2023 was one of the best years on record for the skincare industry.

It was the year they became more eco-conscious, listened to their customers, and elevated their formulas to create the skincare we want and need.

It was also the year the relatively new science-backed skincare label Augustinus Bader became one of the most popular on the market.

Launched in February 2018 by Professor Augustinus Bader, the eponymous label has become an industry-wide obsession, featuring an impressive repertoire of products, among them The Rich Cream, arguably Augustinus Bader’s star product.

Discover the brand with Société Magazine editor, Annabel, as she puts the brand to the test.

My tenure as an editor has been full of ups and downs over the years: glamourous parties, press trips to exotic locations, missed deadlines, typos that have gone to print and the dreaded beauty product testing gone wrong.

As wonderful as some of these experiences have been, it’s always the latter that remains forever burned in my memory. I’ve been through breakouts, rashes and unexplained pigmentation I was convinced would never fade.

All things considered, when I received a pretty little package in the post bearing beautifully presented skincare called Augustinus Bader, I did my research on the brand.

Augustinus Bader is a highly-sought-after skincare brand, boasting numerous accolades such as ‘Best for Body Transformation’ by Vogue and ‘The Greatest Skincare of All Time’ by WWD Beauty Inc.

It’s also the only product Victoria Beckham would allow backstage at her AW18 runway show.

Containing a combination of over 40 different ingredients, including amino acids, synthesised molecules and high-grade vitamins, otherwise known as the Trigger Factor Complex (TFC8), very few creams on the market today can rival it.

But does it work?

It takes anything between a few days to a full 28 days to see results using The Rich Cream, after which one should have developed what is now dubbed by beauty editors, the ‘Bader Glow’.

The cream targets skin concerns such as fine lines, hyperpigmentation and lack of hydration.

In keeping with guidance via the little leaflet within the packaging, I’ve been using The Rich Cream for 42 days at the time of writing.

The changes have been slow yet significant.

During the first week, I noticed my skin really struggling with the change in product routine.

It felt tight and seemed dull. However, in the second week, my skin started to clear and the process of readjusting itself began.

The key to testing a new cream is continued use past the two-week mark as this tends to be the time we throw in the towel and proclaim a new product as not for us. But this just isn’t true.

According to board-certified dermatologist Dr Michele Farber of Schweiger Dermatology Group in NYC, patience is essential when trialling a new skincare routine.

“It takes approximately 30 days for the epidermis or top layer of the skin to turn over once. This means the skin takes at least a month to renew itself,” she said.

“Another factor in measuring the efficacy of your new routine is to be aware of how the products you use interact with each other.

Do your research on the brand and learn how to use them so that the systems all benefit each other.”

Mornings for me always began with my Augustinus Bader routine.

Application of The Face Oil first, followed by The Rich Cream. On a side note, makeup can also be applied over the cream, however, I’d recommend waiting 30 minutes for the product to really absorb into the skin.

In the evenings, I cleansed my face with The Cleansing Balm (a zero-residue, lightweight formula designed to rinse away impurities and makeup) then again applied The Face Oil and followed that with The Rich Cream.

By the three-four week mark, I really started to notice the changes in my skin.

Areas where I’ve lost the fullness that comes with youthful skin (think tear troughs) started to plump up and, most importantly, the ‘Bader Glow’ shone through.

An apt saying I once heard comes to mind when thinking of the trials and tribulations of my skin: “Skincare is a marathon, not a sprint.”

In an interview with Professor Bader himself about the way he wants buyers of his prestigious label to feel, he mused “Your skin is a reflection of yourself. That's what people see first. Keeping your skin healthy will give you an abundance of protection for the rest of your life; I think about it as a part of being a healthy human being.”

Discover the full collection of skincare at augustinusbader.com.