You’re not imagining it. The new jar of Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream feels… thinner. Less like butter, more like a splurge-worthy lotion. And there’s a faint floral scent now — which is weird, because the whole point was it had *no* fragrance.
Fans have been side-eyeing this for months. I bought a backup of the old formula just to compare. The difference is real.
📦 **The Cream That Broke the Internet**
– **Price:** $175 for 1.7 oz — yes, still painful
– **The Claim:** “Patented TFC8 technology” boosts your skin’s own repair process
– **Old texture:** Thick, balmy, almost waxy
– **New texture:** Lotion-like, spreads in one glide
– **Fragrance:** Previously zero. Now a light “clean” floral (hello, sensitized skin)
🧪 **What’s Actually Inside**
They swapped out some heavy emollients for lighter esters. The TFC8 complex is still there — that’s the star — but it’s suspended differently now.
– **TFC8:** Amino acids + vitamins — signals your cells to behave better
– **Avocado oil:** Barrier repair, but less greasy in this version
– **Evening primrose oil:** Calms redness, fights dehydration
– **Aloe:** Slippery texture, not as occlusive as before
📝 **The Real Test: 3 Weeks In**
First pump: it’s watery. Almost disappointing. Absorbs in 12 seconds — no joke. My dry skin felt a little… un-moisturized at first.
By week two, I noticed something weird: fewer morning flakes. The lighter texture actually *penetrated* better. No greasy film on my phone screen. But the fragrance? Lingers. If you’re reactive, test a sample first.
💡 **One Thing**
Use damp skin. Spray a mist before applying — it locks the lighter formula in place and makes it feel as rich as the old version.
🆚 **Old vs. New — Who Wins?**
– **Hydration:** New formula sinks in faster, old one sat on top longer
– **Texture:** New is less sticky under makeup, old was better for overnight slugging
– **Breakouts:** New version didn’t clog me — surprised me, actually
– **Pilling:** New formula pills less with serums
✅ **Buy if** you have normal-to-combo skin and hate heavy creams
⏭️ **Skip if** you’re dry as a desert or fragrance-sensitive
💰 **Worth it?** For $175, the old formula felt more luxurious. This one performs, but it’s not a splurge-worthy experience.
⚠️ **Final Call**
It’s still a good moisturizer — just not the *same* one. If you loved the original’s rich hug, you’ll be disappointed. If you found it too heavy, you’ll finally get the hype.
🔴 **6.8/10** — Good cream, bad rebrand
🛍️ **Where to Buy**
Direct from their site (free shipping + samples). Or try the mini first — $55 for 0.5 oz, way less commitment.