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, 2016
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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