I Hate Splurging on Skincare, But This $215 Augustinus Bader Face Mask Is Worth Every Penny

What Is the Augustinus Bader Face Cream Mask?

The Augustinus Bader vegan face cream mask is unscented and formulated with the brand's patented technology (TFC8) which features hydrating and complexion-correcting ingredients, including swiss grape, polysaccharide complex, ginseng extract, pomegranate extract, vitamin C, Chinese roots extract, squalene and hyaluronic acid. Together these ingredients are meant to offer various benefits (visible and non-visible) like lifting, tightening and firming the skin and neck, reducing hyperpigmentation, supporting collagen production, boosting elasticity and delivering instant hydration, among other things.

To use it, apply the rich and creamy mask (which is basically invisible on the skin) for at least eight to ten minutes. After, simply wash it off with water to deliver a glow from the inside out. It also comes with a hypoallergenic Zamac applicator to be used to distribute the product in sweeping motions while cooling and depuffing skin in the process.

The brand says it's suitable for all skin types and can be worn overnight if you so choose. ​​"Overnight masks are designed to be used as the final step of your nighttime skin regimen, sealing in any facial serums, creams and oils,” Dr. Hadley King, a board-certified dermatologist in New York, tells us, adding that they typically have more intense hydrators and anti-aging ingredients and can enhance the penetration of other active ingredients.

How to Use the Augustinus Bader Face Cream Mask

As I mentioned, you can wear the mask for eight to ten minutes (morning or night) and then rinse it off with water or wear it overnight and wash it off in the morning. Totally up to you. Regardless, you should apply a thin layer all over the face (and neck if you want!). Then, go in with the spatula, which looks like a mini fan but is a massage tool to spread product into the skin. You won't visibly see the cream since it's almost invisible, but it's there, and you'll feel it. The last step is rinsing it off with water. Then you can go in with other AB products (like the Rich Cream) or carry on with your normal skincare routine.

Augustinus Bader recommends using it two to three times a week or as needed to reap those aforementioned visible and non-visible benefits (which you can notice in just two uses, according to reviewers).

My Experience Using the Augustinus Bader Face Cream Mask

Having lived in New York for more than five years, I've had to find ways to keep my skin from looking dry and dull during the winter. It's been almost impossible, and I've refused to spend hundreds of dollars on moisturizers that may or may not even work. That was until Augustinus Bader launched the Face Cream Mask in November 2022, right before temperatures really dropped, and I decided to give it a whirl. After all, I had holiday parties and dinners lined up, so it was not the time to be frugal since the Vaseline I’d previously been using was barely cutting it.

I'm not going to lie: When I opened the jar for the first time, I wasn't thrilled at the amount of product inside (50 milliliters). But as long as you apply it as suggested (a thin layer evenly across the face), you’re not going to run through it too quickly. As I said, the mask is practically invisible, but you'll definitely feel it on the skin. It doesn’t feel tight—or sting or burn—but rather just like you’re wearing a moisturizing cream. I used the cooling massage tool to help spread it out, and just to warn you, it feels so good you probably won't skip that step. After ten minutes, I rinsed it off with water and studied my face. It felt so smooth and hydrated, and my skin tone looked a bit more even to me. Then I carried on with my normal skincare routine. Usually, by the end of said routine I would spot flakiness on the driest areas on my face, which is when I would cover it with Vaseline. But I didn't need to, because my face was that moisturized.

I first tried it as an overnight mask on a weekend when I knew I didn't need to go anywhere because you just never know, but as it turned out, my face absorbed this stuff beautifully. I woke up to brighter, more rejuvenated and plumper skin.

I've continued to use it once a week for a month now, and I can definitely see the difference it’s made in terms of hydration and treating hyperpigmentation. Despite all the moisturizers I've tried over the years, my skin has never felt so hydrated.

Oh, and a little really does go a long way, so I don't see why I shouldn't be able to stretch it through winter. (Then buy a new jar next November…)