🇦🇺Australia

Augustinus Bader The Cream for combination skin

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes

Augustinus Bader The Cream

Average

  • AverageCombination Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

Works for combination skin; other moisturizers fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.

Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works

Lovi Assistant explains

  • Offers moderate suitability for your combination skin, as glycerin and squalane provide essential hydration and barrier support, but it lacks sufficient ingredients for optimal oil control on your oily shine.
  • The formulation includes soothing aloe barbadensis leaf juice and antioxidant ascorbic acid, which are beneficial for general skin health.
  • The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of calming components.

How to apply

  • Use this moisturizer in your AM and PM routine every day to control shine. Always pair with SPF in the morning.
  • Apply this moisturizer after your cleanser and toner, right before your morning SPF.
  • Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer into your skin and avoid harsh rubbing. Let it ⏳absorb for a minute.
  • Apply the moisturizer on slightly damp skin to help it lock in moisture better. This keeps your combination skin balanced.
  • Avoid the eye area when applying the moisturizer. Do a patch test before your first use.

People Say

★4.2Overall rating based on 1.4k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, this moisturizer is frequently praised for its lightweight, fast-absorbing texture, making it suitable for normal to oily and combination skin types. Many users report improvements in skin texture and a healthy glow. It is also noted for its ability to soothe redness and calm irritation. However, a significant number of reviewers find the high price point to be a drawback, with some experiencing breakouts or feeling the results are not dramatic enough compared to more affordable options.

Highlights

  • Lightweight & fast-absorbing Mostly Mentioned
    • “light but nourishing”
    • “soaks on lovely”
    • “non-greasy feel”
    • “absorbs quickly”
  • Extremely expensive Mostly Mentioned
    • “not sure justified by price”
    • “expensive but good”
    • “nothing special for the price”
    • “overpriced”
  • Improves texture & glow Often Mentioned
    • “skin is smoother”
    • “radiant glow”
    • “pores looked less noticeable”
    • “makeup went on smoothly”
  • Balances oily/combo skin Sometimes Noted
    • “works well for oily skin”
    • “perfect for combination”
    • “better than the rich one”
    • “didn't clog pores”
  • Soothing & calming Sometimes Noted
    • “calms redness”
    • “soothes skin”
    • “redness started to subside”
    • “heals skin when reacting”
  • Lack of dramatic results Sometimes Noted
    • “didn't see dramatic results”
    • “fine lines look the same”
    • “just a moisturizer”
    • “meh results”
  • Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
    • “bumps on forehead”
    • “red rash”
    • “broke me out”
    • “caused small whiteheads”
  • Packaging issues Rarely Noted
    • “pump is missing”
    • “can't see how much is left”
    • “pump stopped working”
    • “tiny bag inside”

Sources: lovi.care, nordstrom.com, sephora.sg, sephora.co.uk, bluemercury.com, spacenk.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does Augustinus Bader The Cream work for combination skin?

Augustinus Bader The Cream offers moderate suitability for your combination skin, as glycerin and squalane provide essential hydration, but it lacks sufficient ingredients for optimal oil control on your oily shine. A product of this type needs effective brightening and moisturizing ingredients to reduce oily shine while keeping the skin soft and calm.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for combination skin?

Glycerin and squalane make this cream a good fit for combination skin because they provide essential hydration and barrier support. To work best for this skin type, a product of this kind also needs effective brightening and oil-control ingredients that help reduce oily shine without causing irritation.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

What does Tfc8 do for combination skin?

Tfc8 is unlikely to address the specific balancing needs of combination skin, as this skin type requires lightweight hydration and gentle oil control rather than deep repair mechanisms.

What does Retinyl Palmitate do for combination skin?

Retinyl palmitate helps smooth fine lines, even out skin tone, and improve texture on combination skin. Because it works gently, it is unlikely to cause irritation while helping keep both dry and oily areas looking clear and firm.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2013Colloids and Surfaces. B, Biointerfaces, 2011

Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for combination skin?

This moisturizing treatment goes in the morning routine after your hydrating toner and before your SPF, and in the evening routine as the final step after your treatment. It provides essential hydration with glycerin and squalane, though combination skin also needs balancing ingredients that help control oily shine.

The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this cream with retinol by applying the cream after your retinol treatment to help buffer potential dryness and keep your skin soft. This combination is generally well-tolerated because the formula lacks harsh ingredients and includes calming components, though combination skin also needs specific oil-controlling ingredients to manage shine.

Cutis, 2006

How often should I use this cream?

You should use this moisturizing treatment twice a day as part of your daily routine to keep your skin hydrated and supported. Regular application helps improve skin moisture and texture over time while maintaining an excellent safety profile without irritation. For combination skin like yours, a product of this type also needs balancing ingredients that help manage oily shine.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021

Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?

This cream is unlikely to cause breakouts on combination skin because it has a very safe formula with calming ingredients like aloe, though it lacks enough oil-controlling ingredients to manage shiny areas. A product of this type for combination skin needs balancing ingredients that provide lightweight hydration while helping to control excess oil.

Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?

You can use this moisturizing treatment around your eyes and on your body, as it has a very safe formula with calming ingredients that is unlikely to cause irritation. Because the skin around the eyes is quite thin, a gentle and well-tolerated cream like this helps keep it hydrated without heavy side effects.

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It has no fragrance and contains drying alcohol (alcohol).

What the research says

  • A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

  • Topical application of a vitamin C-squalene bioconjugate significantly increased epidermal thickness, type III collagen production, and glycosaminoglycans production in human skin explants compared to free vitamin C and vitamin C-palmitate.

    Scientific Reports, 2020

  • A topical serum containing vitamin C, vitamin E, and raspberry leaf cell culture extract improved skin color, elasticity, radiance, smoothness, scaliness, and wrinkles compared to the untreated contralateral side in fifty female volunteers.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020

  • Over-the-counter retinol products provided only weak evidence for a mild ameliorating effect on fine facial skin wrinkle lines in randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled trials, and major methodological flaws call the validity of positive results into question.

    The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2021

  • A cosmetic niacinamide/peptide/retinyl propionate regimen significantly improved periorbital wrinkle appearance relative to a 0.02% tretinoin regimen at 8 weeks with comparable benefits at 24 weeks, while demonstrating significantly better tolerability in 196 women.

    The British Journal of Dermatology, 2010

  • A novel triple-active cosmetic formulation containing 4-hexylresorcinol, retinyl propionate, and niacinamide improved the visual appearance of photoageing similarly to 0.02% tretinoin and reversed a consensus gene signature associated with ageing in female adults while causing less skin irritation.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024

  • Topical application of 5% vitamin C cream significantly improved global clinical scores, increased skin microrelief density, and induced elastic tissue repair in photoaged skin compared to excipient control in healthy female volunteers.

    Experimental Dermatology, 2003

  • Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.

    Journal of Periodontology, 2009

  • Topical application of VC-IP cream twice daily for 8 weeks reduces periorbital wrinkles in female subjects compared to a placebo cream.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022

  • The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020

  • Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001

  • Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012

  • Squalane at 0.005-0.015% counteracts UVA-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen metabolism inhibition while stimulating fibroblast migration in human dermal fibroblasts.

    Molecules, 2025

  • Plant-derived squalane protected human dermal fibroblasts against UVA-induced damage by counteracting ROS formation, suppressing apoptosis-related proteins p53, caspase-3, caspase-9, and PARP, and restoring the pro-survival p-Akt/mTOR pathway.

    Antioxidants, 2025

Ingredients

Water, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Pentylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Sorbitol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Butylene Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Shea Butter, Xanthan Gum, Panthenol, Sodium Carbomer, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Alcohol, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Squalane, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Sunflower Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Cholesterol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Ceramide Np, Lecithin, Glycine Soja Protein Soybean Protein, Superoxide Dismutase, Citric Acid, Dextran, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-8, Alanyl Glutamine, Arginine, Ceramide Ng, Glycine, Lysine, Oleic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Phenylalanine, Proline, Scenedesmus Rubescens Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Retinyl Palmitate, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Dextran Sulfate, Brassica Alba Seed Extract, Disodium Edta, Oligopeptide-177, Sodium Ascorbate

Behind this fit score

Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

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Prices checked 6 Nov 2026

The Lovi Fit is the same in every country; only the stores and prices differ, and the ones here are for Australia.

How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

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