By now, nearly everyone who has read an article about skincare knows the power of retinol. Long before fillers, Botox, and skin boosters were getting airplay for their anti-aging benefits, retinol was known as the holy grail of skincare—a cream that promises to slow the aging process, stimulate collagen production, increase cell turnover, and smooth out fine lines and wrinkles, all while making your skin glow like you’ve just had the best facial of your life.
Sign. Me. Up.
Now, before I go on, a caveat: Retinol is not for everyone—those with sensitive skin, psoriasis, eczema, and rosacea might want to steer clear—but for the general population, it’s a wonder product that has stood the test of time, outlasting an influx of treatments that are easier to manage an offer faster results.
Why? Because it works.
If you’ve done your research, you know the market is flooded with options. But unless you’re ready to dive into the deep end with prescription retinoids (which, after my own “face-off incident,” I’m definitely not), finding one that’s both potent and gentle enough to keep your skin from feeling like it’s walked through the gates of hell is key.
Enter A313, the under-the-radar gem that beauty editors have been quietly hoarding for years. The baby sister to the now-discontinued Avibon (a product French women had sworn by for decades and one that reached cult status Gwyneth Paltrow gave it her Goop seal of approval), A313 offers a softer, more consistent formula that works as well as prescription retinoids. At a 2% concentration, it delivers serious results without the peeling and pain that makes you regret every life choice that led you to try retinol in the first place.
My A313 Adventure
I first got my hands on a tube in 2017 during a family holiday in the South of France. I’d heard so much about this miracle cream that I was determined to bring back enough to last me a year or two. From the moment we landed, I was on a mission, speaking non-stop about getting to a pharmacy. But when I finally found one, they were completely sold out. The woman behind the counter must have seen the sheer devastation on my face because she took pity on me and said, “Come back in a week; we should have some more by then.” And just like that, my dream of snagging A313 was back on track.
Six days later, I returned, and there they were—three glorious tubes with my name on them. Literally. The saleswoman had set them aside just for me (I may have been too American in my excitement because she sort of jumped back and stared at me —oops). After giving strict instructions to apply it only at night, on a dry face, and to always follow up with a sunscreen of SPF 40 or higher, she handed it over.
I couldn’t wait to get home and try it.
That first night, I opened the toothpaste-like tube and squeezed out a pea-sized amount. The cream is thick, almost like soft, grainy petroleum jelly, and it spreads easily. I felt a warm sensation and noticed a bit of redness, which faded by the time I went to bed. The next morning, my skin looked bright and hydrated, but by day seven, I was dealing with some dryness and itching. I had gotten too excited and ignored the advice to apply it to a completely dry face and to stick with the pea-sized amount.
Lesson learned.
From then on, I was using it twice a week for about three weeks, then bumped it up to every other day. The results were subtle at first— a bit more brightness and a gentle plumping of the skin—but by month two, things got real. My skin looked smoother and more even-toned. By month six, it was firmer, especially around the eyes, and that hyperpigmentation I’d been battling? Fading fast.
Fast forward seven years, and it is still my nightly go-to for my face, neck, and hands. It’s not a miracle cream—I’m still aging, after all—but it feels like A313 is pressing the slow-mo button on the process. I can honestly say that I feel that it makes my skin healthier and happier, and dare I say, more youthful looking, and I’m here for it.
The Verdict
Again, A313 isn’t going to make you look 25 at 40, but it’s as good as you’re going to get when it comes to skincare. It’s powerful enough to be taken seriously, but gentle enough not to make you look and feel miserable in the process. Yes, it might cause a breakout during the initiation phase if you have cystic acne, but it’s a slower, less dramatic alternative to Retin-A.
If you ever find yourself near a French pharmacy, do yourself a favor and pick up a tube (or three). It’s one of those rare gems that actually lives up to the hype.
Got Questions? We’ve Got Answers:
- What’s the difference between retinals and retinoids? Verywell explains it beautifully here.
- Why do I need retinol in my routine? Glamour breaks it down perfectly.
- What should I know before using retinol? Vogue’s got you covered with this guide.
- Retinol on darker skin—what’s the deal? New York Magazine gives a deep dive here.
Unfortunately, not long after the shout-out, Avibon was removed from the shelves when attempts to correct inconsistencies in the product proved futile. There was a slight panic as users from all over the world were left wondering if they would find anything as good this side of the harsh and expensive Retin-A, but manufacturers quickly replaced Avibon with A313. Enter a softer and more consistent product that worked as well as prescription-only retinals without the excess peeling and pain (and at a 2% concentration). Was it too good to be true? I wanted to find out.
I first got my hands on a tube in 2017 while on a family holiday in the south of France. Having heard so much about this miracle cream, I was determined to return to London with enough to last me a year or two. I spoke about needing to get to the pharmacy from the moment we landed and ran through the doors as soon as I saw one in town. To my dismay, they were completely sold out. ‘We just had twenty delivered and they were sold in two days,’ said the woman behind the counter. When I asked where the nearest pharmacy was, I was told it was over half an hour’s drive away. Getting my partner (then new boyfriend) to waste an hour driving to get me a wrinkle cream was not really something I wanted to ask, and I guess the look on my face showed my disappointment because the sales lady looked at me with pity and asked, ‘How long will you be here?’ I said eight days. ‘It usually takes fourteen, but let me see what I can do.’ I was thrilled. ‘Come and check in a week, and we should have it for you.’ Six days later, I arrived, and there were three glorious tubes waiting for me with my name on them…literally. I was thrilled. After receiving strict orders only to put it on at night, to wear a good sunscreen (again of 40 or higher), and to avoid putting it on a wet face (it makes the cream more potent, which will make skin itch and sting), I waited impatiently to get home and give it a try.
My experience with A313
The first night I got home, I opened the tube, which is not dissimilar to a tube of toothpaste. The consistency of the cream is thick, like soft, grainy petroleum jelly, and you only need a pea-sized amount, as a little goes a long way. I felt a comfortable warmth and saw a little redness that stayed until I fell asleep an hour later but was gone by morning. I woke up to skin that looked bright with plumpy hydration. Unfortunately, the morning afterglow settled down, and by day seven, my skin was ever so slightly dry and itchy on occasion, thanks to my getting too excited and not following orders to put it on a completely dry face and to only use the pea-sized amount I mentioned earlier. All discomfort came as a result of my pushing boundaries, not the product itself. I used it twice a week for a month and a half and then three times a week for another two. The results were gradual but all positive. By month two, my wrinkles were softer; by month three, my skin seemed brighter. That’s another bonus of retinol: It addresses hyperpigmentation as well (if not better) than most brightening creams. It really kicked in about six months when I felt like my skin was thicker and tighter, especially around the eyes.
It’s now been a few years, and I use it nightly on my face, neck, and hands and am thrilled with the results. It’s not a miracle cream — I am still aging — but I feel like A313 has slowed it down a lot.
I have been told it can cause a breakout during the initiation period for those with cystic acne, but I have not experienced any spots myself. Friends who have struggled with acne say it causes less of a problem than Retin-A (also known as Tretinoin), but also a slower solution, taking between 12-24 weeks to make a real impact on acne-prone skin.
My verdict: This one is the standout. It’s user-friendly and packs enough punch to be taken seriously but doesn’t make you miserable while it works. If you’re able to get your hands on a tube, I would highly recommend buying one (or three).
UPDATE: A313 is now available on Amazon (make sure you purchase from a verified buyer as there are a lot of fake beauty and skincare products on the website).
Now, let’s address a few questions you might have:
What is the difference between retinals and retinoids? Verywell gives a great breakdown here.
Why do I need retinol? Glamour explains it perfectly.
What are things I need to know about using retinol? Check out this piece in Vogue.
Retinol and darker skin— what’s the deal? Check out this piece in New York Magazine.