A313 has a devoted following across Europe, and that popularity has a downside: imitation. Counterfeit tubes appear regularly on marketplaces and in obscure webshops, often styled to look convincingly French. As the official European distributor of the A313 range, we hear the same question every week: how do I know the product I bought is genuine? This guide walks you through the checks, from packaging details to the barcode, so you can buy with confidence.
One name, two genuine products
Before checking anything else, it helps to know that two different genuine products carry the A313 name, and confusing them causes needless worry.
The original A313 is the Pommade 200,000 UI, a semi-transparent vitamin A balm produced in Corbigny, France, and sold mainly through French pharmacies. Alongside it, the same French maker produces a modern A313 cosmetic range, which includes the A313 Cream with Retinol and Vitamin A, an anti-wrinkle face cream, an eye contour serum and a body lifting cream. This range is what we distribute across Europe.
The two lines look different because they are different products. A modern A313 cream in your parcel is not a failed copy of the pommade, and the pommade is not an outdated version of the cream. Trouble only starts when a third party sells a fake of either one, so here is what to look for.
Packaging tells on the original pommade
Counterfeits most often target the classic pommade, so its tells are worth knowing even if you buy the modern range.
A genuine A313 Pommade 200,000 UI comes in a cobalt blue box. The packaging clearly reads POMMADE, states 200,000 UI and carries a red warning advising against use during pregnancy. Inside the tube sits a semi-transparent balm, not a white cream.
Known counterfeits get exactly these details wrong. Typical tells include a purple blue box rather than cobalt blue, the words Cream with Retinyl Palmitate printed where POMMADE should be, and an opaque white lotion inside the tube. Any one of these is reason enough to set the product aside.
The 30 second barcode check
Genuine A313 pommade for the European market carries the barcode EAN 3760245850712. Compare the number printed on the box against this reference. If the barcode is missing, different, or covered by a sticker with another number, treat the product as suspect and ask the seller for an explanation before using it.
Red flags when shopping online
- A price that looks too good. In France the pommade typically sells for 15 to 20 euros. A listing far below the usual range is rarely a coincidence.
- Stock photos only. A reputable seller will show photos of the actual box on request, including the batch number and expiry date.
- No European contact details. Be extra careful with sellers that list no address, or with listings shipped from outside Europe.
- Reviews that hesitate. Comments mentioning an unusual smell, colour or texture compared with earlier orders are a serious signal.
Why authenticity matters
Cosmetics sold legally in the EU must comply with strict European rules on ingredients, labelling and traceability. A counterfeit bypasses all of it. With a fake you cannot know what is in the tube, where it was made or how it was stored, and nobody stands behind the product if something is not right. Good skincare is built on a consistent routine, and consistency starts with knowing exactly what you are applying.
How to buy with confidence
For the original pommade, French and European pharmacies remain the reliable route. For the modern A313 range, buy directly from the official distributor or an authorised reseller, and take a moment to check the packaging and barcode when your order arrives. If something feels off, do not use the product: photograph it, contact the seller and report the listing to the marketplace.
You can browse the complete official range in our A313 collection, where every product ships from the official European distributor.
Genuine A313 is easy to recognise once you know the tells. A minute of checking when the parcel arrives keeps your routine exactly what it should be: simple, consistent and trustworthy.
