Imagine my excitement when I was asked to review a beauty product so highly revered it has already received the approval of A-List celebrities such as Kim Kardashian, Victoria Beckham and Jennifer Anniston.
While I am enough of a realist to know that no magic potions can really turn back time, my saggy almost-50-year-old skin was elated at the idea of being smothered in something that editors, beauty bloggers and dermatologists alike hail as The Must-Have anti-ageing cream.
The Rich Cream from scientific skincare brand Ausgustinus Bader has won more awards than I could shake a stick at, including Glamour’s Beauty Award for Best Moisturizer, Tatler’s Best Modern Classic, Harper Bazaar’s Best Moisturizer Splurge, Marie Claire’s Best Luxury Moisturizer for Ageing Skin - but would it be able to work its wonders on my tired skin?
Beautifully packaged, I was eager to open this potential new elixir of life and was impressed by the solid feeling of the glass bottle, dressed in the brand's signature navy and bronze colourway.
Before I embarked upon my usual nighttime cleansing routine, which to be fair is not much more than a wet flannel and whatever moisturiser I haven't run out of, I took the time to read up on why The Rich Cream which has such a cult-like following.
The scientifically designed formula is clinically proven to reduce the signs of ageing including the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation, while also being able to deeply hydrate, condition, and renew for soft, even, restored skin.
Every product in the range is hand-crafted by Mr Augustinus Bader himself, who as a physician, a biomedical scientist and one of the worlds leading experts in stem cell biology and regenerative medicine, certainly seems to know his stuff.
The Bader formula uses a patented TFC8 technology (Trigger Factor Complex 8) which is backed by 30 years of science and research and although the science-backed skincare brand was founded just four years ago, it’s already racked up 79 industry awards.
Carefully curated to promote elasticity, support skin barrier function, and prevent transepidermal water loss, The Rich Cream promised to give me skin that is supple, plump, and super smooth.
Science aside, did it work?
Let me start by saying just how much I grew to love this cream. I was a little put off initially, as the thick and heavy consistency felt like sunscreen on my skin.
Once absorbed though, it amazed me by leaving no residue or sticky feeling and made my skin feel smooth to the touch.
Being menopausal, my face is prone to bouts of dryness and teenage-style blemishes almost all at the same time, and with falling estrogen levels, an exhausting lifestyle and the occasional glass of wine, it certainly is not smooth or radiant 99% of the time.
The brand recommends using the product for at least 27 days, as this is apparently the length of time it takes for the body to turn over regenerated skin cells, so I religiously moisturised using the Rich Cream for almost a month.
Unlike some other face creams, this didn't make my skin feel super oily after application, nor did it make it feel dry or itchy. Miraculously it almost seemed to find just the right balance for my skin.
While I wasn't sure that it had made the appearance of my skin noticeably different, it did leave it feeling soft and hydrated, making me feel younger on the inside, if that makes sense.
Final Verdict: Is it worth the money?
It did make my skin feel glorious, smelt luxurious and was a real thing of beauty on my dressing table, but the biggest issue of course is the price tag.
Whilst wondering if it's actually called "The Rich Cream" because that is who it's made for - the rich - I concluded that it may not be worth the money for me.
The scientific genius behind its composition does, however, still leave me very impressed. To find a cream that was simultaneously able to fight the dryness of my slightly more mature skin, while also being able to deal with blemishes and blotches without making it feel dried out or super greasy, is a thing of beauty that could well be priceless.
