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Skin restoration has always been Augustinus Bader’s secret sauce—looking to improve skin’s health from within versus targeting surface-level aesthetics. In his stem cell research, founder Professor Bader famously developed a revolutionary wound gel for scar-free healing without the need for surgery or skin grafts—making way for his now-acclaimed Trigger Factor Complex (TFC8): “a proprietary technology that targets common skin-care complaints like the appearance of wrinkles, dryness, and beyond,” he previously told Vogue. To wit, all of his products—from skin barrier-nourishing moisturizers to hydrogel sheet masks—are imbued with the same philosophy.
So, it is of no surprise, that its latest debut—The Vitamin C Serum available exclusively today for Vogue readers—continues this through line. The team observed a growing need for a vitamin C serum that could deliver all the proven benefits, without the irritation so often associated with traditional formulations. The goal, as Bader explains, wasn’t simply to launch another product, but to apply the brand’s expertise to a universally sought-after category by “creating a formula that is both highly effective and deeply intuitive to the skin.”
Augustinus Bader The Vitamin C Serum
- Why We Love It: “Rather than chasing a percentage, our focus was on creating a formula that is stable, effective, and well-tolerated by all skin types,” Professor Bader says of his latest debut. Powered by a carefully chosen vitamin C derivative called ascorbyl glucoside, praised for its gentleness, alongside a revamped TFC8 complex, ergothioneine, ceramides, algae, and niacinamide, this seeks to improve skin’s brightness, firmness, tone, and hydration—without any irritation.
- Key Ingredients: Augustinus Bader’s TFC8 Complex vitamin C (ascorbyl glucoside), ergothioneine, algae evening complex, niacinamide
- Size: 30 mL / 1 fl. oz
To grasp how Augustinus Bader’s vitamin C works, one must first understand the many benefits the ingredient yields skin. “Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that plays several important roles in skin health,” board-certified physician assistant Paula Brezavscek previously said, calling it one of the most well-studied and effective ingredients for brightening—protecting the skin from environmental stressors like UV rays and pollution to reducing dark spots, evening skin tone, and supporting collagen production.
Its most common form, according to triple board-certified dermatopathologist Dr. Gretchen Frieling, MD, is L-ascorbic acid, which is considered the gold standard because of its powerful antioxidant properties. “However, it is unstable and can be irritating for sensitive skin,” she says, a pain point that Bader looked to solve for. Instead, they’ve selected another form, the highly stable, water-soluble ascorbyl glucoside. “This allows us to deliver vitamin C with greater precision and efficiency, guiding it exactly where it’s needed while preserving the integrity of the skin barrier,” Bader adds. Dr. Frieling praises ascorbyl glucoside for its tolerability. “It provides brightening benefits by helping fade hyperpigmentation and sunspots, while also evening skin tone with less risk of irritation,” she says. “Its stability gives it a longer shelf life, meaning it maintains its potency better than L-ascorbic acid, which oxidizes quickly. Because it is gentler and less acidic, it can be used daily even on sensitive skin or alongside other actives such as retinol or exfoliating acids.”
Vitamin C type aside, you’ll notice the antioxidant paired with an intelligent lineup of skin-boosting agents meant to amplify these results—the most notable of which is the inclusion of the brand’s new Advanced TFC8 complex, the first upgrade to the O.G. complex the brand was founded with. “It introduces a biomimetic delivery system that enables faster, more precise communication with the skin—enhancing absorption, and amplifying results,” Bader says. “Acting as a guiding system at the skin cellular level, it transports key nutrients exactly where they are most needed, allowing the skin to prioritize its own renewal.”
Plus, there’s ergothioneine, featured to support the efficacy of vitamin C, an algae evening complex, designed to improve redness and dark spots, and niacinamide for its barrier-strengthening properties. This blend makes it noticeably gentle, and per Dr. Frieling, makes it more stable, tolerable, and bolsters the range of results. All of this is whipped into a cushiony, almost milky serum that delivers instant hydration and glow—sitting expertly under moisturizer, SPF, and makeup without any stinging, tightening, or odd smell. It’s the kind of treatment you’ll actually want to reach for each morning because there are no real downsides to applying or wearing it. Bader says that this was formulated for twice-daily use for continuous brightening, firming, and antioxidant protection, though you can certainly alternate it with say The Retinol Serum in the evening “to support deeper renewal and firming.”
When asked about consistent vitamin C use, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Brendan Camp explained that in the short term “vitamin C may make skin brighter and limit the appearance of hyperpigmentation,” whereas in the long term, it can “encourage collagen production to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and reduce the prominence of sun spots and uneven skin tone.” Augustinus Bader’s clinicals saw visible results in four weeks, with users reporting improved radiance, reduced blemishes, and more even skin tone following their trial. In week two of my test of this serum, I’m happy to report that I’ve completely ditched my other vitamin Cs in favor of this one. It’s a delight to apply, and it keeps my skin luminous, bouncy, and balanced all day long. As someone keen on a daily regimen rich in antioxidants, peptides, niacinamide, and hydrators, I love having all my needs met in one single step.
“We set out to create a formula that could visibly address uneven skin tone, dark spots, and dullness, concerns common across many skin types,” says Bader. “As importantly, we wanted to ensure that our formula would be well-tolerated by sensitive or reactive skin”—I’d say they’ve done this swimmingly.
Shop more of Vogue’s favorite Augustinus Bader products, below.
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Meet the Experts
- Professor Augustinus Bader, founder of the eponymous skin-care brand, is a German biomedical scientist and physician, specializing in stem cell biology and regenerative medicine.
- Dr. Brendan Camp, MD is a double board-certified dermatologist and dermatopathologist who sees patients in New York and Long Island.
- Dr. Gretchen Frieling, MD, is a Harvard-trained, triple board-certified dermatopathologist and founder of GFaceMD.
