Augustinus Bader The Serum for acne-prone skin
Tfc8 Trigger Factor Complex 8
Resveratrol
Squalane
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate Vitamin C Derivative
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
High
- SuperiorCombination Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for acne-prone skin; a few serums fit it even better.
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
- European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, 2017
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
- Excellent suitability for your combination skin is provided by glycerin, squalane, and sodium hyaluronate, which offer humectant action to maintain hydration, while resveratrol and ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate deliver antioxidant and brightening effects beneficial for your acne and blemishes.
- The presence of oligopeptide-177 further supports skin regeneration, enhancing the product's effectiveness for your specific concerns.
- The product is safe for your acne-prone skin, with no risk of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing components like resveratrol and ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate.
How to apply
- Use your serum as part of your PM routine and start 3x/week before working up to daily use.
- Apply this treatment after cleansing and toner, and before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
- Apply the product on clean, dry skin to help manage your breakouts safely.
- 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 a great fit for acne-prone skin?
Augustinus Bader The Serum is a great fit for acne-prone skin because glycerin and squalane keep it hydrated, while resveratrol and vitamin C help brighten blemishes without causing irritation. It is also very safe for this skin type and helps calm the area while supporting overall skin renewal.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Glycerin, squalane, and sodium hyaluronate keep acne-prone skin hydrated, while resveratrol and ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate help brighten spots and calm blemishes. Oligopeptide-177 also supports skin regeneration without any risk of irritation.
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 Resveratrol do for acne-prone skin?
Resveratrol helps acne-prone skin by reducing pimples, calming redness, and fighting acne-causing bacteria. Daily use may also significantly lower oil buildup and clear clogged pores over time.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2011Journal of Dermatological Science, 2021
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This serum goes in your evening routine, applied after cleansing and before your moisturizer. Putting treatments in the evening keeps things simple and provides extra safety around sun exposure.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
Yes, you can use this serum alongside retinol by applying the serum first and following it with your retinol product. This helps keep your acne-prone skin calm and hydrated while minimizing the irritation that retinol sometimes causes.
How often should I use this serum?
This serum fits your acne-prone skin well and is best used in the evening as part of your routine. It helps keep your skin hydrated while addressing blemishes and spots safely without causing irritation.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This serum is a great fit for your acne-prone skin and is unlikely to cause breakouts or clogging because it is free of harsh ingredients and includes soothing components like resveratrol and vitamin C. It also helps calm the skin and manage blemishes without causing irritation.
European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, 2017
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, 2017Topical formulations containing ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate, coenzyme Q10, green tea polyphenols, and resveratrol reduced the release of inflammatory cytokines and attenuated inflammatory signs compared to untreated skin and vehicle in 25 Japanese volunteers exposed to sodium dodecyl sulfate.
European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, 2017Topical 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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