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· October 23, 2007 4:50 PM by
Dain
· October 23, 2007 5:22 PM by
Colleen Shirazi
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Beauty Notebook: He blinded me with science
Posted by Colleen Shirazi, Tuesday, October 23, 2007 4:00 PM (Eastern)
Dr. Rudolf Hauschka (1891-1969) was a chemist. That rather says it all. This is skincare for chemists; skincare that makes sense. There is a distinct engineering presence here, an effort to consolidate steps and products, beneath the sparkle of movie and television endorsement, charitable projects, responsible organic farming and ethical sourcing, and just plain ol' good-smelling, skin-improving products.
Perhaps a good introduction to Dr. Hauschka would be a trial/travel kit. A minimum of 25% of the sales of the kits goes to Heifer International, an organization dedicated to ending world hunger. And you get to try out a suite of products (the sizes are more than generous enough for you to determine what you like).
A special note for the gentlemen in our readership: gift-giving season will soon be upon us, coughs and your best girl might appreciate something useful and luxurious in her stocking this year. :)
 | Take the Daily Face Care Kit for oily or blemished skin ($21.95). Left to right: Cleansing Cream, Clarifying Toner, Normalizing Day Oil, Facial Steam Bath, Rejuvenating Mask. Top: Cleansing Clay Mask. I'm trying this out slowly...because I have acne-prone skin, I've found it wise to try any new skincare one product at a time. You need to be able to pinpoint which product works, or doesn't work, with your skin. Even in a set where the products are designed to work together, I still do this; hence, in this kit, I have tried only the Cleansing Cream. But what a cleansing cream! I used up the entire sample tube, and went out and bought a full size. That says a lot, as I've never been into skincare. It's that good--it cleanses, naturally, but also exfoliates (you will note there is no separate exfoliating product in the kit), moisturizes, even mattifies a bit. I'm going to try the toner next (see how nice it is to have a kit?). |
| The Daily Face Care Kit for normal, dry or sensitive skin ($21.95). Left to right: Cleansing Cream, Cleansing Milk, Facial Toner, Moisturizing Day Cream, Rose Day Cream and Quince Day Cream. This is the normal, dry or sensitive skin version, featuring that same divine Cleansing Cream (since it doesn't strip skin, it can be featured in both kits), plus more moisturizing cream products. |  |
 | Once you've got your skincare in place, why not indulge in an Aromatherapy Bath Kit ($15.95). Left to right: Lemon Bath, Lavender Bath, Spruce Bath, Rosemary Bath, Sage Bath. I have tried these; they're beautiful bath oils. The scents are soothing and natural, rather than harsh and chemical; they infuse your bath not only with delightful fragrance, but also with a light, skin-softening oil. To get an idea which "bath" might be "you," you may need to answer the question: Are you a yellow monkey? (There is some accuracy to this fun little personality quiz.) |
| The Dr. Hauschka Body Care Kit for all skin conditions ($19.95) will suit those into lotions, creams and body oils. Left to right: Hand Crème, Quince Body Moisturizer, Rose Body Moisturizer, Lavender Bath, Rose Body Oil, Blackthorn Body Oil. Not shown: Rose Body Wash, Blackthorn Body Wash (these come in packets). |  |
Along with the kits, Dr. Hauschka provides a full line of suncare products, with active ingredient titanium dioxide.
- Sunscreen Cream SPF 20, very water-resistant.
- Sunscreen Lotion SPF 15, very water-resistant.
- Sunscreen Lotion SPF 8.
- After-Sun Lotion for all skin conditions.
- Sunscreen Cream for Children and Sensitive Skin SPF 30, water-resistant.
- Sunscreen Stick SPF 30 for all skin conditions, water-resistant.
Finally, every girl has her cosmetic
- Lipstick Novum, a slimline lipstick.
- Novum LipGloss.
- Classical Lipstick--it's what I'm wearing right now ;).
Labels: beauty notebook, dr. hauschka
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Colleen Shirazi continues to blog here: Life of Colleen |
Beauty Notebook: Variations on the Floral Perfume
Posted by Colleen Shirazi, Thursday, August 30, 2007 4:31 AM (Eastern)
Recently I received some samples from the lovely Parfums Raffy. I selected scents I was most attracted to, based solely on descriptions, and only later realized they were all primarily floral perfumes.
 | I chose this after reading that Fracas was the prototypical tuberose fragrance, the one all perfumers looked to when developing their own version of tuberose. I've smelled enough tuberose perfumes to know it's a note I love, so why not try the crème de la crème? (Plus, it's been around since 1948.) |
What attracted me to Aoud Roses Petals was, ironically, not the rose. It was the aoud. I was curious to try it, read so much about it, how it was a love or hate note (probably no better way to sell it to me), how Montale perfumes lasted all day with only a few drops, how Montale had developed a cult following, et cetera. These eau de parfums are bottled in aluminum. They have to be. They're so strong, and the bottles are large...it would take you a long time to get through the bottle, hence the notion of shielding the scent from light. |   |
| What drew me here, after days of dithering over which Creeds to try: tuberose, again, and violets, which I haven't smelled in years (used to be some growing in my yard in Virginia, two decades ago)--but also the sentimentality of trying a scent that was commissioned for Grace Kelly's wedding to Prince Rainier. Normally I don't seek out "celebrity" perfumes or beauty items unless I have a particularly strong affinity for the celeb--Marilyn Monroe, Catherine Deneuve...it's a short list. I did ponder trying Creed's Fleurs de Thé Rose Bulgare, for the cool Ava Gardner factor, but the notes in Fleurissimo seemed closer to what I liked. |   |
Here's a bit of an oddball; this is based on a scent commissioned for the Empress Eugénie in 1870. Described on several sites as mainly a blend of jasmine, sandalwood and vanilla (it also has citrus notes and rose), Jasmin Imperatrice Eugenie has inspired intense perfume love-it-or-loathe-it. Can't wait to try it. |  |
All perfumes will be reviewed here and in the reviews section.
images courtesy www.parfumsraffy.com, www.nal.usda.gov
Labels: beauty notebook, creed, montale, parfums raffy, perfume, robert piguet
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Colleen Shirazi continues to blog here: Life of Colleen |
October 23, 2007 4:50 PM,
You can make your own cleansing cream, the Dr. Hauschka is pricey given how quickly you go through a tube. Raw almonds and grapeseed oil are the basic ingredients, but you can add your own essential oils, honey, oatmeal, what have you.
October 23, 2007 5:22 PM,
Eh...I went through the sample tube quickly, but I've found you can stretch it out if you like. The first week or so, it's well to use it every time, but once your skin is up to speed, you can cut back on it. You can also apply it with one hand (this requires less cleanser).