Augustinus Bader The Serum for dry skin
Tfc8 Trigger Factor Complex 8
Resveratrol
Squalane
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate Vitamin C Derivative
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Superior
- SuperiorDry Skin Fit
- SuperiorEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
One of the best serums for dry skin.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry skin: flakiness, tightness, dehydration, fine lines, and wrinkles. 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
- Excellent suitability for your dry skin is provided by humectants like Glycerin and Sodium Hyaluronate, alongside barrier-repairing emollients such as Squalane and Rice Bran Oil, which deeply hydrate and support your skin barrier. Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate and Oligopeptide-177 offer potent regenerative and brightening benefits, addressing your dry or flaky skin concerns effectively.
- The inclusion of Resveratrol and Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract provides antioxidant protection, further enhancing the product's overall efficacy for your skin.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components.
How to apply
- Apply this serum PM, starting 3×/week and working up to daily use as your skin adjusts.
- Place the serum after cleansing and toner, but right before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
- Apply the serum on slightly damp skin to help lock in extra moisture.
- Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★3.9Overall rating based on 300+ reviewsUsers frequently praise the serum for its lightweight, milky texture that provides immediate hydration and a radiant glow, leading to smoother and plumper skin. However, a notable number of reviewers feel the long-term anti-aging benefits do not justify the very high price point.
Highlights
Lightweight & fast Mostly Mentioned
- “sinks in instantly”
- “feather-like consistency”
- “absorbs quickly”
- “no sticky residue”
Extremely high price Mostly Mentioned
- “steep price tag”
- “insanely expensive”
- “not worth the money”
- “cost a fortune”
Instant hydration & glow Often Mentioned
- “healthy glow”
- “skin feels plump”
- “instant boost of hydration”
- “glass-skin look”
Improved skin texture Sometimes Noted
- “skin felt noticeably firmer”
- “reduced redness”
- “extremely soft and supple”
- “texture improved”
Luxurious packaging Sometimes Noted
- “epitome of luxury”
- “display piece”
- “packaging is so luxe”
- “beautiful bottle”
Bulky packaging Sometimes Noted
- “excessive packaging”
- “big and bulky”
- “useless outer shell”
- “takes up space”
Lack of results Sometimes Noted
- “minimal results for me”
- “nothing groundbreaking”
- “didn't notice any difference”
- “just okay”
Dispensing issues Rarely Noted
- “hard to figure out”
- “fragile glass”
- “pump issues”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.co.uk, spacenk.com, cultbeauty.co.uk, bluemercury.com, lovelyskin.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Augustinus Bader The Serum one of the best fits for dry skin?
Augustinus Bader The Serum is one of the best fits for dry skin because it combines deeply hydrating ingredients like glycerin and sodium hyaluronate with barrier-supporting squalane and rice bran oil. It is very unlikely to cause irritation and helps smooth flaky areas while offering antioxidant protection.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for dry skin?
Glycerin and Sodium Hyaluronate draw in moisture, while Squalane and Rice Bran Oil smooth and support your skin barrier. Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate and Oligopeptide-177 help brighten and renew dry or flaky skin, with Resveratrol and Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract providing antioxidant protection.
What does Tfc8 do for dry skin?
TFC8 is unlikely to be the right fit for dry skin unless it is paired with rich, nourishing ingredients and moisture-locking barriers that stop water loss and keep the skin soft.
What does Resveratrol do for dry skin?
Resveratrol helps protect dry skin against everyday damage by providing strong antioxidant support and helping maintain a healthy skin barrier. It is unlikely to solve dry skin on its own, so dry skin needs a product of this type to also include rich moisturizing ingredients like ceramides to lock in deep hydration and keep the surface soft and smooth.
Dermatologic Therapy, 2019Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2019
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing. Putting it in the evening keeps things simple and protects your skin around sun exposure.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying the serum first to deeply hydrate and support your skin barrier, followed by your retinol. This approach helps minimize potential dryness or flaking while keeping your skin soft and smooth.
How often should I use this serum?
You can use this serum in your evening routine, applying it after cleansing and before your moisturizer. It is very well suited for dry skin and is unlikely to cause any irritation.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This serum is unlikely to cause breakouts or clog pores on dry skin because it has an excellent safety profile with gentle ingredients and no harsh components. It helps hydrate and soothe your skin without leaving heavy residue.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying 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, 2017Resveratrol nanoliposomes improved transdermal penetration and enhanced anti-aging and skin-brightening effects by promoting antioxidant capacity and collagen synthesis while inhibiting matrix metalloproteinases, tyrosinase activity, and melanin synthesis compared to free resveratrol.
Molecules, 2023A rice bran oil nanoemulsion formulated using low energy methods showed low irritation potential in vitro and improved skin moisture while maintaining normal skin pH in human volunteers during in vivo assessments.
Journal of Nanobiotechnology, 2011Topical CE Ferulic plus resveratrol BE serum following ablative fractional CO2 laser treatment reduced erythema index (308.9 vs. 325.3), shortened complete scabbing detachment time (6.0 vs. 6.5 days), decreased melanin index (-7.4% vs. +0.2%), and improved skin hydration compared to normal saline in 51 Chinese patients.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2024Topical treatment with a combination of pyridine-2, 4-dicarboxylic acid diethyl ester and resveratrol significantly increased hair density in 79 Caucasian female subjects starting from 1.5 months compared to baseline.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020A nighttime topical antioxidant containing resveratrol, baicalin, and vitamin E significantly improved fine lines, wrinkles, firmness, elasticity, laxity, hyperpigmentation, radiance, roughness, and dermal thickness in subjects with mild to moderately photodamaged skin over 12 weeks.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2014Squalane at 0.005-0.015% counteracts UVA-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen metabolism inhibition while stimulating fibroblast migration in human dermal fibroblasts.
Molecules, 2025Plant-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, 2025Topical 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, 2003Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.
Journal of Periodontology, 2009Topical 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, 2022Rice protein hydrolysate and its characteristic peptides Leu-Leu-Lys, Leu-Pro-Lys, and pyroGlu-Lys reduced melanin content, tyrosinase activity, and ROS production in UVB-induced human epidermal melanocyte PIG1 cells by regulating the JNK/Β-Trcp/NFΗB-p65/MITF signaling pathway and lowering TRP-1 and TRP-2 expression.
Food & Function, 2020
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cellulose, Ethylhexyl Polyhydroxystearate, Resveratrol, Squalane, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Rice Bran Oil, Maltitol, Leontopodium Alpinum Callus Culture Extract, Xylitylglucoside, Lecithin, Anhydroxylitol, Citric Acid, Xylitol, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Maltodextrin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Punica Granatum Extract, Sodium Phytate, Glucose, Xanthan Gum, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Alanyl Glutamine, Arginine, Oligopeptide-177, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Chloride, Phenylalanine, Sisymbrium Irio Seed Oil
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.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
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