Powered by Augustinus Bader&rsquo;s cult-favorite skincare science&mdash;at a far more accessible price. But is it worth it?

When <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/dua-lipa-naked-dress-bra-lingerie-top-trend">Dua Lipa</a> announced the debut of her eponymous skincare line, DUA by AB, the Internet had immediate thoughts. Fans of the pop star were excited to see her step into beauty with a brand of her own; conversely, others met the news with a familiar eye roll toward the ever-revolving door of celebrity beauty brands. The skepticism isn&rsquo;t unfounded&mdash;given the saturation of the space and the underperformance of certain high-profile brands&mdash;but it has also become the default reaction any time a celebrity enters the category. And, to be fair, some celebrity ventures have proved their staying power beyond a quick cash-grab.&nbsp;
The question that struck a deeper nerve, though, was this: Have <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/beauty/augustinus-bader-vitamin-c-review-glowing-skin">Augustinus Bader</a> loyalists been overpaying all this time?

DUA by Augustinus Bader. Photography by Mikael Jansson courtesy of DUA by Augustinus Bader.

While the curiosity is understandable, it&rsquo;s not quite that simple. Yes, the entire DUA line is powered by Augustinus Bader&rsquo;s signature TFC&reg; technology&mdash;famed for supporting skin-cell renewal and repair&mdash;but it uses a lower concentration formulated for &ldquo;skin with minimal to moderate damage.&rdquo; In other words, it&rsquo;s gentler, more approachable, and designed for early-care concerns and everyday protection. Meanwhile, the original Augustinus Bader formulas are far more potent and targeted toward mature skin or those with deeper, more advanced concerns.&nbsp;

Dua Lipa. Photography by Mikael Jansson courtesy of DUA by Augustinus Bader.

And truthfully, with beauty prices climbing across the board, it&rsquo;s refreshing to see something land below luxury-tier shock value. Sure, a $75 moisturizer is by no means &ldquo;cheap.&rdquo; But for a product backed by Augustinus Bader science, a brand firmly positioned in the high-luxury space, it feels like a steal. The same technology, a lighter concentration, and a more accessible price point? Count me in.&nbsp;
For the past three weeks, I&rsquo;ve incorporated Dua Lipa&rsquo;s entire new skincare line into my routine. Ahead, my full review for L&rsquo;OFFICIEL.&nbsp;

<h2 style="text-align: center;">DUA by Augustinus Bader: The Basics</h2>

Dua Lipa. Photography by Morgan Maher courtesy of DUA by Augustinus Bader.

Price
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://duabyab.com/en-us/products/balancing-cream-cleanser?variant=55571129205060" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Balancing Cream Cleanser</a>: $40</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://duabyab.com/en-us/products/supercharged-glow-complex?variant=55571134873924" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Supercharged Glow Complex</a>: $80</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://duabyab.com/en-us/products/renewal-cream?variant=55561477325124" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Renewal Cream</a>: $75</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://duabyab.com/en-us/products/the-routine" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Routine</a>: $195</li>
</ul>
Where to Buy&nbsp;
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Available exclusively on <a href="http://duabyab.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">duabyab.com</a>&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Usage Directions&nbsp;
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Apply the routine morning and night.&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Steps: Balancing Cream Cleanser &rarr; Supercharged Glow Complex &rarr; Renewal Cream</li>
</ul>
L'OFFICIEL USA may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if products are purchased through our links. These items were gifted. Neither decides our editorial decisions.

<h2 style="text-align: center;">DUA by Augustinus Bader Review: Balancing Cream Cleanser</h2>

DUA Balancing Cream Cleanser. Photography by Mikael Jansson courtesy of DUA by Augustinus Bader.

While I&rsquo;m not the biggest fan of cream cleansers&mdash;most aren&rsquo;t great at removing makeup&mdash;I was pleasantly surprised by DUA&rsquo;s Balancing Cream Cleanser. It&rsquo;s gentle, removes makeup, doesn&rsquo;t strip my skin of its natural moisture, and even leaves my skin feeling soft.&nbsp;&nbsp;
I still found that I needed to double cleanse with an oil-based cleanser beforehand to fully break down heavier makeup and oil buildup, but I appreciated how soothing and fragrance-free this formula is. It doesn&rsquo;t lather the way a traditional cleanser might, yet that didn&rsquo;t diminish its performance. That said, I&rsquo;d rely on it more as a second-step cleanser or as a morning wash. (For best results, apply it to dry skin first, then add water later).&nbsp;
Perhaps not the strongest product in the lineup, and $40 for a cleanser can feel quite steep given the more affordable alternatives out there. But for those with sensitive skin, the DUA cleanser is a worthy investment.

<h2 style="text-align: center;">DUA by Augustinus Bader Review: Supercharged Glow Complex</h2>

DUA Supercharged Glow Complex. Photography by Mikael Jansson courtesy of DUA by Augustinus Bader.

DUA&rsquo;s Supercharged Glow Complex lives up to its name: it leaves the skin looking radiant and healthy&mdash;more &ldquo;glass skin&rdquo; than glittery sheen. And importantly, the glow isn&rsquo;t just a surface-level dew that disappears as soon as you wash your face. While no single serum (or product, really) can deliver a days-long glow on its own, this one comes impressively close. Of course, the dewy finish naturally fades after cleansing, but that supple, lit-from-within look certainly lingers, and it&rsquo;s something I can&rsquo;t ignore.&nbsp;
Beyond the immediate luminosity, it has made my skin look noticeably fresher, helped smooth texture, and minimized the appearance of enlarged pores (especially around my dreaded nose area with stubborn blackheads). My cheeks and forehead, in particular, look more stretched and refined.&nbsp;
That payoff comes down to the ingredients. In addition to Augustinus Bader&rsquo;s TFC technology, the Supercharged Glow Complex is packed with vitamin B7, niacinamide, and ectoin&mdash;a thoughtful lineup for strengthening, brightening, and calming the skin.
But the best part? The texture. It has an almost milky, lightweight consistency that honestly feels moisturizing on its own. And it absorbs quickly into the skin rather than sitting on top of it (an oddly specific complaint, perhaps, but one I often run into with other serums and moisturizers). That said, it layers well under makeup: no pilling, no tackiness, just a smooth, dewy base that plays well with everything else in your routine. And just like the cleanser, it&rsquo;s completely fragrance-free and friendly to my eczema-prone skin.&nbsp;
I&rsquo;ve only had it for three weeks, but I already can&rsquo;t imagine my routine without the DUA Glow Complex. They deliver the kind of results I&rsquo;d expect from serums with harsher ingredients. It&rsquo;s almost too good to be true.

<h2 style="text-align: center;">DUA by Augustinus Bader Review: Renewal Cream</h2>

DUA Renewal Cream. Photography by Mikael Jansson courtesy of DUA by Augustinus Bader.

Last but not least: the DUA Renewal Cream. It&rsquo;s a silky, lightweight moisturizer that instantly blurs texture and softens the look of pores&mdash;almost like a pore-minimizing primer, minus the clogging ingredients. For a lighter cream, it hydrates surprisingly well even in the current cold, drying weather, though it&rsquo;s ultimately better suited for normal, oily, and combination skin types. (Those with dry skin like mine may still crave something heavier, especially this time of year). Still, it delivers nourishment without leaving the skin shiny or weighed down. It&rsquo;s certainly made my skin feel smooth and look visibly plump.&nbsp;
My only qualm is that it doesn&rsquo;t sit well under makeup; it has a tendency to pill. Since I wear makeup nearly every day, I ended up using it solely at night. But honestly, what I appreciate about this the most is that, even without layering it with my usual face oil, I still woke up with my skin feeling soft and well-hydrated. So it certainly performs on that front.&nbsp;

<h2 style="text-align: center;">DUA by Augustinus Bader Review: The Verdict</h2>

All in all, DUA&rsquo;s debut lineup is a thoughtful, well-executed start for a new brand. I was most impressed with the Supercharged Glow Complex for its healthy, lasting radiance. And while I could technically live without the cleanser and moisturizer (since I&rsquo;ve truthfully locked my favorites for three years, save for when reviewing new launches), they&rsquo;re still absolutely worth trying. Each product felt gentle while still delivering the results you&rsquo;d expect. With Augustinus Bader&rsquo;s science behind it, it&rsquo;s no surprise the line performs.&nbsp;

Dua Lipa’s New Skincare Line with Augustinus Bader: The Full Review

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