| Review | Augustinus Bader The Serum
| Review | Augustinus Bader The Serum
Wow… I can’t believe it’s finally here! The long-awaited serum from Augustinus Bader is finally here! I loved the Augustinus Bader x Victoria Beckham Cell Rejuvenating Power Serum. You can read my review here. I predict that this serum will be even better! I haven’t really been disappointed with an Augustinus Bader product yet. This new serum is in new and different packaging from the Augustinus Bader Creams. It appears to be the most luxurious product released from the brand to date! I’m excited to share my thoughts and opinions on this formula.
PRICE & PACKAGING
The Augustinus Bader The Serum retails for $375.00 USD and is available at Augustinus Bader. This is probably the priciest product per ounce, yet. The packaging is incredibly luxurious! It is the epitome of luxury! When I received the package, I was surprised about how heavy it was. The serum comes in a large and thick textured box. Inside is the serum cartridge and the cartridge holder/bottle.
Augustinus Bader has these fancy names for each of these packaging parts but it really is a lot of excessive packaging. The bottom portion of the “cartridge” is considered “The Nomad”, it is essentially a travel case for your serum and it can be removed from the actual serum cartridge. This aluminum copper-colored outer shell is very lightweight and in my opinion, USELESS. The actual serum itself is contained in a plastic tube with an airless pump. You can easily and safely travel with the serum tube without this aluminum casing so, I don’t see the point of this case. You can recycle the aluminum case but if they just didn’t include it, it would be even better for the environment. You can purchase The Augustinus Bader The Serum Nomad Refill for $350.00 USD at Augustinus Bader. I HIGLY recommend purchasing just the Nomad Refill!
So, when you remove the aluminum case, you have an Augustinus Bader-blue tube with the copper pump and cap. This plastic tube is study packaging and literally all you need so, I have no idea (except for wanting money), why you would need the aluminum case or the glass container/holder. If Augustinus Bader had just sold this tube of serum, it would cut at least a hundred dollars off the cost of this serum.
I’m not quite sure what to call the thick and heavy outer bottle but Augustinus Bader calls it, “The Base”. At first, I thought it was a cool concept because I thought this potion would actually attach to the cartridge, but it doesn’t and it is TOTALLY UNNECESSARY! Listen, I love luxury things and luxury beauty products but THIS is the biggest waste of resources and money! I literally have no idea what the point of this serum “holder” is for. It’s like if you bought a toothbrush and it came with a hundred-dollar luxury toothbrush holder. I don’t understand why that this holder is mandatory to purchase when it literally only holds the serum cartridge and serves no other purpose.
Since you can use the cartridge on its own, it feels INCREDIBLY wasteful and excessive to have the big and bulky holder. While the thick glass vase for your serum feels so luxurious and looks beautiful on your vanity, it takes up SO MUCH SPACE and it is unnecessary because the serum takes up ten percent of the holder. Again, the serum is self-contained in the cartridge and you don’t need the holder at all! I don’t need a fancy glass holder just for my serum. How is this being eco-friendly??! I understand that the point of this separate packaging because they claim it is to be more eco-friendly but I feel like it would be more eco-friendly to just provide the cartridge. Plus, the cost will be lower.
Currently, you can’t buy only the cartridge but the individual cartridges will be available in the future. I will update this blog with the price when this is available. I love the Augustinus Bader brand but I am not happy with the direction they took with this packaging. It’s just so excessive, wasteful, and unnecessary. While they try to spin it as being environmentally friendly and conscious, they are doing quite the opposite by producing all this excessive additional packaging that is so unnecessary! I really wish they would just offer the serum cartridge and let the product speak for itself.
FORMULA
This serum comes out of the cartridge as a milky white color and it is the typical runny serum texture. You really only need about a nickel-sized amount for your face, neck, and decolletage. This serum is fast-absorbing, within 30 seconds or so. It leaves the skin a bit hydrated but it doesn’t feel like much on the skin. It has no noticeable scent, I would feel good saying it is fragrance-free. This is obviously great for all skin types but especially, sensitive skin types.
I tested this serum for one week and I only used it once a day, in the evening. I used it in combination with the Augustinus Bader The Essence (full review here) and the Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream (full review here). What I have discovered after using the brand for a few years now is that these products work well with other brands but for the most optimal results, you can pair them with other Augustinus Bader products. There is a noticeable difference when I am using an all Augustinus Bader routine versus when I just use one product from the range with other skincare products. However, if you want this product to be your first dip into the brand, this serum will work just as well with products from other brands.
After the first night of use, my skin looked significantly tighter, plumper, and smoother. It had a very visible glow across my whole complexion. I think what you’re wondering is, “Are the results significantly different from when you use the cream alone”? After the first night of use, there is not a significant difference in results but there is a noticeable difference. I definitely noticed that my skin looked much firmer and tighter. There’s this smoothness across my complexion that’s hard to explain. It’s a very slick and smooth look, very glass-like!
As I continued to use this serum throughout the week, the tightening, plumping, smoothing effect is intensified. This serum really plumps out lines and wrinkles. It significantly increases your skin’s elasticity and suppleness! It makes you want to run your hands across your skin and poke at it because your skin just bounces back happily and healthily!
After four days of continuous use, it’s like a switch was flipped and my skin dramatically changed! I awoke with the SOFTEST and smoothest skin! I was honestly shocked at how soft my skin felt and as I ran my fingers across my skin, I felt a lot of resistance or bounce-back from my skin. What I mean by this is that the elasticity in my skin had vastly increased and my skin felt significantly firmer! When I was cleansing my face that morning, while I was massaging my face, I could see and feel my skin bouncing back so strongly! My smile lines looked practically non-existent, which is one of my insecurities as I age.
Day five, I observed that the texture of my skin is so refined and smooth! What I mean by a refined texture is that my skin looked really flawless and seamless with no enlarged pores, no texture, no lines, or crack in my skin! It is the kind of texture that give your skin that “glass-skin” look and with the addition of the glow, my skin really did look like glass! I kept thinking to myself during the day “Wow! It looks like I’m wearing highlighter at the top of my cheekbones but that was just my moisturizer reflecting off of my really flawless looking skin!
ONE WEEK RESULTS
After a week of use, there are very obvious permanent improvements to my skin. My skin looks so much smoother, tighter, and firmer! If you’re looking for a real glass skin finish to your skin, look no further. If you consistently use this serum, you will get that glass-skin look because of how smooth, tight, and glowing your skin will appear. What impresses me most about this formula is ow firm and elastic my skin feels and look. It feels like any time I emote, raise my brows, or move my face, my skin just bounces back to it’s firm and perky self! It’s almost like botox for the face but instead of freezing your muscles, it just really really tightens the skin!
Honestly, I was very impressed going into my second week of use with this serum. I can only see my skin improving further; however, I don’t think my skin has much more improvement to go since I am using this serum more for prevention than correction. Still, I have see so much improvement and correction in my skin that I am over the moon with this serum! I had fine lines but they seemed to have diminished greatly and some of them seemingly have completely plumped out!
At three weeks now using this serum, I will say that it is potent and you don’t have to use it daily to achieve glowing results! Since it is such a pricey serum, I’ve backed off from using it daily and instead, use it a few times a week. Every time I use it, I notice my skin is significantly firmer, elastic, and glowing! It’s really helped me maintain a glass-skin look to my complexion and helped me reduce my fine lines significantly! This serum really feels like it does it all! It works as an smoothing, softening, anti-aging, and radiance-boosting serum!
INGREDIENTS
Here is the full ingredients list for The Serum:
Aqua/Water/Eau, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cellulose, Ethylhexyl Polyhydroxystearate, Resveratrol, Squalane, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Oil, Maltitol, Leontopodium Alpinum Callus Culture Extract, Xylitylglucoside, Lecithin, Anhydroxylitol, Citric Acid, Xylitol, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Maltodextrin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Punica Granatum Extract, Sodium Phytate, Glucose, Xanthan Gum, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Alanyl Glutamine, Arginine, Oligopeptide-177, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Chloride, Phenylalanine, Sisymbrium Irio Seed Oil.
Some ingredients to highlight in this formula are:
Resveratrol – This ingredient is typically derived from grape skins and is often found in red wine. This ingredient is part of a group of compounds called polyphenols. They’re thought to act like antioxidants, protecting the body against environmental damage.
Pomegranate Seed Concentrate – Pomegranate seed nourishes the skin with its massive store of vitamin C Pomegranate offers regenerative, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-aging properties that promote elasticity and glowing skin. This ingredient helps promote the skin’s self-renewal process soothing and balancing stressed skin. It reduces signs of aging and wrinkles.
Edelweiss Extract – The extract of a plant found in the Alpine mountains. This ingredient is known to lift, smooth, and tighten sagging skin and wrinkles. It is also known to protect against oxidative stresses, like UV radiation and pollution. It is a more potent antioxidant than vitamin c and it makes the skin supple.
Vitamin C – A powerful antioxidant known to brighten dark spots, bring radiance to the skin, and protect the skin from environmental aggressors. Vitamin C helps stimulate the production of collagen, firming and stregethening the skin.
Polysaccharide Moisture Complex – This moisture balancing ingredient that helps ensure the skin is optimally hydrated. This complex rehydrates the skin while preventing water loss and further dehydration. This ingredient makes the skin fresh, supple, and soft.
Squalane – This plant-derived version of the hemctant is deeply hydrating and is an ingredient that closely resembles the skin’s natural oils. It is also an antioxidant, that protects the skin from environmental damage and helps fight signs of aging. It retains moisture for supple, elastic, and radiant skin.
Sodium Hyaluronate – This salt is a powerful mineral that attracts and retain moisture. It supports cellular cohesion, which ensures a healthy skin barrier and refined skin texture. It deeply hydrates the skin, firms it, and plumps out lines and wrinkles.
Rice Bran Oil – This ingredient is rich in antioxidant-rich ferulic acid. This ingredient helps prevent the formation of lines, wrinkles, dark spots, and other visible signs of aging. It is known for its versatile nature and its ability to cleanse, soften, moisturize, soothe, nourish, and smooth the skin. It is known as a brightening skincare ingredient.
AUGUSTINUS BADER THE SERUM VS. VICTORIA BECKHAM BEAUTY CELL REJUVINATING POWER SERUM
Since the Victoria Beckham Beauty Cell Rejuvenating Power Serum (full review here) was developed by Augustinus Bader, it is only appropriate to compare the two.
Price
The Victoria Beckham Beauty Cell Rejuvenating Power Serum retails $210.00 USD for 30ml .
The Augustinus Bader The Serum is $350.00 for 30ml (this is the price without the serum holder, just the serum cartridge).
Packaging
The Victoria Beckham Beauty Cell Rejuvenating Power Serum comes in a small glass bottle with a dropper attached to the bottle. The dropper has a soft tip so, you can squeeze the serum out. It is a cool concept if you actually only needed a few drops of serum but I find that you need at least a nickel-sized amount and it can be very annoying to try and drop that amount out. Also, the glass bottle is not travel-friendly.
The Augustinus Bader The Serum comes in a sleek pump tube, which is much preferred for dispensing product. You can really control how much product you want very easily. My biggest gripe with the packaging, as you probably already know by now, is all the excess and wasteful packaging. The aluminum casing and the glass holder are very unnecessary! However, this packaging is much more travel-friendly.
Formula
The Victoria Beckham Beauty Cell Rejuvenating Power Serum is a viscous and translucent formula that quickly absorbs into the skin. You need quite a lot of serum to cover the face and neck, more than a nickel-sized amount. This formula works well with all skincare products, not just AB skincare but it works even better with AB skincare.
VBB Exclusive Ingredients:
- Yeast Ferment Complex
- Porcelain Flower Biopeptides
- Organic Black Crowberry Fruit
- Vitamin E
- Olive Fruit Extract
- Microalgae Extract
- Fermented Hyaluronic Acid
The Augustinus Bader The Serum is a lightweight milky viscous serum that absorbs fast but not as quickly as the VBB serum. I find that I only need about a nickel-sized amount to cover the face and neck. This formula works well with all skincare products, not just AB skincare but it works even better with AB skincare.
Augustinus Bader Exclusive Ingredients:
- Resveratrol
- Pomegranate Seed Concentrate
- Edelweiss Extract
- Vitamin C
- Polysaccharide Moisture Complex
- Squalane
- Sodium Hyaluronate
- Rice Bran Oil
Similar Ingredients Among Both Formulas:
- TFC-8
- Niacinamide
Results
The Victoria Beckham Beauty Cell Rejuvenating Power Serum delivers significantly smoother and softer skin. It refines texture and increases elasticity. It also helps plump out lines and hydrates the skin. You will see some results immediately but the biggest difference is after one week of use.
The Augustinus Bader The Serum also delivers significantly smoother and softer skin. It refines texture and increases elasticity. It helps plump out lines but it also firms the skin so significantly that no matter how much you move your skin, it bounces right back. The increase in elasticity is very significant and noticeable within less than a week and is only increased over time.
With both immediate results and faster long-term results, this serum formula is significantly more potent than the VBB serum. It should be no surprise that the Augustinus Bader formula is more powerful than the VBB because I can’t imagine Augustinus Bader giving VBB all his best work when it comes to formulating. I do believe that The Serum is significantly better because Augustinus Bader has put in all his knowledge and best work to produce the very best serum he can create.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I can’t emphasize how much I dislike the excessive packaging that comes with this serum. It’s so incredibly unnecessary and I find all this excess packaging useless. I don’t need something to hold my little bottle of serum! I love the little luxuries that come with purchasing luxury beauty but I absolutely hate wastefulness and I can’t imagine something more wasteful than the serum “holder” or packaging included with the full set package. I HIGHLY recommend this serum but I also HIGHLY recommend purchasing only the serum without the rest of the packaging.
The serum itself is ridiculously expensive but I really do think it is well worth it! For the longest time, I felt like most serums were glorified garbage because I never saw results but with this serum, I saw immediate results and they just continued to get better as I continued to use it. If you find that you don’t notice a difference when using your serum, it’s time to find a serum that works. This one really does work! Augustinus Bader has continued to impress me with this ability to create such potent and phenomenal formulas. This serum is like botox in a bottle and it really firms, lifts, increases elasticity! In fact, I don’t know a serum that does these things as well as this one! This serum delivers a truly luscious glass-skin finish to the skin! This serum has me mesmerized every time I catch a glimpse of my skin in the mirror. I just can’t stop staring at its glossy and healthy glow!
This is another miracle elixir from Augustinus Bader! I can’t sing its praises enough! This is by far the best serum I have ever tried! I know it is crazy expensive but I really do believe it is worth it. I’m curious to see if the brand will offer smaller sizes in the future but I wouldn’t wait for that. This is one serum that your need right now!
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