You heard the whispers — they swapped the squalane. And my skin threw a two-week tantrum.
The new Augustinus Bader Face Oil feels thinner, but the breakout map on my chin says otherwise. This isn’t a glow-up; it’s a chemistry experiment on your face.
$190 for 30ml of “smart” oil. The old formula was a rich, buttery hug. This one is a slippery, quick-drying tease.
Squalane Swap
Replaced with a lighter ester blend — absorbs in 15 seconds flat, but leaves zero cushion.
TFC8 Tech
Their patented trigger factor complex is still here, but it feels buried under the new base.
Scent Shift
Smells faintly of plastic now. Not the gentle botanical musk from before.
Photo: Mockup Free / Unsplash
It’s not bad — it’s just *different*. The old one was for dry, angry skin. This one is for oily, impatient skin that hates feeling moisturized.
- Squalane: replaced — now a lighter fractionated coconut oil
- Baobab Oil: adds quick sheen, no deep nourishment
- TFC8: the brand’s stem-cell complex, still the main draw
- Vitamin E: antioxidant shield, but can clog if you’re prone to milia
Photo: Poko Skincare / Unsplash
First night: feels like water slipping off a windshield. I woke up with a shiny T-zone but tight cheeks — the weirdest combo.
By day 10, the redness faded, but I got three whiteheads near my jaw. That never happened with the old version. My skin is *confused*.
Photo: Harper Sunday / Unsplash
My texture improved slightly, but the glow is more “sweaty gym” than “lit from within.” No dramatic changes — just maintenance with a side of breakouts.
Photo: Jocelyn Morales / Unsplash
The reformulation is a downgrade for dry skin, a lateral move for oily types. It’s fine — but “fine” at $190 is a hard pass.