Is the Augustinus Bader Rich Cream Worth It?

From reddit discussions we collected, sentiment about Augustinus Bader Cream is mixed: while some users report visible improvements and even “can’t live without it” experiences, many criticize its high price, inconsistent results, and heavy reliance on hype and influencer marketing.

The Good

Visible Improvements “I took some before and afters and looking at the comparison again, I can see improvement. My overall skin tone was brighter and even, any post-inflammatory pigmentation was faded noticeably.” (14 upvotes)
Skin Transformation “I then bought it again, the rich version this time and realised my skin was a bit shit because I wasn’t using it anymore. Best moisturiser I’ve used, and I’ll never go back now.” (18 upvotes) “I hate to admit this, but Augustinus Bader has been a game changer for me. For the sake of my wallet, I hoped it wouldn’t be.” (11 upvotes)
Healing Properties “I got brutal near 3rd degree sunburn on my hand and just because I had nothing else I tried a sample of their serum, the burn was gone in 4 days.” (11 upvotes)

The Not So Good

No Results for Many “I used the rich cream for about a year. It was nice but it did nothing for my skin.” (15 upvotes)
Heavy, Greasy Texture “The Rich Creme felt like I was rubbing greasy glue onto my face. I did not like it at all.” (17 upvotes)
Absorption and Pilling Issues “I hate Augustinus Bader. It didn’t absorb into my skin and I couldn’t put anything over it without it pilling.” (22 upvotes)
Breakouts and Irritation “I got a full size bottle the rich cream & the face wash for free on Influenster. It was SO not worth the $ tag to me.” (10 upvotes) “The rich cream irritated my skin and caused a lot of redness whenever I would get too hot.” (23 upvotes)

Comparisons & Alternatives

InnBeauty Project Extreme Cream: “It’s an amazing AB dupe. After 2 bottles of the InnBeauty I can say that I like it MUCH more!” (11 upvotes)
Tatcha Indigo Overnight Repair: “I was a true AB rich cream fan but then switched… never looked back. It’s way better for hydration compared to AB rich cream.” (12 upvotes)
Sofie Pavitt Moisturizer: “The Sofie Pavitt moisturizer is spot on, IMO. I get the same results I did when I used the rich cream.” (11 upvotes)
Dr. Jart Ceramidin Cream: “After I ran out of the Rich Cream, I started using a trial tube of Dr. Jart Ceramidin cream. Several people including my dentist complimented me on my skin.” (9 upvotes).

The Verdict

Reddit consensus is Augustinus Bader Cream is not worth its $180+ price tag for most users. While a small group reports transformative results — especially for sensitive or rosacea-prone skin — many describe it as underwhelming, greasy, irritating, or simply no better than affordable alternatives.

The brand’s luxury positioning and celebrity endorsements appear to fuel the hype more than the ingredients or results. For those curious, Redditors strongly recommend buying during deep discounts, testing samples first, or exploring dupes like InnBeauty Extreme Cream, Tatcha Indigo Overnight Repair, or even Nivea.