Augustinus Bader Elixir Review: Behind The Brand's The Most Game-Changing Formula Yet
It's no secret that the worlds of skin health and aesthetics are converging. From innovative serums that promise the plumping effect synonymous with dermal fillers to those that mimic the fine-line-smoothing prowess of injectables such as polynucleotides, there is now a whole category (often coined 'skinjectables') straddling the borders of topical skincare and tweakments.
It's no wonder, really, when we now demand more from our vials of serums and trusted moisturisers than ever before; we search for next-gen tech and science to yield long-lasting results rather than the concealing and covering of old. A moisturiser that simply delivers a surface-level glow or a cleanser that solely removes make-up are no longer sufficient.
No, skincare now needs to promise optimal skin health and longevity. And the latest innovation by Augustinus Bader is one such formula, harnessing the power of exosome science to improve cellular skin health and ageing.
FIND OUT MORE ON ELLE COLLECTIVE
Exosomes - the latest buzzword in beauty - have been not-so-quietly taking over the tweakment arena, and the science is compelling: the intracellular vesicles help mediate cell-to-cell communication and can aid the body's repair process, including boosting collagen production. Bader has drawn upon the research to create its most concentrated formula to date.
'This marks a revolutionary leap in skincare science,' professor Bader tells ELLE UK. 'Combining a highly concentrated, exclusive active with the next-generation Advanced TFC8, Trigger Factor Complex, technology, it introduces a proprietary biomimetic delivery system for enhanced transport of nutrients to skin cells and unprecedented performance. This innovation delivers remarkable efficacy, offering a powerful, non-invasive alternative that redefines skincare possibilities,' he shares.
It's all thanks to the first-of-its-kind ingredients list. 'At the core of The Elixir is our next-generation technology, Advanced TFC8. This is a refined, more bioavailable evolution of our original TFC8, Trigger Factor Complex, developed to work with even greater precision in harmony with the skin's innate processes. It supports more efficient communication between cells, accelerating the delivery and efficacy of active ingredients,' he notes.
'The Elixir also features our Exclusive Phyto-Peptidic Concentrate—an innovative, highly concentrated active inspired by recent advancements in exosome science. When paired with Advanced TFC8®, this active helps to rapidly stimulate skin renewal, support cellular health, and visibly reduce the signs of ageing,' he adds.
SKU# UK200056282
The inspiration behind the formula is a direct response to the research and interest around cellular repair and regeneration. 'The Elixir is the culmination of our ongoing exploration into the science of cellular regeneration. It was created to answer a fundamental question: how can we deliver the highest concentration of active ingredients in a way that works synergistically with the skin's own biological processes?'
Three months into using the Elixir as part of my evening routine and there are impressive results already – my skin has a markedly more luminous glow and while it's impossible to attest to whether it's working in synergy with the skin, my skin feels far plumper and radiant than it did some months ago.
So high-tech is this mighty elixir, it's been heralded the most powerful in the beloved range to date, which spans a considered line-up of rich creams, serums and shampoos and conditioners. The new elixir is for anyone who is already a loyal acolyte of the ever popular Bader franchise or who is looking for tweakment-level results from their skincare.
ELLE Collective is a new community of fashion, beauty and culture lovers. For access to exclusive content, events, inspiring advice from our Editors and industry experts, as well the opportunity to meet designers, thought-leaders and stylists, become a member today HERE.
Amelia Bell is the Multiplatform Beauty Director for ELLE UK and Harper's Bazaar, developing beauty strategy, writing, editing, and commissioning, and leading beauty content across both sites. Amelia has a particular interest in wellness and longevity, exploring the skin-mind connection, and decoding the latest treatments, tweakments and runway trends. She also has bylines for Women's Health, Refinery29, British Vogue, Harrods Magazine, and more.
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Elle
2 days ago
- Elle
Augustinus Bader Elixir Review: Behind The Brand's The Most Game-Changing Formula Yet
It's no secret that the worlds of skin health and aesthetics are converging. From innovative serums that promise the plumping effect synonymous with dermal fillers to those that mimic the fine-line-smoothing prowess of injectables such as polynucleotides, there is now a whole category (often coined 'skinjectables') straddling the borders of topical skincare and tweakments. It's no wonder, really, when we now demand more from our vials of serums and trusted moisturisers than ever before; we search for next-gen tech and science to yield long-lasting results rather than the concealing and covering of old. A moisturiser that simply delivers a surface-level glow or a cleanser that solely removes make-up are no longer sufficient. No, skincare now needs to promise optimal skin health and longevity. And the latest innovation by Augustinus Bader is one such formula, harnessing the power of exosome science to improve cellular skin health and ageing. FIND OUT MORE ON ELLE COLLECTIVE Exosomes - the latest buzzword in beauty - have been not-so-quietly taking over the tweakment arena, and the science is compelling: the intracellular vesicles help mediate cell-to-cell communication and can aid the body's repair process, including boosting collagen production. Bader has drawn upon the research to create its most concentrated formula to date. 'This marks a revolutionary leap in skincare science,' professor Bader tells ELLE UK. 'Combining a highly concentrated, exclusive active with the next-generation Advanced TFC8, Trigger Factor Complex, technology, it introduces a proprietary biomimetic delivery system for enhanced transport of nutrients to skin cells and unprecedented performance. This innovation delivers remarkable efficacy, offering a powerful, non-invasive alternative that redefines skincare possibilities,' he shares. It's all thanks to the first-of-its-kind ingredients list. 'At the core of The Elixir is our next-generation technology, Advanced TFC8. This is a refined, more bioavailable evolution of our original TFC8, Trigger Factor Complex, developed to work with even greater precision in harmony with the skin's innate processes. It supports more efficient communication between cells, accelerating the delivery and efficacy of active ingredients,' he notes. 'The Elixir also features our Exclusive Phyto-Peptidic Concentrate—an innovative, highly concentrated active inspired by recent advancements in exosome science. When paired with Advanced TFC8®, this active helps to rapidly stimulate skin renewal, support cellular health, and visibly reduce the signs of ageing,' he adds. SKU# UK200056282 The inspiration behind the formula is a direct response to the research and interest around cellular repair and regeneration. 'The Elixir is the culmination of our ongoing exploration into the science of cellular regeneration. It was created to answer a fundamental question: how can we deliver the highest concentration of active ingredients in a way that works synergistically with the skin's own biological processes?' Three months into using the Elixir as part of my evening routine and there are impressive results already – my skin has a markedly more luminous glow and while it's impossible to attest to whether it's working in synergy with the skin, my skin feels far plumper and radiant than it did some months ago. So high-tech is this mighty elixir, it's been heralded the most powerful in the beloved range to date, which spans a considered line-up of rich creams, serums and shampoos and conditioners. The new elixir is for anyone who is already a loyal acolyte of the ever popular Bader franchise or who is looking for tweakment-level results from their skincare. ELLE Collective is a new community of fashion, beauty and culture lovers. For access to exclusive content, events, inspiring advice from our Editors and industry experts, as well the opportunity to meet designers, thought-leaders and stylists, become a member today HERE. Amelia Bell is the Multiplatform Beauty Director for ELLE UK and Harper's Bazaar, developing beauty strategy, writing, editing, and commissioning, and leading beauty content across both sites. Amelia has a particular interest in wellness and longevity, exploring the skin-mind connection, and decoding the latest treatments, tweakments and runway trends. She also has bylines for Women's Health, Refinery29, British Vogue, Harrods Magazine, and more.
Elle
6 days ago
- Elle
How To Get Rid Of Rosacea Permanently – The Insider's Guide
If you're looking to get rid of rosacea permanently, I don't have great news for you: this skin condition is lifelong. 'Rosacea is complex and frustrating, for both the patient and me, because there is no cure, so management of the condition focuses primarily on trying to control the symptoms,' Cosmetic Physician Dr Bibi Ghalaie says. However, it's not all doom and gloom. There is a lot you can do to improve rosacea in 2025. I should know, I've finally calmed my perennially flushed and hot complexion after a decade of suffering – and it wasn't as obvious a route as you might think. It's about time we started shining a light on rosacea, because new studies carried out in December 2024 show that around 5% of the global population suffer with it. They also discovered that the highest prevalence of rosacea isn't in older people, as previously suspected, but within the 25-39 age demographic. Clearly, there's still a lot to learn about this ailment. The problem with rosacea treatment is that it's all hidden behind closed doors – and there's a lot of off-license solutions out there – which is why industry insiders have a head start. Doctors class rosacea as a medical condition, so a lot of beauty brands are bound by law not to make any claims regarding the condition; this is why you'll see skincare mentioning 'redness' not rosacea. This can make it very hard to find the right treatment and tackle the problem head on. 'Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that typically affects the central third of the face, particularly the cheeks, nose, chin and forehead. The most common symptoms are erythema (facial redness), flushing, sensitivity, telangiectasia (visible blood vessels), pimples and pustules,' says Dr Bibi. What are the symptoms of rosacea? 'Symptoms range from visible blood vessels and thread veins, to facial redness and flushing which can come and go. You can also have bumps that resemble acne, sensitive skin, thickening of the skin including on the nose which can cause it to appear larger than it originally was,' Dr Leah Totton tells ELLE UK. 'Rosacea can be painful for some people, and may result in burning and tingling sensations.' 'Getting a diagnosis is the first step to improving rosacea,' says leading dermatologist Dr Emma Craythorne. 'So many people with rosacea actually treat it as if it's acne.' In fact, the four subcategories within this skin condition look very different: What causes rosacea? The root cause of rosacea is unknown but it is linked to inflammation. Therefore you need to focus on healing what's inside as well as what's outside when tackling redness head on. If you suddenly developed rosacea after an illness or Covid-19, remember that everything from a bug, to food poisoning, or a round of antibiotics, can cause gut dysbiosis thus a new skin condition or food intolerance; some temporary and some long-term. Rosacea can also be linked to the immune system – so if you have a health condition already like diabetes, celiac disease, multiple sclerosis, or rheumatoid arthritis, there could be a link thanks to the inflammation in your body. There is also mounting evidence, according to The National Rosacea Society, to show that an overabundance of demodex (a natural community of microorganisms that live within the skin), may trigger an immune response in people with rosacea, or that the inflammation may be caused by certain bacteria associated with the mites. Rosacea is also thought to be hereditary, so even without all of the above, you might be pre-disposed to this skin condition. What triggers rosacea? It can vary from person to person. For me, there's a long list of potential rosacea triggers that gets shorter when my condition is under control. A lot of people talk about the 'bucket theory', whereby a little of something won't cause a reaction but once that bucket of irritants is overflowing you will start to flare up. For instance, it might be that you can tolerate aged cheese or red wine alone, but in tandem they may trigger your rosacea. Here's a list of common irritants for rosacea (but remember your triggers are individual to you, why is why it's worth keeping a diary to help manage this): How to treat different types of rosacea: A lot of advice out there generalises rosacea but, 'all kinds can develop independently. They don't all merge into one another, they behave as separate entities most of the time,' explains Dr Craythorne. 'You can just present with the big nose without having had background steps beforehand. Or you might just have the very bad flushing and flaring,' We asked the Klira founder to roughly summarise which rosacea subgroup works best with which treatment, so that you can skip straight to the part of this guide that's most relevant to you: How to treat rosacea from the outside If you've landed on this page because you suffer from rosacea, no doubt you'll have read countless articles that advise being gentle on the skin, using a barrier-protecting moisturiser, avoiding retinoids and slathering on various soothing creams as well as your non-negotiable SPF. We've done a deep dive on how best to approach skincare regimes for rosacea here, but in this piece we're assuming you know the basics and skipping straight to the hardcore treatment. As someone who has tried a slew of creams, nothing has helped me like Klira, the prescription skincare brand created Dr. Emma Craythorne (read our review here). The prescribing team don't just treat rosacea, they size up your skin based on the pictures and details you share, then send you a night cream with precise doses of active ingredients. 'For some people, all they need is some mild azelaic acid and that will be enough to get their rosacea under control,' says Dr Craythorne of her Klira formulations. 'The next step up is adding in ivermectin, which works as an anti inflammatory parasitic so it kills the little demodex mites that live under our skin'. 'Tretinoin (a prescription-strength retinoid) is the other ingredient we add, as it's particularly good for people with rosacea trigger by inflammation. The three together are a gold standard treatment for this condition.' If you are one of lucky few that only needs a mild azelaic acid, there are affordable alternatives on the market that are less personalised but still very effective: Beauty Pie's Happy Face,10% Azelaic Acid Skin-Clearing Gel-Cream and Skin + Me's Azelaic Acid-powered night cream. If you need results fast, such as in the lead-up to a wedding or big event, look to laser. Within the first session you will marked improvements. Before turning to Dr. Leah, I had tried laser at high street clinics but found the treatment caused lots of swelling and irritation, that I needed more of them, and the effects didn't last. Dr. Leah Clinics use advanced medical-grade laser technology, specifically the Harmony Laser, to target rosacea. 'When a vascular lesion (like a visible blood vessel under the skin) is exposed to short bursts of visible light, the light heats up the area where there's a lot of haemoglobin (the part of blood that carries oxygen). This heat damages the walls of the blood vessel, causing it to break down. The body then naturally absorbs the damaged vessel, which makes it less visible.' Generally three treatments are advised, around four to six weeks apart to allow the skin to heal. If your rosacea is severe, it might take up to six. Within three treatments my rosacea was 99% dormant and most of my broken capillaries gone. Having tried other clinics, I found the cooling tip on the Harmony laser a lifesaver – it meant minimal downtime, no swelling and I could go about my business as usual straight after a session. Dr Leah recommends you back up laser with the appropriate skincare and revisit for follow up treatment after around nine months to address any new veins that have formed. Any skincare buff or Kardashian fan will have heard this buzzword. Or perhaps the phrase 'salmon sperm facial'. But did you know the power of polynucleotides? 'Polynucleotides (PNs) – especially polydeoxyribonucleotides (PDRN) like Plinest – are known to have bioregenerative, anti-inflammatory, and hydrating effects on the skin.' says Dr Ghalaie. 'They modulate inflammatory cytokines, helping calm the skin and reduce persistent redness and irritation. They also support support skin repair and restore the epidermal barrier, reducing reactivity to environmental triggers. They help retain water in the skin, reducing dryness and the rough texture that are common in rosacea.' Dr Ghalaie is the first to admit this isn't a quick-fix, but more of a tool in your long-term journey to getting rid of rosacea as best as you can. 'Although they do not target vascularity directly, by improving the resilience of the skin and decreasing inflammation over time, they can help reduce redness which tends to be one of the main bothersome symptoms of rosacea. Finally, polynucleotides are often used after vascular laser treatments in rosacea patients to support the healing process and reduce downtime.' There are three big factors to consider when tackling rosacea from the inside out: gut health, hormones and histamines. They are all interlinked and can all be impacted directly by stress. While a GP or dermatologist might recommend topical or oral antibiotics for rosacea, since antibiotics – while life saving and essential – strip the gut of good bacteria, so it would be wise to try other methods before resorting to this. I had never heard of oestrogen dominance until I worked with nutritionist and author Hannah Alderson – and yet it was one of the key drivers of my rosacea. Women can have a disproportionate amount of oestrogen in their system (compared with progestrone) for several reasons. Some as simple as stress and constipation, other due to underlying conditions such as endometriosis and PCOS, or a sluggish liver. One of the main causes is perimenopause and menopause. I got to work immediately trying to balance my hormones with diet and lifestyle, but mainly to clear the oestrogen from my system. This involved eating more flaxseeds and cruciferous vegetables to support liver detoxification. I also started taking some incredible supplements with which I saw a direct impact to my rosacea flare ups – as soon as I stopped taking them, they crept up again. The gut-skin axis is becoming more and more apparent: our gut health is essential to the control of inflammation, which can manifest as rosacea. The advice out there is conflicting because some of the 'gut health' foods like fermented veg, kombucha and kefir, not to mention some leading probiotics, can actually exacerbate rosacea symptoms. If this is the case, you can still nourish your gut by getting the ZOE app-recommended 30 plants per week (herbs, seeds and spices count!) and fuelling your body with prebiotic fibre, as well as avoiding processed foods and too much alcohol and sugar. A good probiotic will help populate your gut with good bacteria and decrease inflammation. Out of the non-fermented options, I've personally found Emily English's Epetome to work wonders, but Optibac also comes highly recommended. If you find that certain foods produce bizarre symptoms – facial flushing (ETR), hives, nasal congestions, headaches and heart palpations – your GP doesn't recognise as an allergy, you could be suffering with a histamine intolerance. This is a deficiency of the gastrointestinal enzyme diamine oxidase (DAO) that breaks down the histamines in your food. It's a growing phenomenon, that's more widely recognised in private medicine and the US, that might well be exacerbating your rosacea. Histamine intolerance makes improving your gut health a real head-scratcher, because fermented foods. However, Hannah Alderson says, 'don't go too hard Googling a low-histamine diet, or all you'll be eating is dust.' Not to mention, everyone has completely different triggers. A safe place to start is avoiding smoked and overly processed foods, as well as aged cheese and red wine, to give your skin a break. From there you can see what your rosacea tolerates and what it doesn't. The good news is if you are looking to balance your hormones and support your liver, this supports your system and helps to flush out excess histamines. Have you ever had a conflict at work or felt embarrassed and found your skin betray you with a bout of flushing, red-hot rosacea across your cheeks? Cruelly, this condition is triggered by emotional distress. Avoiding inevitable daily micro-aggressions is easier said than done, but if you work holistically to reduce your general stress levels, you'll find your rosacea is dampened. Standard advice for this tends to be 'eat well', 'take up yoga' 'get enough sleep', which can feel both reductive and too generalised at the same time. Mindset Coach Izzy Utterson is all about adding in easy and very specific daily habits to positively impact your day, such as dry body brushing for lymphatic drainage, waking up half an hour early to have a slower morning (but setting your alarm with a soothing tone to prevent your cortisol spiking), eating a protein-rich breakfast before coffee, gratitude journaling and putting your phone on aeroplane mode. The list goes on – but even adopting just a few of these habits could sooth your nervous system, balance your hormones, and begin to improve your body's reactivity, thus preventing rosacea flare-ups. Abigail Southan is our Senior Fashion Ecommerce Editor and has five years' experience as a writer and editor in the industry. Abigail has a BA in History from the University of Bristol and an MA in Fashion Journalism from Central Saint Martins. Abigail currently covers all things style and shopping across titles including Harper's Bazaar, ELLE, Esquire and Red. On a daily basis, she helps readers buy better with how-to-wear guides, first-person product reviews and deep dives into the latest trends. Previously, Abigail has worked for The Sunday Times' Style and Fabulous magazine as their first ecommerce writer and was a founding editor of Sun Selects. She has also written for Net-a-Porter, I-D, Man About Town, Wonderland and 1 Granary, and has interviewed the likes of Paris Hilton, Dua Lipa and Christopher Bailey. You can follow Abigail on Instagram at @abigailsouthan.
Fast Company
18-06-2025
- Fast Company
A revolution in heart disease treatment
Cardiovascular disease affects 315 million people globally and is the world's leading cause of death. For the past quarter-century, it has been standard practice for heart surgeons to treat this by inserting small, mesh tubes called stents to widen or unblock patients' coronary arteries to restore blood flow. Unfortunately, many of those patients experienced additional issues—from blood clots to heart attacks—within years, sometimes months, of the procedure. That's where DynamX, a new vascular technology from Elixir Medical, comes in. Like traditional stents, DynamX is minimally invasive and expands arteries to promote blood flow, but their unique design also enables them to restore arteries' natural defense mechanisms, helping patients avoid life-threatening events or costly and dangerous repeat procedures. The technology's promise to allow cardiac patients to heal more completely and live full, productive lives earned Elixir a spot as one of Fast Company 's 2025 Most Innovative Companies. Novel technology, proven effectiveness Traditional stents solve heart patients' immediate, critical need for restoring arterial blood flow. However, because they don't heal the arteries themselves, about half of patients re-experience an adverse medical event within 10 years, says Motasim Sirhan, Elixir founder and CEO. DynamX is different. After six months, Elixir's implant transforms into an essential part of the artery itself as its mesh tube unlocks, freeing and reinforcing the artery's wall. The implant then gradually restores and adapts to the blood vessel's natural pulsing motion. 'You need to address the disease where it's originating, not the just symptoms of it,' Sirhan says. 'This is the first technology to do that.' In the spring and fall of 2024, Elixir announced the results of a pair of large, international randomized clinical trials that demonstrate DynamX's favorable results. Patients with these implants had 65% fewer serious heart events and 78% fewer issues in the left anterior descending artery—which is critical for heart function as it supplies 50% of blood to the heart—than patients with traditional stent implants. Last year, recognizing DynamX's promise, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted Elixir 'Breakthrough Device Designation' (BDD) on two applications of its DynamX technology: to treat heart artery blockage and serious artery blockages in the leg below the knee. BDD accelerates the review and approval process for novel technologies that may provide more effective treatment of life-threatening diseases and conditions. Patient-focused solutions As they developed DynamX, the company's researchers never lost sight of the seriousness and scale of the problem they were addressing. Many people begin to have cardiac issues in their 50s and 60s, requiring them to undergo multiple procedures. Patients often miss a substantial amount of work and sometimes can't participate fully in family activities. As Sirhan puts it, these hardships—on top of the millions or cardiac deaths annually—are 'not acceptable.' Elixir's innovative solution is the product of a multidisciplinary team of experts in physics, biology, chemistry, engineering, and other fields. The researchers addressed the challenge from different perspectives but with a singular mission: serving patients. 'What was important for us,' Sirhan says, 'was being able to make a difference in patient treatment and to not be fazed by the difficulty of the mission.'
