Augustinus Bader vs. Dr. Barbara Sturm vs. Biologique Recherche: Who is Best for Skin Renewal?
- Science-backed luxury skincare brands are investing in experiential stores, product development and high-end services to win over customers who are spending more on self-care. While luxury brands aren’t always better than their less-elite counterparts, they often use cutting-edge science and robust clinical testing that other brands simply can’t afford. For brands who can foot the bill, it’s an obvious leg-up in terms of formulation and efficacy. Luxury skincare products frequently contain higher concentrations of active ingredients or more unique elements, adding to their cost. Many of luxury skincare brands use newer technologies and have science-backed ingredients that can visibly transform your skin with continued use. When it comes to efficacious, results-driven skincare, sometimes price does matter. Popular brands in this category include Augustinus Bader, Dr. Barbara Sturm, and Biologique Recherche. How do you decide which one is best for your skin renewal? Below, we will make a comparison to help you choose.
About Skincare Brands
| Augustinus Bader
Professor Augustinus Bader is a globally recognized biomedical scientist and physician and one of the foremost experts in the field of stem cell biology and regenerative medicine. In a career that has spanned the globe, Professor Bader has spent over 30 years researching and developing technologies that activate and harness the human body's capacity to heal, with a focus on the reawakening of cells that become dormant due to aging or trauma. In 2008 he developed a groundbreaking Wound Gel that heals severe skin traumas without the need for surgery or skin grafts. It is this revolutionary technique that inspired Augustinus Bader skincare.
Augustinus Bader products are put through vigorous testing to ensure the highest levels of efficacy. The TFC8®, or Trigger Factor Complex, is the brand’s patented technology that powers the line's assortment of skin and hair products. TFC8® is composed of natural amino acids, high-grade vitamins and synthesized molecules naturally found in skin. Voted Number One in WWD Beauty Inc.'s The Greatest Skincare of All Time by a jury of hundreds of our discerning peers, beauty insiders, and industry experts.
The brand offers a range of products, including moisturizers, serums, and cleansers, each formulated with the TFC8® and other active ingredients to address specific skincare concerns, such as dryness, dullness, and fine lines.
Many users claim to see significant improvements in their skin's texture and appearance after using the products. The brand's products are also known for being clean and free from harmful ingredients such as parabens, mineral oils, and sulfates.
Pros:
Luxury but worth
Often regarded as one of the best skin care beauty
Improve the overall appearance of the skin
Use of exclusive TFC8 technology sets it apart from other brands
Cons:
High price tag
WHERE TO BUY:
Sephora (up to 4% cashback)
Dermstore (up to 7% cashback)
Bluemercury (up to 5% cashback)
| Dr. Barbara Sturm
Dr. Barbara Sturm is a highly sought after aesthetics doctor with a practice based in Düsseldorf, Germany, and a worldwide clientele. Known for her innovative non-surgical approach to younger looking skin, and her work with molecular cosmetics, she was inspired by her daily work to develop a skin care range for "maximum results with a minimum number of products." Combining cutting edge science and powerhouse botanicals, the formulas work at a cellular level to protect and regenerate, activating an essential "fountain of youth" enzyme in the skin to halt aging and promote firmer, healthier skin.
Dr. Barbara Sturm's anti-aging face serums, face moisturizers, and Hyaluronic Serum will keep your skin feeling moist and supple. You can add sunscreen to the moisturizing mix too. Just try her powerful Sun Drops. For a beautiful glow you can use her Glow Drops. To reduce uneven pigmentation, you can reach for The Good C Vitamin C Serum. The Cleanser removes impurities and rejuvenates the skin. With all the products, customers love how Dr. Barbara Sturm treatments soothe their skin. Irritation melts away with the Balancing Scalp Serum. The same purslane ingredient that infuses her skincare sets can treat the scalp for a marvelous calming effect. Her shampoos and conditioners will leave your hair beautiful and healthy as well.
Pros:
The brand offers a wide and varied selection of high-quality skincare products that address different skin concerns
Products are made from natural ingredients and effective science- backed
The brand offers mini sizes
Cruelty-Free, Paraben-Free, GMO-Free & Fragrance-Free
Cons:
Expensive
Some products are not vegan
WHERE TO BUY:
Sephora (up to 4% cashback)
Neiman Marcus (up to 3% cashback)
VIOLET GREY (up to 5% cashback)
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| Biologique Recherche
Created in the 1970's by a French family of biochemists, Biologique Recherche still maintains its founding quality control and the typeface of a decades-old floppy disk —despite the brand's United States expansion. The founder's son, Dr. Philippe Allouche, takes a firm stance on the dangers of external pollutants and is committed to maintaining daily skin pH balance. One of the reasons for the plethora of products is the idea that the skin is ever-changing, and it needs to be treated differently based on your individual circumstance — something that changes daily.
Known for their gentle masks, high-performing serums and soothing creams, the skincare fave is beloved by stars like Jennifer Aniston and Victoria Beckham, thanks to its "less is more" approach, which focuses on medical-grade, clinically-tested ingredients for the skin.
The brand's hero product is the "Lotion P50," which reviewers hail as a "miracle product" for improving skin tone and complexion. Other reviewers call it a "game changer" for smoothing out fine lines and resurfacing troublespots.
Pros:
Literally change your skin
The first companies to seek Origine France Garantie certification
Focuses on medical-grade, clinically-tested ingredients for the skin
Cons:
Expensive
Only available at pricey spas and select physical boutiques
WHERE TO BUY:
Bestsellers
($290/50ml, up to 4% cashback at Sephora)
Augustinus Bader The Cream is the product that first started the Augustinus Bader craze, and rightly so. This lightweight, hydrating cream (or cream-serum hybrid, as we think of it) has been designed to deliver the brand's patented TFC8 complex into the skin as effectively as possible.
The mysterious TFC8 is a blend of 40 different natural amino acids, vitamins, and synthesized molecules that are found in healthy skin. Unlike most stem cell related ingredients on the market, TFC8 does not contain actual human stem cells or their derivatives, nor does it rely on plant stem cells, which are not as effective when applied to human skin. Instead, TFC8 was carefully created in a lab and calibrated to encourage optimal activity of the existing stem cells in our own skin, thus accelerating skin's own repair processes — processes that address everything from sun damage to uneven texture to loss of firmness.
Augustinus Bader The Cream is for you if you're concerned about aging and want to address it in a new way. It does its best work on 35+ complexions, and it's a godsend for those who wish for plumper, firmer skin. The Cream is lightweight and almost feels like a primer, making it a winner on combination and oily skin types; men often prefer it, too.
Pros:
Clinically proven to reduce the signs of aging
Stimulates production of collagen, promotes elasticity and normalizes the skin barrier
Deeply hydrating, conditioning and renewing for an even, vibrant, glowing complexion
Pump dispenser delivers the right amount of product
Ideal for combination and oily skin types
Cons:
More expensive than your average moisturizer
Not fully vegan
| Dr. Barbara Sturm Face Cream
($225/50ml, up to 3% cashback at Neiman Marcus)
Fight the visible signs of age and environment with Dr Barbara Sturm Face Cream Women, a daily skincare solution that targets the tell-tale signs of advancing years and exposure to the elements.
Developed by German aesthetic doctor, Dr Barbara Sturm, whose products focus on the three elements of hydration, protection and regeneration, this anti-aging cream is suitable for use morning and night on all skin types.
Used during the day, the cream delivers ongoing hydration while antioxidant ingredients help to fight against damage caused by free radicals in the environment, while at night anti-inflammatory ingredients including Dr Sturm’s signature component purslane help to support skin repair and regeneration.
Free from parabens and mineral oils, this intensive treatment contains no synthetic fragrances and is suitable for use even on sensitive skin, leaving it plumped, firm and radiant.
Pros:
Light-weight, fast-absorbing cream
Keeps skin hydrated and firm throughout the day
Fast-absorbing to give your skin a radiant glow
Suitable for all skin types
Free from synthetic fragrances, parabens and mineral oils
Cons:
Expensive
| Biologique Recherche Lotion P50
($54.65/50ml at Amazon)
Biologique Recherche Lotion P50 1970 is the original P50 cult favorite of skin care professionals and beauty enthusiasts alike. Lotion P50 is a gentle exfoliating toner that controls sebum, hydrates and balances the pH of the skin.
This specific version of P50 is good for normal and oily skin types, giving you a handful of benefits. Balanced pH is good for your skin because it calms the acidity that prevents the epidermis from retaining moisture naturally. Lotion P50 neutralizes the acidity through exfoliation. It also purifies the skin, regulates excess sebum secretion, tones, and moisturizes. You’ll notice brighter, clearer, and cleaner skin!
Pros:
Promises to balance your skin's pH
Hydroxy acids gently exfoliate
Lactic acid and phytic acid tone and brighten
Cons:
The scent
Not readily available in stores
Can sting upon application
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