It’s potentially the most brow-raising beauty launch of the last five years.
With the instantly recognisable cobalt blue packaging and somewhat arrogant, but incredibly simple, product names such as ‘The Cream’ and ‘The Cleanser’, chances are even if you don’t spend your day studying new beauty products you’ll still be able to name the brand.
Coming up blank? Let me introduce you to Augustinus Bader.
Created by stem-cell scientist Professor Augustinus Bader, the brand seamlessly fuses luxury skincare and science, providing visible results thanks to Bader’s three decades of research into wound and burn-healing, with a focus on reawakening cells that have become dormant due to ageing and trauma, without feeling at all clinical.
There’s no wonder the brand has more celeb fans than I can count on two hands.
Jennifer Anniston, Hailey Bieber, Kate Moss, Meghan Markle and even The Kardashians have been spotted using the blue bottles – with Kim swearing by a full routine of The Cleansing Gel, The Essence and The Cream to prep for major red carpet events like The Met Gala.
Fashion Designer and former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham loves it so much she even collaborated with the brand to create her very own line of products, and Brad Pitt counts himself as an early investor.
Granted, I’m no celeb, but working in the beauty industry with access to some of the best experts and products out there comes with a certain pressure to look polished, and Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream ticks all the boxes.
The star ingredient is TFC8, an incredibly futuristic, techy sounding ingredient that is shrouded in mystery – as is often the case with luxury skincare.
According to Bader, it’s made up of a precisely configured cocktail of over 40 different ingredients, including high-grade vitamins, lipids, proteins, and amino acids, that address fine lines, redness, hyperpigmentation, cellulite and stretch marks.
There’s no doubt that the three figure price tag is expensive – and I pride myself on finding affordable alternatives to as many hyped beauty products as possible – but, unfortunately for my bank account, no imitations come close.
When I first tried the cream, I had severe cystic acne, and it was one of the first super-hydrating formulas that managed to counteract the drying effect of prescription topical spot treatments without causing further breakouts.
Nearly five years on, and I still reach for the clever cream at the first sign of discomfort in my skin.
Yes, it’s nourishing as the name would suggest, but my combination skin still quickly drinks up the formula, and there’s no hint of greasiness left behind.
As well as hydrating my face, it instantly makes my complexion look brighter and more awake, plumping the fine lines around my eyes and mouth.
Over time, it’s helped to reduce the red scars left behind by my acne and even out my skin tone, making it far more than just a moisturiser.
Don’t just take my word for it, through clinical and consumer trials, 95% of users agree the appearance of fine lines/wrinkles is dramatically improved by The Rich Cream.
To steal a phrase from Tiktok, it’s high maintenance to be low maintenance, and the effortless results are more than worth the initial investment.
Try The Rich Cream from Augustinus Bader, from £71 here.
