Reviewed: The $450 face cream that broke the internet
This cream has a cult following including Margot Robbie and Victoria Beckham. But does it really live up to its expectations?
As a Beauty Editor it’s my job to be sceptical about every new brand that promises to return your skin to its former 16-year-old glory — especially when it has a devoted celebrity following.
This one includes pretty much everyone from Margot Robbie to Victoria Beckham.
I’m forever asking myself, ‘do we really need another Hollywood-endorsed skincare line?’.
So when the hype around Augustinus Bader didn’t die down after a few months (in fact it’s been a good year now) I decided to put my celebrity cynicism aside and investigate.
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Developed by German-based world leading stem cell and biomedical scientist and professor of the same name (The Business of Fashion recently dubbed him “the most Googled name in skincare”), Bader’s cream has a career’s-worth of knowledge poured into it.
After spending 30 years working with burn victims and developing a groundbreaking gel that eliminated the need for skin grafts in certain cases, he decided to take that technology to skincare and developed his own brand which started with two face creams: The Cream and The Rich Cream and most recently, a body cream.
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Backed by science, the unique proprietary complex is said to activate the regeneration of the body’s stem cells to repair and regenerate skin.
What makes it so special, according to the brand, is that, “until now, stem cell science focused on removing stem cells to work with them outside the body, or using foreign stem cells from plants and animals.
“Professor Bader’s technology works with the body’s own stem cells, activating them in situ, boosting them, and committing them to generate the correct, healed tissue.”
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By using this pioneering information in combination with 40 different complexion-boosting ingredients, amino acids and actives — labelled the Trigger Factor Complex or TFC8, the cream claims to replace every other step of your skincare routine, minus cleanser (hence the hefty price tag?) for the first 28 days to allow it to work it’s magic, promising a significant difference in hydration, brightness and plumpness.
Long term results are said to include improvements in the appearance of wrinkles, redness and pigmentation.
Despite all of this, I still couldn’t get my head around the cost.
As soon as The Rich Cream ($451.42, at Net-a-Porter) landed on my desk I did my usual test — squirting a good blob on the back of my hand, playing with it between pointer finger and thumb pads and giving it a good whiff. Indeed it was creamy and ‘rich’ and I’ll credit it to instantly quenching my thirsty knuckles.
But the real test came when I slathered it on my face night and day for a good two weeks.
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Yes, it’s hydrating and leaves my skin supple and smooth instantaneously.
Heck, I’ll even go as far to say my face DOES look a bit brighter after I squirt a good chunk on to it in the morning.
But 450 big ones for an intense face cream seems extravagant. For the record, I don’t think ANY product is worth that amount.
Personally, I believe you’re better off spending that amount of cash on a hardcore facial treatment with guaranteed, personalised results.
— Kelsey Ferencak is the Beauty Editor for Body+Soul
— This story originally appeared on body+soul.com.au and is reproduced with permission