Prof. Augustinus BaderAugustinus Bader
A medical doctor, scientist and university professor, Augustinus Bader wasn’t exactly planning to add skincare mogul to the list when he developed the technology that would become the foundation of his eponymous brand. Luckily, he was otherwise convinced; today, The Cream, The Rich Cream and his other products are much-loved by celebrities, editors, influencers and regular people—all of whom appreciate their incredible efficacy.
What drove you to start your own brand? It was sort of by accident that I came into skincare, but it was with a purpose. Several years ago, I developed a medical-grade hydrogel that could provide rapid, scar-free healing for those afflicted by severe burns. Despite convincing results from early testing and many possible fields of application, the research came up against funding issues. It was at this point that I met Charles Rosier, the co-founder of the brand. Charles had the vision to apply the technology to skincare consumer products to help raise awareness—and ultimately funding—for my medical research. He had observed how my medical treatment could provide scar-free healing for severe burns and was convinced I could create a disruptive skincare product of superior quality to anything currently on the market. It took him two years to persuade me to take the notion seriously.
What’s your favorite product in the line? The Rich Cream and The Cream are very popular as they suit the texture preferences of the two most common skin types: dry and normal-to-oily. The addition of TFC8 enables their flexibility to address everything from fine lines to redness. I think we succeeded in creating formulations that genuinely work. They work because we respect the physiology of human skin with a knowledge base that originated from my research. The products are innovative in this sense.
What are your morning and evening routines?
In general, I prefer to use The Cream during the day and The Rich Cream at night or as an after-sun product. Or sometimes, I mix both on my face. The Rich Cream is excellent to use on flights because the plane dehydrates your skin. I dilute The Cream with water on my face before shaving and just let whatever remains afterward absorb in. Since I started using it that way, my skin doesn’t dry out, and I don’t cut myself. It also saves time in my daily routine.
What would people be surprised to learn about you?
I’d never used any skincare before I created my own!
What advice would you give to someone thinking about starting their own business?
Simply bringing a great product to the market is unfortunately not enough—especially if nobody knows about it. I believe you need several positive factors to come together at the right time. We were fortunate enough to have a few friends in Hollywood that loved the product and shared it with their friends, and a strong word of mouth started there, creating some brand awareness. Journalists were also a key part of our success.
Learn how some of the beauty industry’s most dynamic entrepreneurs find inspiration and develop must-have products as they share their advice for aspiring business moguls and much more