The Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream Is on Major Sale Right Now—Here’s Why It’s Worth Scooping ASAP

• Value: 16/20
• Functionality: 18/20
• Ease of Use: 20/20
• Aesthetics: 20/20
• Results: 19/20
• TOTAL: 93/100

I may work in beauty, but that doesn’t make a celebrity-loved product any less appealing—it’s actually quite the opposite. And when that following includes Priyanka Chopra, Alexa Chung, Kate Bosworth and none other than Victoria Beckham, it’s enough for me to disregard every other beauty product on my vanity just to try it out.

That product is Augustinus Bader’s The Rich Cream. Developed by Professor Augustinus Bader, one of the world’s leading experts in stem cell research, The Rich Cream is *30* years in the making. Bader spent the past three decades researching the body’s capacity for self-healing and stem cell regeneration to create his heavily praised skincare line, so when you take into consideration all the science that goes into it, the up to $290 price tag almost doesn’t seem too bad. But when a sale comes around—like the Dermstore Anniversary Sale, for example—you definitely don't want to miss grabbing the goods at a discount. Lucky for all of us, that sale is underway, and coveted Augustinus Bader products are marked down by *25 percent* with coupon code CHEERS through August 17. That means The Rich Cream in question is currently as low as $69 (which rarely happens).

Regardless of a discount, it’s not lost on me that The Rich Cream costs more than most skincare products in the average person’s routine. It’s even more expensive than Gwyneth Paltrow’s (and PureWow editors’) favorite Vintner’s Daughter Active Botanical Serum ($195). But it’s not just the cult status that makes it worth dropping a huge chunk of change on—it actually provides the results to back up Bader’s 30 years of research.

Upon trying it for myself, my first impression was, wow this product is beautiful. It comes in the chicest royal blue, speckled bottle with a magnetic cap. To be honest, the packaging probably isn’t the most travel-friendly because it’s so large. But it sure does feel fancy, and let’s be honest, it’s not like we’re jetting off to a tropical island in the immediate future. So onto my vanity it went.

Then there’s the product itself. True to its name, it’s rich. If you’ve ever tried Weleda Skin Food ($19; $16), it’s almost as thick as that, which leads me to believe that it might not be great for someone with naturally oily skin. However, when I applied two pumps (in upward motions), my combination skin drank it right up, and it left an instant glow that even my mother noticed right away. I haven’t tried Bader’s The Cream (also on sale for as low as $135 from $180) for comparison, but I think it’s safe to say it works similarly for skin that doesn’t love heavy moisturizers.

Anyway, I read that it only takes four days to notice a change in your skin, and having tried hundreds of beauty products, I assumed it was a placebo effect if anything. But much to my amazement, my skin (which broke out like a 15-year-old during quarantine) was radiant, blemish-free and so much more hydrated after just a few days of use. I even noticed my dark spots fading before my eyes. I have never seen results this quickly from any product I’ve tested, period—including other pricey serums and treatments I quickly regretted buying. If this moisturizer could do that, did I even need to bother with the rest of my skincare regimen?