Why Augustinus Bader Is The Secret To Achieving A-List Skin
With Its Science-backed Products And Global Celebrity Following, Augustinus Bader Is Transforming The Skincare Wardrobes Of Middle Eastern Women
What do Victoria Beckham, Sofia Coppola, Kate Moss and Dua Lipa all have in common? Fame, fortune and a devoted global fanbase, yes, but also skin so radiant it puts Instagram filters to shame. Thankfully their key to glowing skin is no secret – they all swear by Augustinus Bader, the cult-status skincare line that revolutionised the industry from the moment it launched in 2018, with its science-backed approach garnering it over 160 awards in the process. “Melanie Griffiths first introduced Victoria to our brand in Australia when we launched, and the first thing she noticed was how it helped her skin heal after a long flight and then throughout her days back in London,” Charles Rosier, CEO and co-founder tells Harper’s Bazaar Arabia. “She started posting about us organically, and then we were approached by her business partner.”
A lunch in Paris led to the British fashion designer’s first foray into skincare, the Cell Rejuvenating Priming Moisturizer by Victoria Beckham Beauty, that acts as an ideal base for make-up.“ She already had her make-up line, but she felt she didn’t have the legitimate experience to create hybrid skincare products and would feel much more comfortable to formulate them with someone who did. Thankfully we were her first choice.”
It’s no surprise that power players like Victoria Beckham and Sofia Coppola have chosen to collaborate with Augustinus Bader on their beauty lines, the latter for a range of tinted lip balms in 2024. Courteney Cox and Melanie Griffith are investors in the company, while Bobbi Brown joined as chief creative adviser in 2022. They even teamed up with the French designer Haider Ackermann in 2023 to create limited-edition collectable chrome packaging to house its best-selling products. In fact, despite the fact there is an overall decline in the luxury skincare market, the brand is set to grow by 40 per cent in 2025 after reporting sales of more than $130 million (Dhs477.5 million) last year, and that’s all thanks to one of the world’s leading stem cell experts.
Following three decades of research at the University of Leipzig in Germany, Professor Augustinus Bader created a groundbreaking wound gel that rehabilitated the skin of burn victims, preventing the need for serious skin grafts, with Charles Rosier later convincing him to use his incredible skill set to create an anti-ageing cream. The rest, as they say, is history. “What really sets us apart is our products’ ability to cater to all skin types,” explains Professor Bader. “Whether it’s age or ethnicity, we are all about empowering cellular communication to address all different types of inflammation, from eczema and acne to rosacea and wrinkles, the technology in the products is the number one factor in their popularity.”
He is, of course, talking about TFC8 (Trigger Factor Complex 8), a proprietary cocktail of more than 40 different ingredients, including natural amino acids, high-grade vitamins, peptides and synthesised molecules naturally found in skin, that is at the heart of all Augustinus Bader products. “While we are loved globally, we cover all bases when it comes to the skin of women living in the Middle East,” continues Professor Bader. “Given the fact they are in and out of air-conditioning, there’s a huge need for hydration, while regular exposure to the sun also causes additional trauma. There’s a lot to repair, even if you wear SPF religiously. Our clinical trials have shown massive improvements in hydration, while we have also created a new formulation that increases absorption of Vitamin D which, believe it or not, more than 50 per cent of people in the Middle East are deficient in.”
Despite launching with just two products – The Cream and The Rich Cream – today the
brand has expanded to offer an impressive arsenal including hair-growth treatments, cleansers and masks. Its new luxury eye masks are favoured by facialists to celebrities including Dua Lipa who gushed that she “can’t live without them.”
Promising the same benefits but created to be applied to the entire face, the recent launch of the Hydrogel Face Masks, providing a quick at-home facial experience designed to hydrate, smooth and subtly brighten skin. While it’s still the brand’s first product, The Rich Cream, that dominates headlines, it’s clear that Augustinus Bader will long be at the centre of any elite skincare routine worth its salt. “We’re extremely privileged to be able to collaborate with such amazing and talented people,” says Professor Bader. “We have the benefit of the TFC8 technology. Ingredients like Vitamin C, retinol and Vitamin A are standard to many brands, but you can only find TFC8 in our products, and that’s where the beauty lies.”
From Harper’s Bazaar Arabia’s March 2025 Issue