An in-depth discussion comparing A313 and Skin+'s Daily A Retinol Serum to find out which retinoid really delivers.

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Paris, the Olympics, and My Year-Long French Skincare Affair

Last summer, I found myself living out a total dream: standing in a jam-packed Paris pharmacy, clutching a tube of A313 like it was a golden ticket to perfect skin. You know the one — the thick, sticky, vitamin A pommade every beauty editor and TikTok skincare snob seems to whisper about like it’s France’s best-kept secret. Spoiler alert: I grabbed a few tubes (obviously), tested one for a full year, and now I’ve got thoughts. Big ones. But first — let’s rewind.

Last July, my husband and I hopped across the pond for what turned out to be the adventure of a lifetime — attending the 2024 Summer Olympics in the city of lights. And let me just say: if you ever get the chance to attend the Olympics, do it. Honestly, I don’t care if it’s as an athlete, a spectator, or the person handing out baguettes in the athlete’s village — it was epic. The energy, the passion, the global unity… and also, the pastries.

But while my husband was laser-focused on the athletic greatness, I had my own Olympic checklist:

🥇 Watch Beach Volley Ball Under the Eiffel Tower? Check.
🥇 Eat pain au chocolat daily? Double check.
🥇 Hunt down France’s most iconic pharmacy finds like a mission-critical skincare scavenger hunt? Check, check, and check.

French pharmacies — in case you’ve never been — are not your average pharmacies. They’re like skincare treasure troves disguised as sterile apothecaries — glowing green crosses out front, tightly packed aisles inside, and row after row of beautifully labeled,  board-certified dermatologist approved potions just begging to stuffed into your suitcase. You don’t just browse in a French pharmacy — you strategize. You elbow your way past glowing French women and their chic grandmothers whispering brand names like NUXE,  and Embryolisse under your breath like a spell.

At the very top of my list? A313. The cult-status vitamin A cream I’d heard whispered about in skincare forums for years — the one that's supposedly the French retinol answer to Retin-A , but gentler and over-the-counter. I grabbed a tube (okay, three) and made a mental note: This is going on my face for the next year. We’re doing the long game.

So here we are, twelve months and many face-washing sessions later, and I’ve got a full-blown review coming your way — plus a side-by-side comparison with my very own Skin+ Daily A Retinol Serum, which, spoiler alert: has been holding its own very well in this vitamin A showdown.

 

Retinol: A Quick Refresher Before We Compare

Now before we get into the nitty-gritty of A313 versus my Skin+ Daily A Serum, let’s quickly talk about why everyone’s so obsessed with retinol products in the first place.

Retinol — a derivative of vitamin A — The Swiss Army knife of skincare ingredients. It's been studied for decades, and for good reason: it speeds up skin cell turnover, unclogs pores, fades dark spots, softens fine lines, and helps your skin act like it’s still 22. (Yes, really.)

Whether you're dealing with acne, sun damage, or skin concerns like dullness or rough skin texture, retinoid products are kind of the gold standard in fixing a lot of things at once.

 

Don’t worry, we’re about to unpack all of that. But if you’re new to the retinol game or just want to brush up on what it actually does, I wrote a whole blog post breaking it down in plain English. You can read it right here.

Go skim it real quick if you want the full glow-up on retinol science. Or just hang tight, because the battle of the Vitamin A titans — A313 vs. Skin+ Daily A — starts now.

 

The Retinoid Conversion Ladder: Not All Vitamin A is Created Equal

Here’s where things get interesting — and kind of juicy if you’re a skincare nerd like me (hi 🙋♀️).

When people talk about “retinol,” they often lump numerous  types of products into one category, but the truth is, there’s a whole ladder of retinyl esters — and where an active ingredient sits on that ladder makes a big difference in how effective (or irritating) it is.

The Retinoid Conversion Ladder:

Retinyl Palmitate → Retinyl Propionate → Retinol → Retinal → Retinoic Acid

Each step up brings you closer to mild retinoic acid, the form your skin actually uses to boost collagen production, smooth fine lines, and give you that great skin glow.

💡 Here’s the catch: The closer you get to retinoic acid, the stronger (and often more irritating) the product can be. On the flip side, the further you are from retinoic acid, the gentler it is — but also the more conversions it has to go through before your skin can actually use it.

Let’s break it down super simply:

• Retinyl Palmitate (in A313)

A mild retinol ester that’s gentle for sensitive skin 

but not super potent. It has to go through three conversions to become active, and its larger molecule size means it mostly hangs out on the surface of your skin.

• Retinyl Propionate (in Skin+ Daily A)

More bioavailable. Fewer conversions, better absorption, and deeper penetration. It’s like the really fantastic secret behind getting the most amazing skin without the side effects. A bit closer to retinoic acid and way more bioavailable. It converts faster and penetrates deeper into the skin, offering better results with less irritation.

This is why the type of retinoid you’re using really matters — it’s not just about slapping something on your face and hoping for the best. It’s about using the right form, in the right formula, for your skin’s needs and tolerance.

Next up: we’re putting A313 and Skin+ Daily A head-to-head to see which formula actually delivers the best results

 

Ingredient Showdown: Skin+ Daily A vs. A313

Let the glow-off begin ✨

We’ve talked about the Retinoid Ladder, and now we’re putting these two products to the test. First up: the one I know intimately (because I created it with love, science, and way too much coffee):

A. Skin+ Daily A Retinol Serum

If you're not familiar yet, Skin+ Daily A is my clinical-strength-but-gentle retinol product formulated for acne-prone and sensitive skin.

Key Ingredient:
✅ Retinyl Propionate — the unsung hero. It’s the perfect middle ground: effective, gentle, and ideal for nightly use.

Powerhouse Ingredients:

• Kojic Acid and Salicylic Acid: Together, they tackle dark spots and breakouts.

• Niacinamide and Glycerin: Hydrating and soothing, which helps reduce the risk of sun sensitivity.

• Lactic Acid: A gentle exfoliant that pairs beautifully with retinoids.

• L-Mandelic Acid: Great for acne-prone and dry skin types alike.

I built it to work with the rest of our skin care routine, so you can layer it with a vitamin C serum, night cream, or other skin care products without the drama.

Perfect for clients with:

• Acne-prone skin and hormonal breakouts that need exfoliation and cellular turnover without triggering inflammation or rebound breakouts

• Aging skin that’s starting to show fine lines, dullness, uneven skin tone or sun damage

• Anyone looking for a results-driven, non-irritating retinol that plays nice with other actives
  

B. A313 Vitamin A Pommade

The darling of French pharmacy hauls, A313 is often hyped as a cult favourite. But what’s actually in it?

Ingredients List (Simplified):

• Retinyl Palmitate – This is the main active, and it sits pretty far down the Retinoid Conversion Ladder (remember: it’s the least potent of the bunch). That means it has to jump through several hoops before it becomes active in the skin, making it much milder — and slower — to produce results.

• PEGs (like polyethylene glycol) – These are all emulsifiers and delivery agents. They help give the product its balm-like texture and improve stability, but they don't offer much benefit to the skin themselves.

• Arachis Hypogaea Oil (aka Peanut Oil) – Yep, peanut oil. And while it might sound like a nourishing plant oil at first glance, it’s not ideal for acne-prone skin. It has a high comedogenic rating, which means it can clog pores and trigger breakouts — especially if you're already acne-sensitive.

• Vitamin E – An antioxidant, but not a standout.

And here’s the catch: because of that balm-like texture, you can’t layer anything on top of it in your skincare routine. Not moisturizer, not treatment serums, nothing. For me, that’s a dealbreaker. I like having flexibility in my nighttime routine. I want to apply my retinol and follow it with a moisturizer—especially if I’m treating sensitive or acne-prone skin.

With our Acne Clearing protocol, for example, we intentionally pair the Daily A Retinol Serum with a hydrating gel moisturizer and a benzoyl peroxide serum to reduce inflammation and target active breakouts. That layering is strategic, and it’s part of why our system works so well. But with A313, that kind of layering isn’t really possible—the occlusive texture seals off the skin and doesn’t allow for anything else to penetrate effectively.

So while A313 might work as a standalone treatment for sensitive skin, it’s not well-suited for anyone who needs a flexible, acne-focused regimen. The texture alone makes it a mismatch for oily or breakout-prone skin.

 

My Thoughts After a Year of Testing:

So... did A313 change my life? Not exactly.

While I appreciate the heritage and the “pharmacy-chic” appeal, my skin didn’t love this product. The texture was just too heavy for daily use, and I noticed more congestion than usual when I tried to make it a regular part of my routine. I suspect the peanut oil played a big role in that.

That said, I can see how someone with very dry, non-acne-prone skin might enjoy this balm as an occasional retinoid treatment. But for my clients — the ones dealing with breakouts, oiliness, inflammation, and post-acne marks — A313 just doesn’t make the cut.

Retinyl Propionate vs. Retinyl Palmitate: Which One’s Really Doing the Work?

Okay, let’s get nerdy for a second (the fun kind of nerdy). Both Skin+ Daily A and A313 are technically vitamin A products. But the specific form of vitamin A they use? That’s where the real story begins.

All retinoids eventually need to convert to retinoic acid—the form your skin actually recognizes and uses. But some take the express route, and some... get stuck in traffic.

So let’s lay it all out:

 

 

The Bottom Line: 

Retinyl Propionate is the girl who understood the assignment. It’s effective, stable, gentle, and sinks into the skin without drama. This makes it a total win for anyone dealing with acne, sensitivity, or irritation from stronger retinoids. That’s why it’s the star of our Daily A Serum—you get all the benefits of a high-performance retinoid, without having to walk around red, flaky, or shiny.

Retinyl Palmitate (the star of A313) just doesn’t hit the same. It’s weaker, needs more conversion steps, and its thick, heavy vehicle makes it hard to layer with other actives. For dry or mature skin, it might be okay once in a while. But for most of my acne-prone clients? It’s a no-go.

Final Verdict: French Fad or Functional Formula? 

I get the hype around French pharmacy staples. They’re iconic, romantic, and full of that effortlessly chic energy that makes you want to believe the cure to all skin concerns comes in a shiny white tube with French text on it. And listen, I’m glad I tried A313. It was part of a skincare pilgrimage and a very memorable Olympic adventure. But after months of testing it side-by-side with Skin+ Daily A, the differences were loud and clear. 

If you want to improve acne, skin health,fight fine lines, and get that good skincare glow without a prescription or harsh peeling, retinyl propionate (like in Skin+ Daily A) is where it’s at.

Still, I’m grateful for the A313 experiment. It taught me a lot — and made me appreciate the intentional design of my own formula even more. From French pharmacies to my clinic in Austin, it turns out you don’t need a country’s best beauty secrets when you’ve got the right formula at home.

Want to Learn More About Retinol?

If you're still unsure what retinol actually does, and why it's considered the gold standard in skincare, check out my recent blog post:
👉 What Does Retinol Actually Do For Your Skin?

It breaks down all the science in a clear, real-world way—no confusing jargon, just facts that help you make better skincare decisions.

Try Skin+ Daily A for Yourself

Ready to make the switch to a smarter retinoid? Skin+ Daily A is:

✅ Non-irritating and daily-use friendly
✅ Packed with supportive ingredients like mandelic acid, niacinamide, kojic acid, and sodium PCA
✅ Designed to fit perfectly into our Acne Clearing System
✅ Clinically tested by hundreds of happy clients over the past 10 years (not just hyped on TikTok)

P.S. Skin+ offers free standard shipping in the U.S. — so no passport or pharmacy line required 😉