The Beauté Pacifique Vitamin A Products Beauty Editors Don’t Want You to Know About
Amy Clark is Adore Beauty's former Senior Editor and co-host of Skincare School the podcast (and self-appointed beauty road-tester!). Amy's worked as a journalist, beauty editor and podcaster for several years, previously writing and talking about all things beauty at Mamamia and You Beauty. When she's not writing honest, no BS product reviews and taking selfies 'for work', you'll find Amy eating halloumi in a hair towel turban and... taking more selfies.
Had you stopped me on the street five years ago to talk about Beauté Pacifique products, I would've politely asked you to please repeat the question.
The Danish cosmeceutical skincare brand (pronounced Beau-tay Pasif-eek) has been around since the 90s, but up until recently, it was a best kept beauty editor secret.
Why? Because before it launched on Adore Beauty in 2019, you could only buy these active products from beauty salons and facialists.
And also because, well, the packaging is a bit naff.
I first heard about this cult underground brand like every other beauty editor did - after experiencing the magic of Sydney facialist Carina Gross, owner and head skin specialist at Belameres Clinic in Double Bay.
Carina recommended I try the Beauté Pacifique Defy Damage serum during my first appointment around three years ago, and I've been using it ever since.
It genuinely changed my skin, and I swear my face just looks a little bit sh*tter whenever I stop using it for whatever reason.
Fast forward to when I started as Senior Editor at Adore... and after we published this Beauté Pacifique Defy Damage serum review, it sold out within days.
Now, it's one of our top 10 best-selling active skincare serums alongside other cult favourites like SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic, asap super B serum and Alpha-H Liquid Gold Midnight Reboot (you can see the full top serums list here).
But did you know Defy Damage is only one of the brand's most popular vitamin A products?
If you've seen these blue and white skincare products on Instagram or in all the beauty Facebook groups and wondered if they're legit, you're not alone.
Keep scrolling for my Beauté Pacifique vitamin A reviews, including which one to add to cart.
Types of Vitamin A for Skin.
If you want more detailed info on vitamin A, I highly recommend listening to our vitamin A Skincare School podcast episode above!
But here's the quick version.
Vitamin A is an ingredient commonly found in skin care that comes in several forms, all with different strengths and efficacies.
Here's a list of the most common vitamin A derivatives or retinoids found in skin care, from the gentlest and most stable, to the strongest and most reactive:
1. Retinol esters like retinyl palmitate and retinyl acetate are the mildest types of retinoids.
2. Granactive Retinoid.
3. Retinol.
4. Retinaldehyde or Retinal.
5. Tretinoin (also known as prescription vitamin A, retinoic acid or retin-A) is the strongest form of vitamin A for skin and is only available in Australia with a prescription from your medical practitioner.
Now, back to the products.
Let's break down the difference between three cult Beauté Pacifique vitamin A products so you can pick the right one for you and your skin!
1. Beauté Pacifique Defy Damage Serum.
Beaute Pacifique Defy Damage Skin Repair Serum 40ml is the sell-out serum that started Australia's love affair with this Scandi skincare brand.
It's super active (so you know it's actually going to do something for your skin), but gentle enough for daily use - even on sensitive skin.
And the best bit? At $80, it's not ridiculously expensive.
Ingredients and benefits:
- Light textured serum-in-lotion addresses the look of hyperpigmentation, sun damage, fine lines and wrinkles, and redness.
- Contains retinyl palmitate, a very gentle form of vitamin A, that's encapsulated in an olive oil squalane to strengthen the skin barrier and minimise any risk of irritation.
- Also has hydrating hyaluronic acid and squalane, antioxidants vitamin C and vitamin E, and ursolic acid.
- Instantly brightens, smooths and plumps for skin that looks healthy, radiant and hydrated.
- Stimulates collagen production to repair existing damage and prevent future damage over time.
- Has what I call 'The Beauté Pacifique scent'...
- It's hard to describe (a bit clinical or tangy maybe?) - Some people don't love it, but I find it oddly comforting.
Downsides:
While the pump packaging is handy, the lid is near-impossible not to crack.
This is coming from someone who's gone through several bottles. I dare you to chuck it in your toiletries bag to prove me wrong.
Only other nit-picky con is, again, with the packaging.
There's no way to tell if the bottle is almost empty until the sad day you actually run out. But that's it.
How to use it:
This is where this serum gets a bit confusing because, yes, you can use it in the mornings, even though it contains vitamin A.
(BUT only if you're committed to wearing and reapplying a broad spectrum SPF 50+ sunscreen on your face every single day.)
Because the vitamin A esters in the formula are so gentle, think of Defy Damage as a hydrating serum.
You can apply every morning on cleansed skin, or on top of your vitamin C serum and under moisturiser and sunscreen, and every night after cleansing and before your moisturiser and/or face oil.
Best for:
- True vitamin A beginners (and skincare newbies in general), this one's for you!
- All skin types, including those with rosacea or sensitised skin who can't tolerate retinol serums.
- If you want a one-and-done active serum that gently hydrates, protects, brightens and repairs.
2. Beauté Pacifique Super 3 Booster Night Cream.
So, you're ready to take off your vitamin A training wheels. This is the next step up.
Beaute Pacifique Super 3 Booster Night Cream 100ml is a vitamin A night cream that's as potent as an active serum, but with a nourishing cream security blanket.
Important note: Super 3 Booster is often confused with the Beauté Pacifique 'Clinical' Super3 Booster, but you can only buy that product in-clinic from a facialist or dermal therapist.
Ingredients and benefits:
- Delivers all the main vitamin A skin benefits - increased collagen production, refined skin texture, and reduced look of hyperpigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles.
- Contains encapsulated retinyl palmitate just like the Defy Damage serum, plus glycerin, squalane and vitamin E help keep the skin barrier intact.
- Formulated with a second form of vitamin A called retinyl acetate for higher potency.
- A big difference is the inclusion of propolis, an antimicrobial ingredient that treats and prevents active pimples, acne scars and excess sebum (oil) production.
- Thick, creamy, nourishing moisturiser texture.
- Comes in 50ml and 100ml sizes.
Downsides:
Maybe it's just me, but the stronger the vitamin A product, the more potent the Beauté Pacifique scent. Could be a deal-breaker.
Unlike Defy Damage serum, Super 3 Booster isn't recommended for sensitive skin. It's also a bit stripping for dry skin types when worn on its own, and contains lanolin, which some people are sensitive or allergic to.
This product is also deceptively easy to over-use because the formula is so creamy and non-irritating when you apply it.
Resist the urge to slather it on every night to avoid cumulative irritation, OK?
How to use it:
This product should only be applied at night, and never on the same night as other active or exfoliating skin care.
After cleansing, massage no more than a pea-sized amount into the skin. Dry skin-havers can follow with a basic moisturiser and/or face oil.
Start by applying once or twice a week, before gradually increasing to every other night depending on how your skin feels.
Best for:
- When you've been using your beginner vitamin A for a while and want to try something stronger.
- Particularly great for normal to combination, oily and blemish-prone skin types.
- Anyone who doesn't want to bother with serums, an acne product and a night cream, this is your all-in-one treatment.
3. Beauté Pacifique Crème Symphonique Night Cream.
If Defy Damage serum is baby's first vitamin A product and Super 3 Booster is the next step up...
Beaute Pacifique Creme Symphonique Night Cream - 50ml is the successful boss who responds to emails in a timely manner, is loved and respected by their employees, volunteers on a charity board 'in their spare time' and maintains work life balance. Ugh.
Translation: It's powerful (but never bull-ish), effective and not for beginners.
Plus, the brand has built on everything that's great about their other vitamin A products to make this their most advanced formula yet.
Ingredients and benefits:
- This evening treatment product contains SIX different derivatives of vitamin A using the brand's most up-to-date patented squalane delivery system to minimise irritation.
- You've got four stable vitamin A esters: retinyl palmitate, retinyl acetate, retinyl linoleate and hydroxypinacolone retinoate.
- Also contains two strong forms of vitamin A retinol and retinal (retinaldehyde), making it highly potent.
- Oh, and you've also got nourishing argan kernel oil, saw palmetto fruit extract, sesame seed oil, glycerin and squalane, and brightening niacinamide (vitamin B3), bakuchiol and papin enzyme.
- Like Super 3 Booster, Symphonique Night Cream regulates sebum production to manage problematic skin.
- Creamy lotion consistency feels hydrating enough to be worn on its own.
- Personally, I wake up with smoother, plumper, glowier-looking skin when I apply before bed.
- The packaging's had an upgrade too with a sleek mirrored silver pump bottle and a sturdy lid, hurrah!
Downsides:
Just so we're all on the same page, we've got to acknowledge the clinical scent one last time.
And like Super 3 Booster, Symphonique Night Cream doesn't feel overly 'strong' when you apply it. But just because it doesn't burn your face off on the first night, that's not to say it won't if you go overboard.
Not suitable for skincare newbies, active skincare beginners or anyone with sensitised skin.
How to use it:
It's the same deal as Super 3 Booster.
Only use at night, never with other active products. Start slow. A little goes a long way. Layer on top of and underneath a moisturiser if you need extra hydration. Ease off if you experience any irritation.
And for the love of all things good, wear your sunscreen.
Best for:
- Experienced active skincare users who either want to step up, or try something new.
- If you've used and had no issues with retinol-based products before.
- All skin types, except sensitive and sensitised skin.
- Busy people who just want one no-fuss product that delivers the goods in a single step.
And that brings us to the end of this Beauté Pacifique vitamin A cheat sheet!
Sorry, fellow beauty eds. The cat with the good skin is well and truly out of the bag.
A final note: If you're ever unsure of what to put on your face, that's OK!
The best thing you can do to avoid wasting money on products that aren't right for your skin is to get professional, personalised advice from a skin professional, dermal therapist or dermatologist.
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