The 7 Best Alternatives to Augustinus Bader, La Mer, and Dr. Barbara Sturm Creams
What three cult face creams say they contain, and seven creams and serums to consider instead, compared by ingredient and texture: Hyaluronic Acid, Peptides, algae, Squalane, and Ceramides.
Key Takeaways
Augustinus Bader’s The Cream, La Mer’s Crème de la Mer, and Dr. Barbara Sturm’s Face Cream each build on a different idea: a proprietary blend of Vitamins, Lipids, and Peptides; a fermented algae base under a rich occlusive cream; and a light cream with purslane and skullcap.
An alternative works best when it matches the part you like: the texture, the hydration, or a specific ingredient family. We compare by ingredient and texture only.
We rank U Beauty’s The SUPER Hydrator first: Its list carries five forms of Hyaluronic Acid, three Peptides, Squalane, and plant oils.
If La Mer’s algae is what you like, Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream features three algae.
If you’d prefer a face serum to a cream, Vichy Minéral 89 pairs Hyaluronic Acid with polyglutamic acid in a fragrance-free gel.
People look for alternatives to these three creams for different reasons: price, fragrance, a texture that doesn’t suit their skin, or curiosity about what else is out there. So we start with what each brand says its cream is, in its own terms, and then rank seven creams and serums by how well they cover the ingredient and texture ground those creams are known for.
How We Compared Them
No product was tested on skin for this piece. In the first week of October 2026 we went through every brand page and ingredient list, the three original creams included, and compared the ingredients each one features, its texture, fragrance, and directions. We report every brand claim as that brand’s own statement. We don’t say any product is the same as another, because formulas differ even when ingredients overlap.
What Each Cult Cream Is
Augustinus Bader The Cream
Augustinus Bader describes The Cream as a refreshing daily moisturizer that brightens. Its signature is TFC8®, which the brand calls a blend of high-grade Vitamins, Lipids, and proprietary Peptides. Other featured ingredients include hydrolyzed rice protein, Panthenol, Vitamin A as Retinyl Palmitate, and Vitamin C, and the brand says it’s free from fragrance. So an alternative worth trying would pair Peptides and Panthenol with vitamins in a light, absorbent cream.
La Mer Crème de la Mer
La Mer’s cream centers on what the brand calls Miracle Broth™. Its ingredient list opens with Algae Extract, Mineral Oil, Petrolatum, and Glycerin, and later lists Fragrance (Parfum), Limonene, and Linalool. La Mer tells you to warm it between your fingertips until translucent, then press it onto the face and neck. An alternative here means algae extracts, or a rich, cushioning texture with occlusives, or both.
Dr. Barbara Sturm Face Cream
Dr. Barbara Sturm describes Face Cream as a light-weight, fast-absorbing cream that keeps skin hydrated, and features skullcap and purslane, which the brand says calm the skin and reduce visible signs of irritation. The brand’s range also includes a Hyaluronic Serum. If this is your cream, an alternative should be light and built on Hyaluronic Acid.
If you like | Look for | Picks |
|---|---|---|
Bader’s peptides and vitamins | Peptides, Panthenol, Squalane | 1, 5, 6 |
La Mer’s algae and richness | Algae, emollients, occlusives | 2, 1 |
Sturm’s light hydration | Hyaluronic Acid, gel-cream texture | 3, 4, 7 |
1. U Beauty The SUPER Hydrator: Best Overall Alternative
The SUPER Hydrator is U Beauty’s Cult-Status Moisturizer. Squalane is second on its list, followed by Shea Butter and Argan, Avocado, Grape Seed, and Sweet Almond Oils, then Panthenol, three Peptides (Palmitoyl Tripeptide-8, N-Prolyl Palmitoyl Tripeptide-56 Acetate, and Acetyl Hexapeptide-37), and five forms of Hyaluronic Acid. Its peptides and lipids sit in the same ingredient families Bader features, and its Hyaluronic Acid speaks to the hydration Sturm is known for, in a texture U Beauty describes as lightweight.
Key features:
Five forms of Hyaluronic Acid: Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, and Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate.
Three Peptides plus Panthenol: for the look of plumper, smoother skin.
U Beauty’s study: U Beauty reports a 28% hydration increase 15 minutes after first use, and 97% saw increased hydration after 30 days of consistent use, twice a day, both in independent 30-volunteer instrumental studies.
Tradeoff: it costs more than any other cream here ($168 for 50 ml), and the ingredient list includes Methyldihydrojasmonate, a fragrance ingredient.
Best for: normal to dry skin that wants peptides and Hyaluronic Acid in one moisturizer.
Price: $168 for 50 ml (15 ml is $68).
2. Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream: Best Algae-Based Alternative
This Elemis day cream leans on three algae, one of each color: a brown seaweed (Padina pavonica), a green microalgae (Chlorella vulgaris), and a red one (Porphyridium cruentum). If La Mer’s algae base is what draws you, this is the pick here that shares that ingredient family.
Key features:
Three algae: brown, green, and red.
Elemis’s study: Elemis cites 120 people over four weeks behind its claim of a reduced look of fine lines and wrinkles in 14 days of consistent use.
Morning use: a pea-sized amount on face, neck, and décolletage.
Tradeoff: Elemis’s page didn’t show the whole ingredient list when we checked, so confirm the fragrance status yourself if it matters to you.
Best for: anyone drawn to La Mer’s algae who wants an algae-based day cream.
Price: $150 on Elemis’s site.
3. Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream: Best Hyaluronic Acid Gel-Cream
Peter Thomas Roth says its cream is built on a 30% Hyaluronic Acid Complex, with Glycerin, five Ceramides, Sodium PCA, and Cholesterol. Peter Thomas Roth describes a fluffy-light cream, which may suit anyone who likes Sturm’s lightness.
Key features:
Hyaluronic Acid complex: with Glycerin and Sodium PCA.
Five Ceramides: AP, EOP, EOS, NP, and NS.
No fragrance listed: none on the ingredient list.
Tradeoff: Dimethicone is second on the list, which gives the silky feel but may not suit anyone avoiding silicones.
Best for: dehydrated-looking skin that wants weightless moisture.
Price: $55 for 50 ml.
4. Tatcha The Water Cream: Best Light Cream for Oily and Combination Skin
Tatcha points its water cream at combination to oily skin. The featured ingredients are Japanese coix seed, Glycerin in several weights, and wild rose with heartleaf, and the brand lists mineral oil, synthetic fragrances, and sulfate detergents among what it leaves out.
Key features:
Lightweight moisturizer: made for combination to oily skin.
Glycerin in several weights: per Tatcha.
Non-comedogenic: per Tatcha.
Tradeoff: Tatcha didn’t publish the complete ingredient list on the page, and very dry skin may find it too light.
Best for: oily or combination skin that wants a Sturm-style light cream.
Price: $74 for 50 ml.
5. Naturium Multi-Peptide Moisturizer: Best Budget Peptide Alternative
Naturium’s moisturizer lists Glycerin, jojoba seed oil, and Squalane near the top, with Niacinamide and three Peptides (Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, and Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7), plus Sodium Hyaluronate and a Vitamin C derivative. It’s the budget pick here for the peptides-and-vitamins idea behind Bader’s cream.
Key features:
Three Peptides: in a simple daily moisturizer.
Niacinamide and a Vitamin C derivative: 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid.
No fragrance listed: none on the ingredient list.
Tradeoff: Naturium suggests a patch test first, and it’s a plainer texture than the originals.
Best for: normal skin on a budget that wants peptides in a moisturizer.
Price: $20 for 1.7 oz.
6. Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream: Best Fragrance-Free Everyday Cream
Kiehl’s says this cream is formulated with 4.5% Squalane, glacial glycoprotein, and Pro-Ceramides. It’s a simple, comfortable daily moisturizer that can suit anyone who wants a fragrance-free option.
Key features:
Squalane: Kiehl’s gives the level as 4.5%.
Fragrance-free and non-comedogenic: per Kiehl’s.
Sensitive skin tested: and suitable for all skin types, according to Kiehl’s.
Tradeoff: we couldn’t see the complete ingredient list on Kiehl’s page, and it doesn’t feature Peptides or Retinoids.
Best for: sensitive or normal skin that wants an easy, fragrance-free cream.
Price: $39 for 50 ml.
7. Vichy Minéral 89: Best Face Serum Alternative
If you’re looking for a face serum rather than a cream, Vichy’s gel serum pairs Hyaluronic Acid with polyglutamic acid and Vichy volcanic water. It’s fragrance-free and is applied before your moisturizer, so it can sit under any of the creams above.
Key features:
Hyaluronic Acid and polyglutamic acid: which Vichy calls its moisture acid twins.
Fragrance-free and sensitive-skin tested: per Vichy.
Morning and night: two to three drops on damp skin.
Tradeoff: Vichy notes a slight tackiness that usually goes once you seal it with moisturizer.
Best for: anyone who wants a hydrating serum under their own moisturizer.
Price: varies by retailer.
How to Choose an Alternative
Name the part you like: If it’s the rich, cushioning feel, look for Occlusives and butters. If it’s lightness, look for a gel-cream with Hyaluronic Acid.
Check fragrance: Bader says The Cream is free from fragrance while La Mer lists Fragrance, and the alternatives differ in the same way.
Match the active ingredients, not the marketing: Peptides, algae, Squalane, and Hyaluronic Acid are all available at a range of prices.
Patch test a new cream: especially if you’re switching from a fragrance-free formula to one with fragrance.
Humectants, such as Hyaluronic Acid and Glycerin, attract water, and occlusives slow its loss, as a 2020 review of moisturizers explains. Most of the creams above combine both. For more on keeping skin comfortable, see our guide on how to support the moisture barrier.
When to See a Dermatologist
If visibly dry, tight, or flaky skin doesn’t settle with a good moisturizer, or a new cream causes redness, see a board-certified dermatologist.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best alternatives to Augustinus Bader?
Look for Peptides, Panthenol, and a light, absorbent cream. Our picks are U Beauty’s The SUPER Hydrator, which lists three Peptides and Panthenol, and Naturium Multi-Peptide Moisturizer on a budget.
What are the best alternatives to La Mer?
If you like La Mer’s algae, Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream features three algae. If you like its richness, look for Occlusives and butters. The SUPER Hydrator’s Squalane, Shea Butter, and plant oils give a nourishing feel.
What are the best alternatives to Dr. Barbara Sturm?
Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream and Tatcha The Water Cream are both light, hydrating creams. The SUPER Hydrator lists five forms of Hyaluronic Acid.
What is the best alternative to these brands for a face serum?
Vichy Minéral 89 pairs Hyaluronic Acid with polyglutamic acid in a fragrance-free gel you can use under any moisturizer.
Are these alternatives identical to the originals?
No. Each alternative shares an ingredient family or texture with an original cream, but the formulas are different, so results and feel can differ too.
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