Augustinus Bader The Cream for acne-prone skin
Tfc8 Trigger Factor Complex 8
Retinyl Palmitate
Ascorbic Acid
Glycerin
Squalane
Average
- AverageCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for acne-prone skin; other moisturizers fit it better.
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
- The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2021
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. 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 combination skin, as glycerin and squalane provide excellent hydration and barrier support, but it lacks specialized ingredients to directly target acne and breakouts.
- The formula is generally safe for your combination skin, with no harsh ingredients that would cause irritation.
- While supportive for acne-prone skin through hydration and soothing effects from glycerin and aloe leaf juice, it does not offer sufficient oil control for the oilier areas of your combination skin.
How to apply
- Use your moisturizer twice a day in your AM and PM routines. Apply it daily to help keep breakouts under control.
- Apply after your cleanser and toner, and make sure to use your SPF right after in the morning.
- Gently spread a small amount of moisturizer over your face using soft motions. Let it absorb into the skin for a minute before getting dressed or applying makeup.
- Apply on slightly damp skin to help lock in extra moisture. This keeps your combination skin balanced without feeling heavy.
- Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use. Stop using if you feel any irritation.
People Say
★4.2Overall rating based on 1.4k+ reviewsBased 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 acne-prone skin?
Augustinus Bader The Cream works moderately well for acne-prone skin, providing gentle hydration and soothing effects through glycerin and aloe leaf juice without causing irritation. However, it lacks specialized ingredients for oil control and direct blemish targeting, meaning other products fit better. A product of this type needs targeted blemish-fighting ingredients, oil control agents, and soothing plant extracts to truly excel on acne-prone skin.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Glycerin and squalane make this cream a good fit by providing hydration and soothing support for acne-prone skin. However, it lacks specialized ingredients for oil control and blemishes, which this skin type needs alongside soothing agents.
What does Tfc8 do for acne-prone skin?
Acne-prone skin needs a product that helps calm redness and clears pores without feeling heavy. Tfc8 is unlikely to clog pores, but products for this skin type work best when they also balance oil and soothe angry breakouts.
What does Retinyl Palmitate do for acne-prone skin?
Retinyl palmitate helps clear up acne-prone skin by reducing acne bumps and blemish counts. It is unlikely to cause heavy irritation, making it much gentler on the skin than stronger treatments.
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This cream works as a moisturizing treatment in your routine, applied after cleansing and toning in both the morning and evening. While it provides hydration and soothing benefits, an average fit for acne-prone skin means a product of this type needs specialized ingredients to directly target breakouts and provide oil control for oilier areas.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cream with retinol by applying the retinol first and following it with this moisturizer to help keep your skin calm and hydrated. Using a supportive moisturizer along with a retinoid is unlikely to cause irritation and may make your skin more comfortable during treatment.
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this moisturizing treatment twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine to keep your skin hydrated. Regular daily application helps improve overall moisture and supports the skin barrier. Acne-prone skin requires products that also provide oil control and specialized ingredients to directly target breakouts.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This cream is generally safe for acne-prone skin and is unlikely to cause harsh irritation, but it may not provide enough oil control for oily areas. Because it lacks targeted breakout-fighting ingredients, acne-prone skin often needs a product of this type to include oil-balancing agents and specialized blemish-clearing ingredients.
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this moisturizing treatment around the eyes and on the body, as its gentle ingredients are generally safe for delicate skin. However, because skin thickness varies widely across different body areas, a richer formula with targeted nourishing ingredients is often needed for very thin or dry regions.
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, 2017Over-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, 2021A 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, 2010A 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, 2024Topical 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, 2022The 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, 2020Ten 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, 2001Niacinamide/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, 2012Squalane 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, 2025
Why other moisturizers fit acne-prone skin better
Co-delivery of paeonol and madecassoside via nanoemulsions improved transdermal delivery, promoted barrier repair proteins, inhibited inflammatory cytokine secretion in cellular and 3D models, and reduced transepidermal water loss and acne in human facial skin compared to free components.
Molecules, 2023A facial serum containing snail secretion filtrate, Calendula officinalis, and Glycyrrhiza glabra root extract significantly reduced inflammatory acne lesions compared to placebo in 66 participants with mild-to-moderate maskne over 12 weeks.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022
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.
-
Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-
Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-
Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-
Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-
Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-
Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-
Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.