We Found A $32 Dupe For The $480 Moisturiser Nicole Kidman Wore To Cannes

Call us cheap if you like, but we’re always going to opt for the affordable alternative to cult-favourite beauty products.

Whether that means we’re finding dupes for a Charlotte Tilbury lipstick Reese Witherspoon wore to the Emmys or a Charlotte Tilbury eye palette Michelle Yeoh wore the year after at the same event (or Lolavie dupes so we can get hair like Jennifer Aniston), we’re game for the hunt.

But if you don’t have the time to scour the shelves of your local Priceline looking for MECCA skin care dupes, we got you. We’ve managed to source a real doozy as far as affordable alternatives are concerned — if we were going to commit to a fishing metaphor we’d definitely call this one ‘The Catch Of The Century’.

What could possibly be that good? Well, after first identifying that Nicole Kidman’s makeup artist Wendy Rowe used Augustinus Bader’s The Rich Cream ($480 from Augustinus Bader) on the actress at Cannes this year, we instantly lamented at our bad luck. $480 for a moisturiser? Think again.

But after searching for something with similar ingredients and a better price point that was accessible to Australians, we hit the mother load. Want to get your paws on this succulent skin care item? Keep scrolling to discover where you can cop a bottle for yourself.

Is Augustinus Bader’s The Rich Cream worth it?

At $480 for a 50ml bottle, you’re probably asking yourself: ‘Why is The Rich Cream so expensive?’ And the answer is simple — you’re paying for proprietary technology and patented ingredients that you won’t find anywhere else. This is a really important piece of information it pays to remember if you are trying to source an affordable alternative. While you may find a moisturiser that feels similar or promises similar results, you won’t be getting the same experience.

Augustinus Bader’s The Rich Cream ($480 from Augustinus Bader) contains TFC8® (otherwise known as a Trigger Factor Complex), which is comprised of a proprietary blend of natural amino acids, high-grade vitamins and peptides. It’s also important to mention that the man behind the brand, Dr Augustinus Bader, developed the brand after researching stem cells for 30 years. Bader was initially applying his research to the medical field, specifically developing stem cell derived formulas that could be used on burn victims to aid in cellular regeneration. So, as far as luxury products go, this definitely doesn’t fall into the snake oil category of skin care by any means.

However, if your budget doesn’t allow for such expenses we completely understand. This is not a product that’s for everybody, nor for every budget. If you do want to try it without splashing almost $500 of your cash on the stuff, there are smaller bottle options so you can sample The Rich Cream though: 15ml is $153 from Augustinus Bader and 30ml is $297 from Augustinus Bader.

The best Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream dupe

Although it’s a bit tough trying to find a product that a) shares all of The Rich Cream’s ingredients, b) is affordable, and c) is available in Australia — it’s not impossible.

Medicube (AKA the K-Beauty brand behind that skin care boosting wand celebrities are obsessed with) has managed to create a moisturising cream that contains about 70 per cent of the same ingredients, according to Skin Skool Beauty. Medicube’s
Triple Collagen Cream 4.0 is also currently on sale at K-Beauty retailer Lila Beauty (usually $65, now on sale for $31.95 from Lila Beauty), which is based right here in Australia.

But what makes it so special? Well, it utilises a blend of collagen, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and nourishing oils to help improve the skin’s elasticity, firmness and resilience. Plus, it minimises the appearance of pores and the formation of dark spots.

So although it may not promise cellular renewal and come with 30 years of dedicated research, it will help to make your complexion appear more youthful, which at the end of the day, is why we’re all hankering to snag a bottle of Augustinus Bader in the first place, right Nicole?