I find myself having this conversation about Augustinus Bader with all of my friends in their early thirties. Them: “£250 for a cream? Bit steep, isn’t it?” Me: “I mean, yeah, but at least I don’t have to get Botox?”
Many of my pals have turned to Botox in the past few years. But when I hit 29, I wanted to see how long I could hold off for over fears of what injecting toxins into my face could do to it long-term – and on a more superficial level, over concerns that a dodgy injection could leave me looking constipated.
Enter: Augustinus Bader. The luxury skincare brand has gone viral a thousand times over with The Rich Cream and The Retinol Serum, which use its signature Trigger Factor Complex (TFC8) formula to fuse natural amino acids, high-grade vitamins and peptides to help nourish, protect and support skin renewal.
If that sounds like a load of science-y jumbo to you, don’t worry. It did to me, too. I can admit I was fully hashtag influenced by all the celebrities who swear by the products (Victoria Beckham, Hailey Bieber, Kim Kardashian, the list goes on) and bought The Rich Cream four years ago just to see what all the fuss was about.
I honestly wasn’t expecting much but, as someone who can’t be bothered to do more than a three-step skincare routine, I was happy to just slather it on morning and night and hope for the best.
And friends, the skincare gods have shone down on me. It works. It actually, genuinely works! Visibly minimised fine lines, smaller pores, plumper complexion, fewer spots, the lot.
Best Augustinus Bader skincare at a glance
Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream, Augustinusbader.com
Augustinus Bader The Retinol Cream, Augustinusbader.com
Augustinus Bader The Cream Cleansing Gel, Augustinusbader.com
So how to justify that price tag? Well, The Rich Cream generally lasts around three to four months, about the same as a Botox treatment. While the cream weighs in at £250, injections can cost anywhere between £150 and £400, depending on whether you go to an independent or luxury clinic and how many zones you want to target (forehead lines, crow’s feet and frown lines being the most popular). That’s enough basic mathematics for me to be okay with my decision.
How I tested
I’ve been applying The Rich Cream at least once, but usually twice a day, for the past four years. I’ve used other creams when it’s run out, but generally have been good at buying it every three to four months. It helps to sign up to a subscription service on the Augustinus Bader website, which can result in some handy price cuts.
As for The Retinol Cream and The Cream Cleansing Gel, I have tested them out every day morning and night for the past week.
Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream
★★★★★
What we love: Noticeably reduces fine lines, minimises the appearance of pores, goes on nicely under makeup and leaves the complexion looking smooth and plump
Take note: Very, very expensive for 50ml
This cult product delivered visible results for me after about a month of daily use. And four years in, I continue to be blown away by the improvement in the fine lines on my forehead and around my eyes.
The brand’s German founder, Professor Augustinus Bader, who has three decades of cell research behind him and a background in helping scarring in burn patients, relies on TFC8 to smooth deep-set wrinkles, enhance elasticity and support skin cell renewal.
The patented formula is combined with argan, avocado and evening primrose oil in a cream that Mr Bader himself created to plump up his own skin.
While wrinkle reduction was the main reason I bought the cream, it also makes my pores look smaller, I get fewer spots, and my complexion generally looks plumper, smoother and more glowy.
I love that it doesn’t have a scent and that it glides on under my makeup like a really, really luxurious primer, while another bonus is putting it on at night and waking up in the morning with still-hydrated skin.
I went through a period of thinking it was too expensive and that I should try a cheaper dupe, but no other cream delivers quite the same results. And within just two weeks of using other products, I found that my skin was spottier and less plump and hydrated-looking.
It’s not a total miracle worker – I don’t suddenly look 24. It’s not like people gasp and refuse to believe me when I say I’m 33. But I do get compliments on my skin now. And I recently took a very humbling dive into my camera roll to 2020 and was astonished to find that my skin seemed to look... the same, if not worse, back then. My pores looked bigger, and my skin looked less smooth and glowing. As for my fine lines, they seemed to have stayed the same-ish, which I will more than happily take.
Buy now £250.00, Augustinusbader.com
Augustinus Bader The Retinol Serum
★★★★☆
What we love: Incredibly lightweight and gentle on the skin, not causing dry flaking like some other retinol products can be prone to do. Sinks into the complexion in seconds
Take note: Has a slight smell, which wears off quickly
Packed with every skin-loving ingredient, from a brightening vitamin C derivative to hydrating hyaluronic acid, The Retinol Serum sunk into my skin almost instantly.
It does have a slight scent, which wore off quickly, and layered well under my Rich Cream, giving me a lovely extra hint of glow during the day when I put makeup on over it (foundation, blusher and bronzer).
The serum did appear to give me a spot a few days into using it, although it went away quickly and the brand warns of a brief “purge” on the skin at the start.
The biggest bonus was not having to deal with the irritated, dry patches that some retinol creams can cause – it’s very gentle on the skin, and I haven’t had any trouble using it twice a day. The renewing components in the TFC8 complex help to minimise redness, peeling and dryness that often come with vitamin A actives. By the end of week one, I noticed that the texture of my skin appeared smoother and a touch plumper.
Ultimately, it’s a big splurge at £290 for 30ml, but it packs in a lot of skin superfood ingredients, and you really get your money’s worth.
Buy now £290.00, Augustinusbader.com
Augustinus Bader The Cream Cleansing Gel
★★★★☆
What we love: Feels like a very thorough cleanser that gets off every last bit of makeup without being harsh. Lightly moisturising and gentle on the skin
Take note: Needs some extra pumps of the product to get rid of stubborn eye makeup
If you’re a fan of a gentle cleanser that doesn’t feel like it’s stripping your skin of its natural moisture, then the Augustinus Bader Cream Cleansing Gel is for you.
It contains rose flower water, a natural astringent that helps to tone and soothe the skin, while strengthening its defences against free radical damage.
Crucially, it contains the TFC8 technology, which Mr Bader says works by “penetrating the upper layer of the skin during the cleansing ritual to assist in skin repair and improve elasticity”.
I’m not a fan of foaming cleansers anyway as they feel too harsh on my skin, so this cream number was perfect for leaving my skin lightly glowy and moisturised.
I did find that I needed a few extra pumps of product to remove stubborn mascara – though that’s pretty much the case with most cleansers I’ve used – but it worked well to remove every scrap of makeup. As one of the more reasonably priced products in the AB range, this cleanser feels like a worthy purchase in the luxury skincare world.
Buy now £62.00, Augustinusbader.com
Is Augustinus Bader’s skincare worth it?
Augustinus Bader’s products may feel like a huge splurge for your skincare routine, but they’re the best investments I’ve made for my complexion.
Coming from a self-confessed stingy person who relishes using high-street dupes for makeup and body care, I feel grateful that I chose to make an exception for my skin.
It doesn't feel like I’m reversing ageing, but definitely slowing it down without having to rely on Botox, and I’ve never used an anti-ageing skincare line that works as well as AB does. Unfortunately for my bank balance, it really does do the job.
Reasd more: Spending £120 on SPF might sound ridiculous – until you've tried this luxury brand
