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where new, niche and next-gen

beauty comes home in sa

A313 Vitamin A Pommade (French Version)

  • straål-out
  • skincare

R480,00 incl VAT

Discover the tube that launched a thousand glowing complexions.

50G. For decades, French women have been quietly slipping this unassuming tube into their pharmacy baskets alongside their bread and Bordeaux. While the rest of the skincare world was adding gold flakes and advertising campaigns, A313 was busy being France’s hardest working beauty secret. This Vitamin A product has one job—refining skin—and it’s been doing it brilliantly since its inception. No frills, no fuss, just that certain je ne sais quoi your complexion has been asking for.

Read the Terms of Sale here.

VICTIM OF ITS OWN SUCCESS

A313 Pommade is a classic French Vitamin A product in polyethylene glycols (PEG or “macrogol”). The latter not only stabilises the Vitamin A to maintain its activity without degradation, but it also functions as a penetration enhancer, aiding the absorption of Vitamin A into the skin. Born in pharmacies and beloved by dermatologists, this unscented formula has been smoothing, softening, and generally improving French complexions for years.

*Disclaimers: We fell head over heels for A313 while in France. We’re introducing new items to our platform slowly by testing the waters (or should we say, testing the cream?). We’re currently gauging interest to see if this cult classic deserves a permanent spot in our lineup.

This means:

  • Authenticity guaranteed: While in France, we picked up extra units directly at the pharmacy, to introduce to our community.
  • Limited availability: We have a finite amount while we test market interest.
  • You should know that we do not have official distribution (yet). Per the South African Consumer Protection Act, we may offer authentic OTC products for sale without official distribution as long as it is clearly disclosed to you. This offer is thus a carefully curated trial run.
  • Your feedback matters: Love it? Let us know! Your enthusiasm helps us decide which French pharmacy gems to bring over permanently. Questions about sourcing or availability? We’re an open book—reach out anytime.
  • Apply a thin layer (pea size amount) to face and neck.
  • Do not rub in vigorously – simply apply gently.
  • Avoid delicate areas – around the eyes, corners of nose and lips.
  • Apply a moisturiser under or over to buffer or if any additional hydration is required.
  • For TOPICAL use only.
  • Store in a cool, dark place outside of the reach of children and animals.
  • Stop usage if you experience any undesired side effects and call your GP or pharmacist
  • Vitamin A: 200.000 UI of synthetic Vitamin A per 100g.
Unlike Retin-A (or tretinoin), A313 is a translucent ointment/pommade. Regular Vitamin A product use rules apply:

  • Do not use with other actives (vitamin C, benzoyl peroxide) or exfoliants (AHA’s, BHA’s, physical exfoliants).
  • Introduce slowly (even if you are a regular vitamin A/vitamin A derivative product user). Start with a couple of times a week, gradually increase.
  • NOT for use during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
  • DO NOT skip SPF.
  • Do not use when in salon treatments are scheduled, or directly after.
  • Use only in the evening.
  • Avoid using on broken skin.
  • Do not use if you’re allergic to any ingredients
  • Do not use on infected or oozing lesions or
  • In case of doubt, consult with your GP or pharmacist
  • LEAFLET information (you may request translation of the leaflet from straål): “Due to the risk of Vitamin A being absorbed into the bloodstream, do not use over large surfaces of your skin, underneath wound dressings, on damaged or burned skin, on mucous membranes, or on under 18s and children. Inform your doctor and pharmacist that you use Vitamin A when you’re consulting with them or prescribed other medications. Do not throw away after use, ask your pharmacy to dispense of the product.”
*You should know: The International version of A313 differs from the French version. This is the French version.
No scent or fragrance.
200,000 IU of synthetic Vitamin A, PEG-400, PEG-4000, Polysorbate-80.
A staple skincare item for those in the know ;)
#thestraålduo
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Glycerin

Also called Glycerol. It is a skin-identical ingredient used as a humectant. 

An organic compound used as a hair and skin humectant (draws in moisture), as a skin protectant, as a denaturant (removes alcohol from alcohol), as a skin and hair emollient (retains moisture), as a solvent (helps other ingredients dissolve in a solution), for oral care, and to decrease viscosity (thickness).
 
Benefits: Denaturant, Hair conditioning, Humectant, Oral care agent, Skin conditioning, Skin protectant, Solvent, Viscosity agent

Frequency: This ingredient is used frequently in cosmetics.

CATEGORY: HUMECTANT

CATEGORY:

OTHER

STRAÅLTHROUGH INFORMED SHOPPING®

Why choose LEBON?  

Built by straålcompare®. The selection is made up of toothpastes with similar characteristics, value propositions or price points. This is part of our straålthrough® transparency initiative–we encourage our straålfriends to pick the products they love ♡ 

Want the same tool for your shop? Contact us to build it for you.

LEBON SWEET MINT AND STRONG MINT

R2 per ML (size is 80ML)

Certified Organic Ingredients by Ecocert.

Vegan-friendly

Aluminium tube

Contains Calcium Carbonate as colourant.

LEBON is a fluoride-free oral care range (for those who prefer to shop fluoride-free).

LEBON is sulphate (SLS)-, triclosan-, plastic- and titanium dioxide free (for those who prefer to shop these characteristics).

Sold at straal.shop

CURAPROX BE YOU [most flavours]

R3.75 per ML (based on 60ML at R225)

No certified Organic ingredients

Vegan-friendly

Plastic tube

Contains colourants that are not Calcium/mineral based such as Reds and Yellows.

Contains Sodium Chloride (good for oral health)

Contains MICA (controversial unless sourcing disclosed) & Titanium Dioxide.

Has a texture from beads (noted as not plastic)

Both LEBON and Curaprox contain essential oils for aroma, including D-Limonene.

Curaprox contains 5 sweeteners; LEBON contains 1.

Both are free-from SLS, triclosan and plastic.

☑️ Good toothpaste albeit very sweet; more expensive than straål.

Dr. Hauschka Med Fortifying Mint Toothpaste

R2.2 per ML (based on 75ML for R165)

Not Certified Organic but both LEBON and Dr. Hauschka has similar ethos.

Not Vegan-friendly due to Propolis

Plastic or aluminium tube

Contains colour pigments from Titanium and Copper.

Contains Titanium Dioxide [disputed ingredient] although from illmenite.

Contains Alcohol (LEBON is alcohol-free).

Both LEBON and Dr. Hauschka contain essential oils, although the latter contains 4 EU allergens.

Both Dr. Hauschka and LEBON are fluoride-free. Plus other free-froms in LEBON and this are similar.

☑️ Great ingredients and similar price to LEBON albeit not appropriate for Vegans while containing Titanium Dioxide. We were unable to verify whether the tube is plastic or aluminium.

Aēsop Toothpaste

R5.16 per ML (based on 60ML for R310)

Not Certified Organic

Both Aēsop and LEBON focus on ingredients with proven safety, efficacy and sustainability.

Vegan-friendly.

Aluminium tube

Contains Calcium Carbonate as Colourant, like LEBON.

Contains Sodium Chloride (good for oral health)

Both LEBON and Aēsop contain essential oils, although Aēsop has 3 EU allergens.

Both LEBON and Aēsop specialize in exquisite ‘natural’ aromas in their toothpastes.

Both Aēsop and LEBON are fluoride-free, titanium dioxide-free, triclosan-free and SLS-free. 

☑️ Great ingredients and aroma. If high-end toothpastes with sophisticated and unique scents are your thing, try LEBON for a more affordable option. 

More comparisons soon!

Please note that straålcompare® is meant to help our straålfriends compare attributes and prices based on factual information.

When a product is marked with certain attributes, it is for informational purposes so that purchasers can make choices according to their own criteria.