We Tested Dua Lipa's Skincare Line with Augustinus Bader and Took Lots of Makeup-Free Selfies

Welcome to Skimm Tested, a series where we put viral products to the test and give you our honest, unfiltered reviews.

What We Tested…

• DUA by AB Renewal Cream, $75

• DUA by AB Supercharged Glow Complex, $80

• DUA by AB Balancing Cream Cleanser, $40

Why Ali Tested…

Test Results…

• Balancing Cream Cleanser. I liked this cream-to-foam cleanser, but wasn’t wow’ed by my experience. My skin did feel clean after, and it’s definitely gentle on skin, but at $40 for a little over 4 ounces — I think this is for someone who’s a real skincare junkie and has dollars to spend. 

• Supercharged Glow Complex. Maybe this was a mind trick, but I feel like my skin looked immediately brighter after using this. My skin texture looked more even, with fewer dark spots. I was definitely impressed, so this would be the product I would choose to purchase again. 

• Renewal Cream. This moisturizer is lightweight, which is nice because it never left my skin feeling heavy or sticky, but since it’s the winter and I’m experiencing a higher level of dryness than usual, I found I needed to layer on an extra moisturizer so my skin didn’t feel tight throughout the day. In my opinion, this would be a better summer moisturizer. 

• Celebrity-skincare angle. I realize this is Dua’s line with Augustinus Bader, but I don’t think that really affected how I thought/felt about the line. If anything, it provides a point of entry into the brand at a much lower price point than usual, which I appreciate. But because it’s still higher priced than your average skincare line, I believe you need to be a skincare loyalist to continue purchasing this on repeat. If you’re investing your time and money into how your skin looks and feels, of course this is an ideal place to start. 

Why Margo Tested…

Test Results…

• Gentle on skin. None of the products caused my sensitive skin conditions to flare up. I loved that the cream cleanser was fragrance-free; it left my dry skin feeling properly cleansed and hydrated, without feeling stripped. 

• Supercharged Glow Complex. My favorite product of the three was the Supercharged Glow Complex. It's the one product that made an immediate, noticeable difference in my skin's brightness, firmness, and luminosity (which you can see in the before and after). It's the one product that I plan to keep in my routine because of how great the results are (especially because I wear minimal makeup).

• Renewal Cream. I didn’t find this was anything to write home about, especially given its $75 price. Did it hydrate my skin? Yes. But it didn't differ from other, less expensive creams I already own and love.

• Pricing. For Augustinus Bader, yes, this is technically a cheaper line. That said, these products are still on the more expensive side, with $80 for a serum, $75 for a moisturizer, and $40 for a cleanser. If I were to buy one product from this line, it would be the Supercharged Glow Complex because I saw the fastest results there.

Why Abby Tested...

Test Results…

• Easy to use. I’m a simple girl when it comes to skincare, and hate anything that requires endless steps that depend on the day or time. This is a simple three-step routine that can be used both morning and night. Because I have more sensitive skin, and the Supercharged Glow Complex contains both retinol and niacinamide, I only used it in my evening routine based on previous experience with both ingredients. 

• Texture. I really liked the texture of all of the products — nothing felt greasy or sticky. To me, the cream never felt that heavy, which I enjoyed, but could be a note for people with very dry skin. The bottle says to use one to two pumps, but I needed three to fully moisturize my face. 

• Balancing Cream Cleanser. I liked it, but didn’t think it was anything special compared to a standard cream-to-foam cleanser.

• Supercharged Glow Complex. I feel like this really helped with the red patch I had and brightened my under eyes as well . The red patch started to decrease after two weeks of consistent use. Right now, it is not fully gone after four weeks of use, but it is noticeably less red and irritated.

• Price. My biggest con here is the price. I haven’t run out of anything yet with consistent use over four weeks, but I am curious how long the moisturizer will last me since it is only 1.7 ounces. I’m inclined to purchase the Supercharged Glow Complex and the Renewal Cream as I think they made a noticeable difference in my skin.

The Fine Details…

• DUA by AB Renewal Cream, $75

• DUA by AB Supercharged Glow Complex, $80

• DUA by AB Balancing Cream Cleanser, $40