Augustinus Bader vs La Mer (The Definitive Guide)

Augustinus Bader and La Mer are big brands with equally big price tags. Have you found yourself wanting to try their luxury products, but aren’t quite sure which is right for you?

Join us as we compare Augustinus Bader vs La Mer, and their best-selling moisturizers and cleansers side-by-side. Enjoy!

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Augustinus Bader vs La Mer Moisturizer

We all know that moisturizing is a critical step in our skincare routines. Proper hydration can strengthen your skin barrier, slow aging, increase efficacy of your other skincare products, and prevent acne and other skin conditions. To put it simply, you need a moisturizer, and you need a high-quality one.

Both Crème de la Mer by La Mer and The Cream by Augustinus Bader have a cult-like following and are used by everyone from Victoria Beckham, Beyonce, Kim Kardashian and Blake Lively. With thousands of rave reviews and dozens of awards between the two of them, it can easily seem like there’s no obvious winner. Let’s do a deep dive into both products to find out which one is really worth the price tag.

The two moisturizers are both backed by doctors which technically makes them both medical-grade skincare, although that term isn’t approved or monitored by the FDA. They’ve also both undergone rigorous independent studies proving their efficacy. The results are nearly identical in anti-aging and improving skin barrier health.

However, their ingredient lists start to illuminate a front-runner. The Cream is completely clean, i.e., free from sulfates, parabens, paraffins, and other problematic skincare ingredients linked to anything from skin irritations and hormone disruption to known carcinogens. It’s also free of any known allergens. Crème de la Mer on the other hand, contains mineral oil, petrolatum, and paraffin.

Dr. Ava Shamban shares that "creams that combine mineral oil and paraffin can actually damage the skin barrier and increase water loss." As for petrolatum, the European Union classifies it as a carcinogen and bans its usage in skincare since it is often not refined properly and can be cross contaminated with dangerous chemicals. No thanks! Crème de la Mer also contains fragrances and eucalyptus oil which can cause irritation for sensitive skin.

If you’re not already leaning towards team The Cream, let’s talk about their texture, smell, and skin-feel. Many users claim that the very ingredient that gives La Mer it’s superpowers—the algae—causes a smell that some find off-putting. It is also a thicker, richer moisturizer which isn’t always universally tolerated by all skin types. It also means that you should probably wait longer before applying makeup on top to ensure proper absorption and avoid pilling—and if your mornings are anything like ours, every minute counts!

Once more, the thicker formulation can leave the moisturizer feeling a bit oiler than it’s Augustinus Bader counterpart. For those reasons, we agree with ELLE’s International Beauty Awards of 2022 and hereby declare The Cream by Augustinus Bader the better moisturizer!

Augustinus Bader vs La Mer Cleanser

As the first step in a skincare routine, cleanser holds an important job of ridding your skin of oils, makeup, bacteria, and environmental factors it collects on its surface throughout the day or evening (gross, I know). It preps your skin so that the next products in your skincare line up can be properly absorbed, and therefore more effective. Let’s take a look at The Cleansing Foam by La Mer and The Cream Cleansing Gel by Augustinus Bader.

Since creating their two most popular products, Crème de la Mer, and The Cream, both La Mer and Augustinus Bader have followed up with complementary cleansers to add to your skincare line up. Keep reading for an inside look at The Cleansing Foam by La Mer and The Cream Cleansing Gel by Augustinus Bader.

Let’s start with the two glaring differences between these products: one is a foam cleanser, and the other is a cream cleanser which acts more like a cleansing milk. What does this mean? The Cleansing Foam requires water to activate and is going to provide much more of a lather, whereas The Cream Cleansing Gel requires less water, produces less suds, and ultimately feels like it’s melting into your skin. Foam cleansers are best for oily, acne-prone skin. Cream cleansers are better for aging, sensitive and dry skin.

Again, Dr. Bader has provided us with a truly clean cleansing gel, free from the major no-no’s like parabens, sulfates, and other known toxins. It’s also fragrance free making it safe for even the most sensitive skin.

On the other hand, The Cleansing Foam by La Mer contains methylchloroisothiazolinone and methylisothiazolinone which are highly effective preservatives, but they’re only authorized for use in products that are meant to be rinsed off (even though the cleanser fits that requirement, it seems like a bit of a red flag) and they have been found to cause skin irritations like dermatitis. Just like their moisturizer, it also contains fragrances and eucalyptus oil not suitable for sensitive skin.

Finally, we can’t provide a comprehensive comparison without considering user experiences. Users reported that The Cleansing Foam by La Mer can exacerbate problem areas and leave dry spots feeling dry and tight after the wash, while also leaving oily areas feeling oilier and unclean.*

*2024 update: It seems we were maybe a little bit too harsh in our judgment here. While there are some users that experienced these problems, it's important to note that the majority of customers *love* this cleanser. I've since given the foaming cleanser a proper showing in my own routine, and despite my relatively sensitive skin I've not encountered any issues. It's one of the few cleansers that leaves my skin feeling squeaky clean, but not dry & tight.

It seems that users who complained about The Cream Cleansing Gel didn’t understand that they were purchasing a cream cleanser and were put-off by the lack of lather and the texture signature to that type of cleanser. So, if you’re willing to adjust to a cream cleanser, The Cream Cleansing Gel by Augustinus Bader could be a winner!

This article was originally published on February 27th 2022, but it has been reviewed and updated with the latest available information on January 26th 2024 by Sara Mckay, MA.