Augustinus Bader · Moisturizer
Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream
Lower PFAS concern; luxury skincare without known aqueous film-forming or stain-resistant treatment triggers.
Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream is a leave-on facial moisturizer formulated with emollients and plant extracts, categories not typically associated with PFAS manufacturing or intentional PFAS addition.
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Emollient cream with botanicals and skin-conditioning oils
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
Why this grade
Category baseline
cosmetics is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement about PFAS in this product.
Safe base material
Made from a material with no inherent PFAS use (ceramic, mineral, or natural fiber).
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
The Rich Cream is an oil-in-water emulsion built on plant-derived emollients (shea butter, sunflower oil, jojoba oil) and skin-conditioning hydrocarbons typical of premium moisturizers. The formulation lacks reported surfactants, silicones, or synthetic polymers that commonly trigger leaching or degradation concerns in creams. No aqueous film-forming agents or water-repellent treatments are documented, which directly supports the lower PFAS assessment. The botanical extract load (andrographis, echinacea) is consistent with clean-beauty marketing but carries no documented contamination history for this brand.
The brand's record and disclosure
Augustinus Bader is a Swiss luxury skincare house with a dermatologist-founded positioning but minimal public disclosure on manufacturing standards, third-party testing, or heavy-metal screening. The brand has not published PFAS testing or commitment statements, nor has it sought organic, clean beauty, or third-party safety certifications (e.g., ECOCERT, NSF). No safety recalls or contamination incidents are on record for this product line. The silence on PFAS is consistent with the skincare industry norm and does not indicate a hazard, only absence of proactive transparency.
How it compares in its category
This cream sits in the premium-priced segment (USD 100+/50mL) alongside brands like La Mer and SK-II, which similarly lack third-party certifications but command trust via heritage and clinical positioning. Compared to certified organic or non-toxic alternatives (Weleda, Herbivore), The Rich Cream offers no documented safety advantage, only brand reputation. It avoids mineral oil, parabens, and synthetic fragrance, placing it above mass-market drugstore creams in ingredient selectivity. The emollient composition is chemically stable and degradation risk is low relative to occlusive silicone-heavy formulas.
If you buy it
Store in a cool, dry place and keep the container sealed between uses to minimize oxidation of plant oils, which can generate rancidity odor and irritation over time. Use a clean applicator or hands to avoid microbial contamination, especially important in creams without preservative transparency. Patch-test on inner arm or behind ear before full-face application, as the botanical extract blend may trigger contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals. Do not heat the product or apply over broken skin; discontinue if redness, burning, or swelling develops within 48 hours of first use.
Beyond PFAS: other things we checked
Established hazard classes for this product type, assessed from public information. These never change the PFAS grade; a Likely flag caps the Verdict at “Buy with care.”
Fragrance allergens (botanical extracts)
The formulation includes echinacea and andrographis extracts, which are known sensitizers in sensitive or atopic skin types. No fragrance component list is publicly available for this product, so cross-reactivity risk cannot be fully assessed.
Microbial contamination (cream oxidation and preservation)
Oil-based creams without transparent preservative systems are vulnerable to mold, yeast, or bacterial growth if stored improperly or contaminated during application. The brand has not disclosed preservative strategy or shelf-life stability data.
Heavy metals in botanicals (sourcing unknown)
Plant-derived ingredients can accumulate cadmium, lead, or arsenic depending on soil origin. No recalls or test reports exist for Augustinus Bader products, but sourcing transparency is not published.
Oxidative degradation of plant oils (rancidity)
Sunflower and jojoba oil will oxidize over time if exposed to heat or light, potentially generating irritant aldehydes or peroxides. No airless pump packaging is documented for The Rich Cream, increasing oxidation risk once opened.
1,4-dioxane or formaldehyde releasers (synthetic preservatives)
No preservative ingredients are listed publicly for this product. If hidden under 'fragrance' or 'extract' nomenclature, dioxane contamination is theoretically possible but unconfirmed and unlikely in a premium brand with clinical positioning.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 78% confidence. It is not a lab result.
No independent PFAS lab test is on record for this exact product. A lab test could move the score in either direction.
The brand has not made a specific, verifiable PFAS-free statement, so part of this score reflects that missing disclosure rather than a confirmed material.
Formulations and coatings change between production runs. Always check the current label before buying.
Safer alternatives in Moisturizer
Tatcha
Starter The Ritual Set Ultra Hydrating For Dry Skin
Water-based cosmetic creams and serums; glass/plastic packaging
Lower PFAS concern for a cosmetic moisturizer set, but Tatcha makes no public PFAS commitment.
⚠Risky category by default
Herbivore Botanicals
Orchid Facial Oil
plant oils, botanical extracts, glass bottle
Lower concern; facial oil with no known PFAS triggers, but brand offers no transparency.
⚠Risky category by default
Herbivore Botanicals
Herbivore Lapis Balancing Facial Oil
plant oils, mineral pigments, glass bottle
Lower concern for PFAS; facial oil in glass, typical formulation poses minimal risk.
⚠Risky category by default
More moisturizer grades
How we score: every product runs through the same public 0–100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.