Welcome to Worth It! Every other week, I'll introduce you to a new product that I've tested and loved: the kind of love I'm talking about, the kind that drains you to the bottom and tells your friends, "I found The-One." Think of it as permission to splurge on anything featured here. Read on to learn more about the products you don't want to part with. And for the latest Worth It breakdown, click here (opens in a new tab).

When you try the cream (opens in new tab), it comes at a cost. Not in a situation like your soul or Infinity Gauntlet (opens in new tab), but expensive nonetheless: $265 for a 50-milliliter bottle of the world-famous lotion. Nevertheless, it is a skin care geek's dream. Bader, professor and director of applied stem cell biology and cell engineering at the University of Leipzig, Germany, is considered the world's top scientist on regenerative tissue. His extensive research, especially on ugly burns and wound healing, led to the creation of this brilliant cream. The secret to this formula is TFC8 (Trigger Factor Complex 8). The brand states that the proprietary blend activates the body's stem cells and promotes key anti-aging benefits such as minimizing lines, evening out color tone, and reducing redness.

Also, Bader continues to innovate, and if you have extremely dry skin, there is good news. The brand has upgraded the formulation of its Rich Cream (opens in new tab) (a denser, more moisturizing version of the cult original) for 2021; the healing kick of the TFC8 Complex is still there, but to make it 100% vegan Lanolin has been eliminated and hyaluronic acid and rice protein added to hydrate and strengthen the skin. I gave it a try and was fortunate enough to avoid the typical situation of it not living up to the original. What we want to talk about here, however, is about the cream.

I have known of its cult status for years, but to be honest, I only tried it because I passed through Marie Claire's Beauty Closet. Usually, my skin is manageable: I'm red-faced, prone to dryness, and after sleeping on hotel sheets (if I forget to slip pillowcases (open with a new tab)), I tend to get little under-the-skin bumps on my cheeks. On rare occasions, I wake up with a mountain of pimples and it hurts so bad I think I got a staph infection on the F train. Most of the time, however, I have good skin and am thankful for it. Because of this, I usually seek products that give me radiance and hydration, not those that completely overhaul my face.

Despite my dry skin, I opted for the original formula (preferring a lighter texture when it comes to moisture) over the rich cream (open in new tab). I also did not follow the proper directions: although Bader recommends using the product for a minimum of 27 days with no additional skin care products other than the cleanser, I could not bring myself to abandon the rest of my skin care products. Instead, I used this as the last step in my morning and evening routine.

For the first week, my morning makeup went on smoothly, but my skin, which tends to be dry, did not feel truly hydrated before bed unless I applied a moisturizing serum underneath. Shame. After about three weeks, however, I started getting compliments on my complexion. I don't think my complexion has been red lately. I didn't have acne, so I wasn't too concerned about it. Any week is a good week for skin.

However, one morning after a month, I realized that I had forgotten to apply foundation and concealer and picked up a Nudestix blush stick (opens in new tab). I genuinely didn't know if I had applied makeup to my complexion. It was the same level of confusion as Peter Parker's first morning as Spider-Man, when he stuck to the ceiling. I took a closer look, semi-skeptical. I was... Amazing

My skin looked strong, almost thick, rather than translucent and plump as it usually did on mornings. My skin tone was even and clear, and the typical little dark circles were nowhere to be seen, buried beneath an enhanced complexion.

Yes. Very pretty.

I suddenly felt invincible. Like my more stunning evil twin, or a supervillain who had traded his lover's heart for immense power. I was transformed, and the expensive blue bottle on my dresser became a precious source of my newfound supremacy.

I've been using the cream ever since (about 3 months now). When people ask me if it's really worth it, instead of recommending a cheaper alternative, as I usually do for such expensive products, I reply: .