Augustinus Bader is a premium, multi-award-winning skin and haircare line developed with the highest caliber of applied science in the industry. The brand was launched in 2018 and is backed by over 30 years of groundbreaking research led by stem cell scientist and doctor of regenerative medicine, Professor Augustinus Bader. The eponymous brand has disrupted the industry with TFC8, a proprietary technology that powers the line and works by supporting the human body’s innate capacity to renew, delivering unprecedented results. Augustinus Bader launched with two cult products, The Cream and The Rich Cream. Today, the line has expanded to a curated collection of clean, highly efficacious essentials used by the world’s leading skin and haircare experts.
Founders: Professor Augustinus Bader and Charles Rosier
Founded: 2018
Leadership:
2023 Full Year Expected Revenue Range: $100 to $125MM (estimated by industry experts)
Category: Skincare, Haircare, Body Care
Distribution Channels: Department Store, Prestige
Funding Rounds: Venture Capital
In November 2022, Augustinus Bader secured $25 million in new funding that values the business at $1 billion led by historical investor Impala and newcomer General Atlantic, with the participation of Antoine Arnault, Natalia Vodianova, Diageo Chairman Javier Ferrán, and photographer Mert Alas.
What are some of your key business initiatives for 2023?
Spa openings at The Webster Soho and Lanserhof UK, as well as a new cleanser and retinol serum launch.
What are you most proud of having accomplished?
In just four years, Augustinus Bader has garnered an unprecedented 105 industry-coveted awards.
What has been the biggest surprise since the brand was founded?
Originally created with two moisturizer SKUs, The Rich Cream and The Cream, the Augustinus Bader brand now boasts a full skincare range, plus haircare and supplements. The organic celebrity fan base, Fanbase, has really fueled brand awareness and expansion as "the one'' that works!
What aspect of your brand DNA fuels your competitive advantage?
Backed by over 30 years of research in cellular repair and his deep understanding of stem cell biology, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine, Augustinus has developed the patented technology TFC8—the renewing complex present in Augustinus Bader skincare line. Launched in 2018, Augustinus Bader is a premium, science-led skincare line backed by the highest caliber of applied science in the industry.
Please share your insight on the future of the beauty industry.
For years, the big-name beauty industry players have followed a standard formula—launch a product with a huge product, a huge advertising budget, big claims, and a celebrity face. The formulators behind the products have been largely anonymous, with the weight of marketing being supported by the brand’s reputation. However, over the past few years, thanks to more informed consumers, social media, and buyers wanting the most value from their products—doctor-formulated brands have become one of the most popular segments of the market.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
It was Charles Rosier, my partner in this enterprise, who had the vision to apply the technology to skincare consumer products to fund my research. He thought if the technology could turn burned skin into perfect skin, then the know-how could be used to develop an innovative skincare to help with wrinkles. At the time, the idea did not wholly convince me, but I started to prototype a skincare product with certain patients with problematic or fragile skin. The creams made a real difference to the people, and they kept coming back asking for more. After two years of Charles’ perseverance, I finally understood this potential to apply this knowledge of intrinsic stem cell communication to develop a skincare-approved product.
Paying it forward, what advice would you give to someone contemplating launching a beauty brand?
Charles believes that their inexperience in the beauty industry helped at first. “If I’d known how complex and competitive the industry is, maybe I wouldn’t have had so much passion for it. But because I had seen what Augustinus’s science could do, I was truly convinced that he could create a product that was new, disruptive, and of higher quality than whatever else was in the market.”
If you could change one thing in the beauty industry, what would it be?
Augustinus is using money from his skincare line to fund research and development for those affected by severe burns and skin wounds. The reason we launched the skincare brand was to provide a platform to allow for the continued research and development of treatments that alleviate suffering for those afflicted by severe burns and wounds. We have created a circular process—the research allows the commercial activity to be disruptive and competitive—and, in turn, the skincare activity will finance the research.
