I woke up this morning with a fever dream. Not one to jump out of bed right away, but I dashed straight to that drawer. Despite my nightmare, it was there, and I heaved a sigh of relief. What would I do without it? My prized possession. Miracle wonder. Sort-of love of my life. You know how traumatic it can be if you run out of your uber-luxurious serum and you don’t have it stocked up in time?
I first discussed Augustinus Bader’s The Rich Cream, aka the love of my life, back in 2019. Duty-free shopping is tough to resist, and I fell prey but the guilt only lasted about a few hours. The moment I applied it on my face for the first time, I knew I’d found what I didn't even know I’d been looking for. Of course, it worked for my skin like magic but that's not even the entire point. How it made me feel is what’s kept me going back. The price tag might shock you but the feeling is so surreal, you’d be foolish to ignore it.
As someone who writes about skincare, I’ve tried the best of the best brands, and trust me when I say it, some brands are truly that good. For some, it’s an investment. For others, it’s luxury—you’re doing it because you want to, yes, but also since you can. Like a Birkin. Or a Tesla.
And you’re saying men in 2025 aren’t serious about spending serious money on and for their skin? Sure, if you insist. I ain’t buying it. And why is men’s skincare still viewed as frivolous, when it should be seen as essential (even aspirational)? When you’ve got a Porsche, you don’t fret about its upkeep, right? You get whatever it takes to keep it going and looking fabulous while at it. It’s exactly how I feel about my face. And I’m going to treat it with the absolute best. It’s my money and I get to spend it on things that make me feel good.
Wouldn’t that not-so-expensive serum be good enough? Sure, it would cover the basics. But when has skincare only been about, well, skin care? The texture won’t be as smooth, the scent not as scintillating. There’s a difference between eating at a neighbourhood burger joint and grabbing a five-course meal at a Michelin Star restaurant. Both leave you full but the latter also satiates all other senses.
After a long day of work, when you’re washing your face at night, you’re not just taking off dead skin cells along with some dirt and grime. You’re also looking to feel a certain way. The moment that serum spreads on your face, it takes you places. That feeling is priceless. And if a luxury serum can do that, I'm sold for life.
