A Customer Once Said Percent Science’s Cellinol-5 Serum Reminded Them of Augustinus Bader’s The Elixir — A Comparison That Made Us Reflect on Formulation Philosophy and the Skin Experience It Creates
Today, we received an unexpected message.
A customer who had been using Cellinol-5 Serum shared, almost cautiously, that Augustinus Bader’s The Elixir came to mind while using it—followed by a simple but powerful remark: it was really good.
To be honest, this comparison was never intentional. Cellinol-5 was not created to resemble any particular brand, nor was it designed with a specific product as a reference point. Our focus has always been singular: to develop a serum that respects how skin actually changes over time—one that prioritizes structure and balance over short-term stimulation. That is why this message stayed with us. It raised a quiet but meaningful question. Why did this experience resonate in such a way? And why did a product with an entirely different ingredient composition evoke the same reference?
Many users have shared that their experience with Cellinol-5 reminded them of Augustinus Bader’s The Elixir. What is interesting is that this similarity does not stem from branding, storytelling, or surface impressions, but from the sensation that the skin’s density and tension felt different from the very first uses. Considering that Augustinus Bader’s The Elixir retails at $550, this comparison goes beyond price or positioning—it speaks directly to the quality of the skin experience itself. For that reason, we felt it was important to look at both products through the lens of formulation and design, rather than perception alone.
In terms of texture and initial application, the two products naturally invite comparison. Augustinus Bader’s The Elixir is built on a highly concentrated base of lipids, antioxidants, botanical oils, and complex actives, creating a rich formula that feels as though it forms a protective layer on the skin. It delivers a sense of support and fullness, particularly for skin experiencing dryness or loss of elasticity. Cellinol-5 is also far from a lightweight serum. Its texture is dense and substantial, and many users describe a feeling of the skin surface becoming more compact and refined after application. Both products share a subtle, pale salmon-toned hue, reinforcing a visual impression of a high-concentration, function-driven serum.
Where the two clearly diverge is in formulation philosophy. Augustinus Bader’s The Elixir follows a technology-driven approach, emphasizing a complex system of antioxidants, emollient lipids, botanical extracts, and conditioning agents designed to support overall skin vitality. Its goal is to create an environment in which the skin functions at an elevated level, and the $550 price reflects not only the formulation but also the luxury experience surrounding it.
Cellinol-5, on the other hand, approaches aging from a different angle. Rather than focusing on visible outcomes alone, it is designed around the pathways through which skin aging progresses over time. At the core of this design is high-purity bakuchiol, selected for its role in supporting skin elasticity and slowing structural decline. Importantly, bakuchiol in Cellinol-5 is not used as a standalone highlight ingredient. Instead, it is supported by a carefully considered formulation intended to amplify its role in delaying age-related skin changes. The focus is not on immediate visual impact, but on reinforcing the mechanisms that help skin maintain firmness and resilience over time.
To support this approach, Cellinol-5 incorporates functional peptides that work in synergy with bakuchiol. SYN®-AKE contributes to refining surface tension and softening the appearance of expression-related lines, while SYN®-COLL targets pathways associated with collagen degradation, helping to slow the progression of structural aging. Together, these elements are designed to influence not just how the skin looks, but how it evolves with continued use.
Allantoin plays a crucial balancing role within this system. It helps calm the skin and stabilize the surface, ensuring that active components function without being perceived as irritation. While bakuchiol naturally carries a less refined scent profile, Cellinol-5 does not attempt to mask this through fragrance-led design. Instead, it prioritizes functional clarity and honest skin response. In contrast, Augustinus Bader’s The Elixir integrates scent and sensorial texture as part of its overall luxury experience. This distinction clearly reflects the different philosophies behind each product.
Over time, these differences become even more apparent. Augustinus Bader’s The Elixir is designed to maintain a sense of skin richness, luminosity, and refined appearance through ongoing use. Cellinol-5 focuses on preserving skin density, supporting firmness, and slowing the pace at which structural looseness develops. The sense of refinement felt early on is rooted in its bakuchiol-centered, peptide-supported design, while longer-term changes emerge through consistent reinforcement of skin structure.
That is why today’s message felt especially meaningful. Despite entirely different ingredient systems and design approaches, the skin experience itself resonated in a comparable way. This does not suggest imitation, but rather that two distinct formulations arrived at the same question through different languages. We did not set out to emulate anything. We simply aimed to create a serum that responds honestly to the way skin changes over time.
In the end, this experience reaffirmed something important for us. Even when comparisons are unintentional, genuine skin response finds its way to people. We are confident that our commitment—favoring thoughtful formulation over trends, and respecting the long arc of skin aging—will continue to be recognized. Beginning with Cellinol-5, we aspire to be a brand that does not merely address the skin of today, but one that actively engages with skin longevity, choosing lasting balance over rapid transformation, and walking alongside those who ask the same enduring questions about time, skin, and care.