Unsponsored Augustinus Bader Review: Is it really worth it?

As you might know by now, a favorite thing I like to do is to review really hyped about items to see whether or not I think they’re worth it (examples: Away, Outdoor Voices, the Dyson Air Wrap, Tata Harper, and Glossier). I rarely will go out on a limb for really expensive beauty products since I don’t want to be burned by a bad product and waste my money (I haven’t purchased something expensive since my lesson learned with La Mer—it actually made my skin worse. You can read that review here). But I kept seeing Augustinus Bader The Cream talked about on blogs (like this post from Atelier Dore) and Instagram (especially by my two favorite grammers who are really into beauty: Eva Chen and Jennifer Fisher).

If these two gals who regularly get facials and have a plethora of beauty products swear by this product, then there’s gotta be something to that right? So I did it. I bought the $265 (before taxes) cream. I know, I’m crazy (I was also in the hospital back in December and feeling sorry for myself I think, which proved to be very dangerous for my wallet).

And well…do I regret it?

NOPE.

Lol, I am surprised as you are at how much I actually love this cream. I am very picky about my skin care after years (more like decades) of acne (read about that here). Plus I have very sensitive skin that’s prone to both rashes and clogged pores. Rarely do items work for my skin, so when I find one that doesn’t break me out (like the Elemis SOS cream I’ve been using for the last 4-5 years) I tend to stick with it. So when I say I love this AB cream and “this works” I am not exaggerating (and it works so much better than my Elemis cream).

First of all, I bought The Rich Cream which is the version meant for drier skin types. I actually have a combination skin type, but since I was looking for a night cream (and this one is better suited for the night while the regular The Cream is better suited for the day, or so they recommend) I went with this one. Plus it’s the winter time so I decided the more moisturizing version might be better. Both The Rich Cream and The Cream are the same price.

I’ve been using this cream every night since early December and I’ve noticed a considerable softening of my acne scars. Within the first couple nights my skin was generally softer, but that can hold true for a lot of other creams as well. This didn’t break me out nor cause any rashes, despite the fact that The Rich Cream is quite well, rich (the first couple night I put it on, my husband did comment that my face looked especially oily lol). I use this cream after cleansing and toning, and like Eva Chen mentioned in her story above, there’s no need for any serums under the cream (not that I’m one to using serums since I like my skin care to be pretty simple).

So back to my acne scars. I never had deep cystic acne, but instead a lot of little pimples. But with decades of acne along with the loss of collagen over the age of 30, my pock marks were getting deeper. So much so that I switched from powder foundations (that emphasize every single pick scar) to a very dewy sunscreen liquid foundation (that is so reflective it makes my skin look oily but then it also does a good job of hiding the small pock marks). A couple years ago I tried micro-needling to try to increase the collagen buildup behind the scars to make them less noticeable. It was only mildly successful but cost $600 a pop so I stopped. And I will truthfully tell you, the Augustinus Bader Cream has done a better job of smoothing my skin than the micro-needling. So much so that I have gone back to powder foundations (because you know, sometimes I don’t want to look so shiny) without being so self-conscious about my acne scars (they’re still there of course but my skin looks so much more even overall). I never thought I would go back to powder again so I know this cream is doing something.

The blurb on the cream attributes Trigger Factor Complex (TFC8¬Æ) for the power to change your skin. As soon as I hear “stem-cell technology” I automatically doubt the credibility of the description (stem cells are highly specific cells and they are not anywhere near your skin. Plus nothing applied topically to your skin could ever stimulate stem cells). But I have to say, there’s something to this formula. I tried doing some research on TFC8¬Æ but can only find Augustinus Bader marketing material so I can’t really speak to the soundness of the science. But having used it myself, I’m a believer that it works (though I don’t believe their jargon).

So would I repurchase this?

Yes, even for the full $265 plus tax. I would probably try the regular cream next (instead of the rich one). But I’m also going to wait a couple months after the current bottle runs out, to see if my skin is truly changed by the cream or if it reverts back to its past state. But so far it’s been almost 3 months, and it doesn’t feel like I’m running out yet (I use about 3 small pumps a night). But it’s also hard to tell how much is left because the container itself is made from a thick heavy plastic (I wish they didn’t make the containers so bulky with the plastic and their outer container is also a bulky box—what a waste of materials).

Anyway if you’re interested in trying this cream for yourself I would recommend purchasing it through ShopBazaar, which I did (The Rich Cream here and The Cream here). You get 10% off your first purchase when you sign up for their email, plus if you purchase it through eBates you can get 4%-8% cashback. That was the best deal I could find and in the end I saved about $35. It’s still dang expensive but I love it!

My Winter Skin Care Routine (and no, you don't have to get all new products)

I’ve talked about my summer skincare routine in the past (focusing mostly on SPF because that is of the utmost importance). But I’ve never talked about my winter skin care routine and actually before this year I never really had one. I just kept doing what I did during the summer, drier skin be damned. But this year, maybe because of the pregnancy, my skin is ultra itchy and dry so it’s time to take action. And by action, I mean adding two things to my usual routine.

{side note: if you’re interested in my usual routine for my sensitive acne-prone skin I detail it here in this post but here’s a quick rundown. AM: charcoal cleanser (SkinSalvation), sterilizing tonic (SkinSalvation), Moisturizer (in the summer it’s Paula’s Choice SPF Fluid (reviewed here) and I’ll review below what I’m using this winter), Suntegrity 5-in-1 moisturizing sunscreen in light (reviewed here). PM: Same charcoal face wash with microfiber washcloth to remove makeup, same sterilizing tonic, and Elemis SOS Emergency Cream. Yep that’s it. Nothing too fancy and using the same products mostly for morning and night.}

So as I mentioned above, the only real difference between summer and winter this year is the change-up in my moisturizer. I don’t need the double SPF coverage in the winter (the Suntegrity spf 30 is enough), but I do need extra moisture and the SPF fluid just doesn’t cut it. So lately I’ve been using Paula’s Choice Redness Relief Moisturizer in the morning and it’s so good! It’s made for dry sensitive skin and it really does work for my utlra sensitive skin. It doesn’t break me out and it has the added bonus of helping my Suntegrity tinted sunscreen go on super smoothly. Just this one change has really made a difference in how my skin looks and feels in the morning (I guess dryness really does affect the skin).

Another moisturizer that I’ve switched over to is the Curel Itch Defense Calming Body lotion. As much as I love the smell and luxury of my Le Labo lotion (which I now currently use instead of any kind of perfume), the Le Labo lotions just don’t cut it for the winter. Luckily I found these on sale at Target and decided to give them a shot. It’s such a good no-frills lotion that actually does what it advertises: prevents itchiness! Also the $7.50 price tag doesn’t hurt. I put this on right after getting out of the shower and then if I want a bit of scent I’ll add the Le Labo on top. Double the moisture!

And lastly this is more for the preggo people out there, but I’ve been using Earth Mama Belly Butter for my growing belly and it’s been so awesome. This all organic lotion helps prevent stretch marks and is super moisturizing without being too greasy. I originally tried the fancy Tata Harper Redefining Body Balm, also meant to prevent stretch marks, when I saw another preggo blogger using. But it didn’t work for me at all and gave me a small rash too. And for 12x the price of the Earth Mama one? No thank you! Luckily I purchased it at Sephora and was able to return it.

So anyway this is what has been working for me but I know everyone’s body chemistry is different so it might not be the same for you. But at least if you purchase things from Sephora or Nordstroms you can still return after trying (just keep the receipt!). And so if you find yourself with drier skin lately, it might be worth a shot :)

Unsponsored Dyson Airwrap Styler Review

So that pic is not the best one I probably could have taken of the Dyson Airwrap Styler but I just wanted to show you guys the dedication I had in using it consistently so that I could write a good review for you guys. I took this on my Airstream road trip, which meant during the times we were dry camping (ie had no electricity or water hook-ups) I ran a generator so that I could use this. Yes, running a generator for my hair dryer, lol I guess I’m that kind of “camper”.

Also I should just note here as a disclaimer that I’m not one to do my hair at all (I don’t even blow dry it, just let it air dry). So my skills with any hair tool is limited. In the hands of someone with more experience (ie does their hair every day), you might get different results. But this review is coming for a noob.

So after a good several weeks of usage here is my review of the Airwrap Volume + Shape Styler-For Fine, Flat Hair. They have three versions of this, and I got the one for fine, flat hair (the other one was for curly, frizzy hair and there is one with everything). I would have gotten the complete set (at $550 so only $50 more than the other two sets) but they were all sold out. First of all I love that this hair dryer is so light. It’s the lightest hair dryer I’ve ever used and feels lighter than my regular curling iron. But even though it’s lightweight, it really packs a punch. The hair dryer is probably one of the best hair dryers I’ve ever used and it dries my hair super fast (but of course I usually go for the $50 hair dryer and this is a $500 one).

The buttons on the main body are really easy to use one-handed so it’s super easy to turn it on and off. And the different tool heads/styling attachments are really easy to put on and take off. Now about each attachment:

The pre-styling dryer: Like I said above, it really heats up and dries my hair super fast. When I first started using it, I would accidentally dry my hair too much and it would no longer be damp enough to style with it. I can dry my hair (fine, flat hair) in about 5 minutes or less (depending how well I towel dry).

The smoothing brush: I really like this attachment when I just want to keep my hair straight. It really does smooth out my hair and takes out any frizzies. Also it makes my hair shine (maybe because it uses “negative ions” to help reduce static?). I like this better than a straightening iron since it doesn’t make my hair pancake flat.

The round brush: So this was the attachment I was most interested in because I love the look of my hair when the stylist uses a round brush for my hair, but I have the hardest time using a hair dryer and round brush at the same time when doing my own hair. I thought with this attachment everything would be in one lightweight piece so win-win. Well in all honesty it’s still hard to do. I can’t seem to get the hair to stay wrapped around the brush because the hot air is blowing out. And the results just don’t look the same. This attachment is a bit of a disappointment at this point, though it might just be due to my lack of hair skills. However I will say when I use these on my bangs, they turn out great and stay great for days

1.2 in curling barrel (one in each direction): And now finally to the attachment that this whole set is about, the self-curling curling iron effect. So the whole gimmick behind this dyson tool is that if you hold up a piece of hair, the dyson airwrap will pull the hair in and wrap the hair around the barrel on its own. It’s like magic right? Well, this is probably the most disappointing attachment of them all and if you’re buying this set just for this feature, I would say you’re better off just sticking with your good ‘ole curling iron. First of all, if you have a lot of hair, it will take you forever to curl your hair with this thing. It can only pull in small pieces of hair at a time. Even with my fine flat hair, it took forever to curl every bit of it. Second of all it’s not as easy as just dangling a piece of hair next to the tool because sometimes the tool wants to pick up only a part of it, or if you’re not careful it will pick up a different piece of hair. And lastly getting the tips to curl is also a pain. I know there’s a learning curve to all this but I’ve done it multiple times and I still have issues. TBH it’s not worth it for me at my skill level. Oh and with the hot air blowing out from the tool, it gives a blast of hot air to your scalp all the while. That’s nice for the winter but not great for the summer. The barrel itself gets pretty hot to touch though it won’t burn you if you accidentally touch it. Oh and lastly, the barrel on this is pretty skinny even though it says 1.2 inches, so you’ll get pretty small curls. I prefer softer bigger waves so I’m not a fan of this one. If I want to curl my hair I’m going to go back to my curling iron both because of the ease of use and for larger softer curls.

So in conclusion? I would not get this if you’re looking for the next newest and best curling iron. I mean if you do, get ready to put in some time getting this to work for you. However I’m actually a bit torn because I really do like the hair drying and smoothing brush attachments and I have hopes that I can master the round brush attachment too. I’m not one to curl my hair very often so I probably wouldn’t be using the curling attachments anyway but they’re nice to have just in case. As a multi-hair styling tool, I think this is a pretty good set. But is it worth $500? I don’t think so, but it would be a great tool at say $300. As for me, I’m going to keep trying it out and will update this review if I have a change of heart. Or if I give up, I might just sell it. We’ll see.

P.S. I should note that even with consistent use, I didn’t feel like my hair got scorched or damaged by this tool. I also don’t use any hair products since I don’t wash my hair everyday and don’t like getting pore-clogging products on my pillowcase. But anyway this is just to say, dyson does seem to have as they promised “intelligent heat control measures air temperature over 40 times a second to prevent extreme heat damage while styling.” Then again I don’t use this everyday, only when I wash my hair (which I can get by doing every 3 days after “training” my hair).

Tata Harper Review: The Purifying Mask and the Clarifying Mask

Let me start off this post by saying I’m not a face mask person. I have super sensitive acne-prone skin that freaks out with most face masks. The masks for acne usually dry out my skin and/or don’t do anything, while a lot of other masks I tried for even sensitive skin will cause my skin to burn or break out in a rash. And sheet masks? Forget ‘em, I’ve had too many bad reactions to even try those out again.

So I was really pleasantly surprised when I tried out a sample of the Tata Harper Clarifying Mask and I loved it. I had tried a Tata Harper serum once before (like 5 years ago when they first started having a buzz) and I hated the smell of it. So I promptly returned it to Sephora and have stayed away from Tata Harper since then. But thanks to influencers on Instagram (mostly Jamie from annstreetstudio) the Clarifying mask has been on my radar (this is the Tata Harper mask that makes everyone’s faces green). So when I saw the sample for offer I jumped at the chance to try it. And then it took me another month or so before I actually tried it. But as soon as I used it, I was a believer. No stinging, no tightness, and when I took off the mask my skin felt much smoother and softer. This is probably the only product where I’ve actually felt an instant difference.

Just one sample and I was a convert, so I spent some Citi Thank you points to buy the full-size jar. And since I had enough credit, I decided to try the Purifying Mask as well (more on that in a bit). I’ve been using the Clarifying Mask once a week now and I can say that any zits I do get shrink right away and don’t get further inflamed. My skin overall is looking clearer and smoother for sure. For once, all the claims for clearing up sensitive acne-prone skin is true.

Also I love that Tata Harper only uses non-toxic, 100% natural ingredients with no synthetics. The Clarifying mask has the following active ingredients:

-Alpha Hydroxy Acid Superfruit Blend: Provides chemical exfoliation to help minimize the appearance of blemishes and breakouts. 
-Quartz Sand Micro-Crystals: Provide physical exfoliation to soften and smooth the look of the skin. 
-Soothing Super Seed Blend: Helps calm and relieve the appearance of redness on the skin. 
-Raw Honey Enzymes: Simultaneously moisturize and cleanse the skin, helping pores appear clear and clean. 

And lastly, I know this Clarifying Mask is not cheap but it really does feel like the ultimate luxury when using it. The green glass bottle has a nice weight to it while the golden lid is super pretty. And even though the jars look small, there is a lot of product in there and I feel like it will last be months (I’ll update this post once I finish the jar to let you know how long it actually lasted).

Like I said above, I also purchased the Purifying Mask, which I also have been using once a week. Since both masks have an acid component (AHA) to help exfoliate the skin (thus limiting breakouts by clearing out dead skin from the pores) I only use them each once a week and I space it out by several days in between. I especially space it out since my skin is super sensitive, but if your skin is tougher you could probably do it three times a week. So the Purifying Mask is also meant to help clear acne prone skin and these are the natural active ingredients in this one:

-Lactobacillus: Thoroughly cleanses without stripping the skin or affecting the skin's natural balance.
-Brown Algae: Helps make the skin appear firm and lifted. 
-Prickly Pear Seed Oil: An excellent source of antioxidant vitamin E; improves elasticity for a youthful look. 
-White Clay: Helps cut through and remove buildup. 

However the Purifying Mask doesn’t say it’s for sensitive skin and it’s right. I’m using it because I have it, but I can’t leave the mask on for more than 8 minutes before my skin starts to feel like its burning (instructions say to use it for 10-20 minutes). When I take it off, my skin feels sensitive and is a bit red. But the next morning my skin is so soft, smooth and again I haven’t had a break out since using it. So I’m a bit torn about whether or not I want to keep using this Purifying Mask. This one definitely has some pros and cons.

But as for the Clarifying Mask, I’m sold. This is by far one of the best masks I’ve ever used and even turns a mask-hater like me into a convert.

Anyone else try the Tata Harper masks and what did you think? I also recently purchased two more Tata Harper products because I’m so in love with her stuff! What have you tried?