As a beauty lover long before becoming a beauty journalist, I have fond memories of saving up my weekly college money and heading to Superdrug and Boots on my lunches with my twin sister to check out (and ultimately buy) the latest makeup and skincare products on offer. There was something about it that would give me the biggest boost of serotonin and still to this day, I love nothing more than taking myself on solo shopping trips to check out what's in store.
As I've gotten older the amount I spend on beauty products has definitely increased but isn't extreme. I realised quite early on that the price of a product whether affordable or on the higher-end doesn't determine how you get on with the product.
Now, the most I've spent on a serum is probably around the £30 mark. I'm yet to personally spend anything over that but have been lucky enough to have been sent higher priced ones under £100 that I personally loved and would happily consider purchasing once I run out (preferably when it's on offer). So when a buzz started to circulate around Augustinus Bader's The Serum (£280) it was safe to say I was more than intrigued and for good reason too. Below, I detail my honest review.
Vanese Maddix before applying Augustinus Bader The Serum.
I without a doubt had high hopes for this serum, not just because of the price tag, but also due to the sheer volume of praise that it has received from beauty lovers, editors and celebrities. The first thing I noticed was its lovely texture, which lightweight but not too thin or thick. It's described as a serum that works to nourish, replenish, protect and hydrate the skin due to the use of TFC8, which is the brand's famous complex of amino acids, vitamins and synthesised molecules that mimic those found naturally in the skin, and in turn, the formula is said to create an optimal environment for your skin's own repair and renewal processes.
You're encouraged to use it in the morning and evening, or as you desire. Simply take some serum and in an upward motion smooth over the face and neck until it has fully absorbed before proceeding with the next step in your skincare routine.
Vanese Maddix after applying Augustinus Bader The Serum.
I've been testing it out in the mornings and evenings over the past few days and I have to say it's been a really nice addition to my routine. I have a normal-to-dry skin type but the frequent cold weather has my skin feeling drier than ever before. I've found the serum has really helped with giving an instant boost of hydration and radiance to my skin when applied. It helped my skin to feel super soft and supple with no dry patches in sight.
Whilst I can't fault it for the instant improvements it's been able to make I personally didn't find it to be as long-lasting with its hydration as the other serums I reach for. As I say with all products, everyone will have their own skin concerns that they want products to tackle, and mine is definitely all about the feeling and look of hydration from the inside-out that pretty much lasts all day.
I'll definitely continue to reach for this until the very last drop as it has definitely helped with giving instant hydration for my skin, but I couldn't justify and wouldn't want to justify spending £280 on a product that personally doesn't check all the boxes for me. I'll continue to stick with the products I currently know and love but it's clear to see why this serum is so raved about.
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