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Author: Margit Rüdiger

CultureAndCream Author from Munich To travel during my profession as a beauty journalist was never enough for my. Also my six month on a world trip didn't do it. It always attracts me to other cities, foreign countries, on roadtrips and places I don't know yet. But I am not only interested in "culture" and "cream", I am also fascinated by people who have stories to tell .  Such unique experiences I want to share with you.

Tested for you: Multitasker “Cream Blush” by Tata Harper

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Multitasker. I love these products that serve more than one function. The new Cream Blush from Tata Harper is such an all-rounder. You can use it to set the scene for cheeks, lips and eyes. And then it comes in six great shades: Peachy, a delicate golden shimmering peach shade; Naughty, a ruby red; Flirty, a bold berry shade; Spicy, a terracotta rosé; Lovely, a delicate old pink and Lucky, a bronze orange. That makes the choice really, really hard. Lucky makes me lucky I have chosen the color Lucky for my multitasker. Why? Not only because the name already puts me in a positive mood. Summer is approaching and with it a beautifully sun-tanned complexion. Since my skin is naturally tinted anyway, I find the bronze-orange exciting. First, apply the Multitasker Blush on the cheeks. It’s weightless and slightly sheer. I use my fingers to do this because I find that it makes the creamy texture blend better. Immediately, my cheeks get a hint of freshness with a satiny, softly shimmering finish. It also leaves the skin feeling nourished. I read up on the ingredients: Antioxidants, vitamins and other nutrients have a nourishing effect, provide the skin with plumping moisture and protect it from environmental influences at the same time. Multitasker for a complete make-up For those who want more color on the cheeks, no problem either for the multitastker. The ultra-creamy formula melts so nicely on the skin that it’s easy to build up in multiple layers. For me, however, a touch of color is enough at the moment because I like it to look as natural as possible and not “made up”. For the other parts of the face, I use a corresponding brush in each case to distribute the blush as a soft highlighter under the brows and to apply it as color on the lips. In the blink of an eye, I have made up a complete day makeup – with only one product. Fantastic, this multitasker! A word more about Tata Harper I have been following the brand for many years. On any beauty shelf where Tata Harper is sold, the bright green packaging of the products immediately catches the eye. Green stands for 100 percent Green Beauty – 100% natural, 100% effective, luxurious natural cosmetics. The concentrated, multi-active formulas contain no fillers or generic pre-made bases, are Ecocert certified, animal-tested and gluten-free. They come in environmentally friendly, recyclable packaging.… weiterlesen

Tested for you: Berry Juice „Micronutrient Concentrate“ from hiPURE

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A berry juice in a stylish bottle. Finally a dietary supplement that looks beautiful in the red frosted bottle and then also tastes good – delicious fruity berry. The basis for hiPURE is a dark red juice concentrate made from local fruits such as apple, pear, sour cherry, red grape, carrot, black currant, raspberry, apricot, blueberry, elderberry, cranberry, chokeberry, blackberry, rosehip and wild blueberry. Only selected fruits are used, no preservatives, no dyes. The juice is lactose-free, gluten-free and of course vegan. Berry juice from the German alpine region For the development of the „micronutrient concentrate“, in cooperation with scientists from the TUM (Technical University of Munich), special care was taken to use only ingredients from the Alpine region. The secret lies in a specially developed and particularly gentle method of processing the fruits: they are pressed immediately after harvesting and the direct juices thus obtained are processed into the highest quality concentrates. The recipe ensures an above-average content of secondary plant substances such as vitamins, minerals and the particularly valuable polyphenols. In other words, everything with which you can make a valuable contribution to a healthy diet. The two “hi” pillars The berry juice is based on two important “hi” pillars: Once the already mentioned polyphenols. These are secondary plant substances that ensure healthy growth in plants, and also have numerous positive effects for humans: They have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, blood pressure regulating and strengthen the immune system. The second “hi” pillar is antioxidants, which counteract free radicals. They prevent enzyme processes, proteins and cells from being disrupted or even destroyed. High amounts of antioxidants are found mainly in red or purple fruits/vegetables, for example in red grapes and their seeds or in chokeberry berries. Daily 10 milliliters are sufficient According to the manufacturer, 10 milliliters is the daily dose of the berry juice, because it contains exactly the amount of vitamins and minerals that the body needs in conjunction with a varied diet. By the way, for children from 4 – 6 years, 5 ml per day is enough. “The content of 260 mg of polyphenols per 10 ml of concentrate corresponds, for example, to that of three liters of naturally cloudy apple juice” says hiPure. This indeed surprises me. When consuming my hi-health booster, I often alternate: sometimes I drink it pure. I also sometimes add the berry juice to my water bottle, which dilutes the concentrate more. The concentrate is also delicious as a topping on my morning cereal or at lunchtime as an addition to salad dressing.… weiterlesen

Cheeks & Co: The Pro Face Guide

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Drei Zonen sind für harmonische Proportionen im Gesicht ausschlaggebend. Wußten Sie, dass bei Filler-Behandlungen die Wangen immer an erster Stelle stehen sollten? Focus auf die Wangen. Dr. Nadine Peukert, Dermatologin in Münster und Expertin für Beauty-Treatments mit Fillern auf Hyaluronsäure-Basis, erklärt, warum sie immer mit den Wangen beginnt, nachdem sie das Gesicht optisch in drei Partien unterteilt hat. Sie sagt: „Es geht um mehr, als nur ein paar Fältchen zu reduzieren, sondern darum, einen harmonischen Gesamteindruck zu erreichen.“ Das Mittelgesicht: hoch mit den Wangen „Ich empfehle immer zuerst den Blick auf die Wangen-Partie“, sagt Dr. Peukert. Wie wichtig sie ist, machen auch die wechselnden Beauty-Trends deutlich: Vom Kardashian-Contouring bis hin zum „Cold Girl-Look“ wie frisch vom Winterspaziergang – sie alle haben rosige, pralle Haut und ausgeprägte Wangen-Konturen als Highlight im Gesicht.“ Warum ist das so? Dazu Peukert: „Die Wangen sind für mich das Zentrum des Gesichts, die ihm Halt und Struktur geben. Im oberen Gesicht lenken sie den Fokus auf die Augen- und Schläfen-Region. Im unteren Gesicht beeinflussen sie die Mund-Zone sowie die Kiefer-Linie.“ Die Partie der Wangen kann also als Basis eines ganzheitlichen Treatments gesehen werden: Im ersten Schritt wird dabei mit einem Filler Volumen in den Wangen aufgebaut bzw. wiederhergestellt. Die Dermatologin verwendet dafür einen Filler, der speziell für diese Anwendung entwickelt wurde (Juvéderm Voluma). Er besitzt die nötige Hebekraft und Festigkeit. Er „zerläuft“ nicht, sondern hält das Mittelgesicht in seiner Position, wenn das Gewebe durch die gezielte Behandlung an speziellen Punkten des Jochbogens angehoben wird. Das Ergebnis: Das Gesicht kann definierter, die Haut glatter und insgesamt frischerwirken. Als schöner Nebeneffekt erscheint durch die Straffung auch die Nasolabialfalte weniger stark ausgeprägt. „Meine Patient*innen sind immer wieder positiv überrascht, wie bereits eine erste Behandlung im Mittelgesicht zu einem harmonischeren Gesamteindruck des Gesichts führen kann“, so Dr. Peukert. Das untere Gesicht: Kieferlinie definieren Nach dem Wangen wandert der professionelle Blick der Ärztin in die untere Gesichtspartie: „Kinn und Kiefer definieren den unteren Abschluss des Gesichts und prägen in Kombination mit den Wangen vor allem dessen Kontur“, erklärt diese. Eine Filler-Behandlung hält sie in dieser Partie erst für sinnvoll, wenn im Mittelgesicht bereits Volumen vorhanden oder aber aufgebaut und dadurch die Partie angehoben wurde. Kinn- und Kiefer-Partie kann mit einer Filler-Behandlung gezielt modelliet und konturiert werden, wenn ein dafür geeignetes Material (z. B. von Allergan) verwendet wird. Durch ein Jawline-Treatment kann eine klare Abgrenzung zwischen Kinn, Kiefer und Hals erreicht und damit ein verbesserter Gesichtswinkel modelliert werden.… weiterlesen

Tested for you: Mascara „High Impact“ from Isadora

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10 seconds High Impact Lift & Curl in an intense black – that’s what the new mascara from Isadora promises. Sounds good to me. But with the many mascaras I’ve tried over the years as a beauty journalist, I’ve had to wipe plenty of failures from my lashes. Either they clumped the hairs instead of separating them, or during the day the color crumbled onto my cheeks. The mascara brush, an essential tool That the Isadora mascara is cruelty-free, vegan-friendly, ophthalmologist-tested and contains no perfume, I am already positive. I am anxious to see what my test yields. First, I take a closer look at the brush, because that is an important factor for perfectly mascaraed lashes. This brush has a straight shape and is also not too thick. With it, the lashes can be separated beautifully and effectively. The second plus point is the light, creamy texture. Now I am ready to go. Zigzag, zigzag I put the brush close to the edge of the eyelid on the lash line and apply the color with small zigzag movements from the root to the tip. The eyelashes can be perfectly separated with it and get a curl already with the first application, as I usually achieve it only with the eyelash curler. The eyes look immediately more open. With the second application I achieve maximum length and volume. I also experience no negative surprises during the day. The mascara is water repellent and lasts extra long. Nothing smudges from the black color, nothing crumbles. The brush, by the way, is also narrow enough that you could also mascara the lashes on the lower lid edge without patching. I do not like it because I find that the eyes look so doll-like when upper and lower lashes were painted. Key ingredients And now about the ingredients and equipment of the eyelash brush. Plant fibers with castor oil – the bristles are made of natural nylon material – make the lashes longer. Due to natural polymers, the texture of the mascara is soft and easy to apply. Castor oil is also in the formulation of the color, because it has a moisturizing effect and keeps the lashes elastic. For volume and that the lashes separate well from each other and do not clump together provide various waxes. „10 Sec High Impact Lift & Curl Mascara“ from Isadora, 17,99 Euro… weiterlesen

Tested for you: New Fragrance „Angel Elixir“ from Mugler

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Fragrance love. It was exactly 30 years ago. It was my first great perfume love. I still remember exactly the press event when Thierry Mugler presented his perfume “Angel” in Munich’s Bavaria Studios and I was allowed to interview him. A fantastic personality, a great designer. Some of his jackets with accentuated shoulders and narrow waist, with which he staged the figure of a woman like no other, I still have in my closet. And then the color, the unmistakable Mugler blue. Already at the first careful sniff I fell in love with “Angel”. It was a novelty in the world of perfumes like “Chanel No. 5” used to be – in terms of its ingredients as well as its appearance. The fragrance in the unmistakable glamorous bottle of an irregular, light blue star shape was the first gourmand composition. It smelled devilishly seductive of praline and patchouli. When the news came last January 23 that Thierry Mugler had passed away in Vincennes, France, I was heartbroken – and wore my black Mugler leather jacket cut like a sculpture that day in his honor. An iconic fragrance reinvents itself I was all the more thrilled to hear the news that a new perfume will be launched in March 2023 that catapults the legendary fragrance signature of “Angel” into a whole new dimension: “Angel Elixir”. The most explosive star of the Angel galaxy is a transformative, woody-floral perfume that exudes a new, more intense and ultra-modern femininity. Again, ingredients are involved that are addictive: an unprecedented, precious woody gourmand accord. The woody notes are wrapped in a hint of vanilla. Underneath, spicy-milky florals are hidden. It’s like a game of light and shade … “With Angel Elixir, we wanted to express intense, addictive contrasts, just like the Angel woman herself: seductive, captivating and fearless.” Anne Flipo & Domitille Michalon-Bertier, the perfumers Fragrance with a night black aura Spectacular shapes have always been Mugler’s trademark. In “Angel Elixir”, the light blue inside the distinctive Angel glass bottle shimmers in deep blue. Like a dark star with a light heart. The faceted, five-pointed star is refillable, in keeping with the brand’s environmentally conscious understanding of sustainability. “Angel” was ines of the first perfumes with refill stations in perfumeries. Hunter Schafer, US model and actress (e.g. “Euphoria”) is the new star in the Mugler sky. The 24-year-old from North Carolina impresses in the unique campaign of “Angel Elixir” with a fascinating aura that encourages women to rise above themselves and set out into a new era.… weiterlesen

Tested for you: „EGF Frischzellen Creme“ from Dr. M. Beauty

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The term vampire lifting I find honestly quite worn out and in the case of the “EGF Frischzellen Creme” also not applicable – if you disregard my bloody thumb, which I got when opening the ampoules. But of that later… Neither does the cream have anything to common with the autologous blood therapy – called vampire lifting – for skin rejuvenation, which Kim Kardashian was the first celebrity to profess in 2013. Nor is the “fresh cell cream” at all associated with blood. The only thing the two methods have in common is EGF (epidermal growth factor). In the case of autologous blood therapy, PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) is injected from the blood plasma, which contains the Epidermal Growth Factor. Fresh cell cream is different. Here, the so-called phytoplasma comes from plants. Therefore, the cream is also vegan. EGF stimulates the cell growth And this is what Dr. Bernd Kuhs, co-founder of Dr. M. Beauty, has to say about the effect of PRP and EGF: “The EGF contained in PRP is one of the fundamental factors for the effectiveness of autologous blood therapy. EGF stimulates cell growth of connective tissue cells, promotes collagen production and ensures the formation of new vessels. “Clinically, PRP or EGF shows very positive effects on the texture, radiance, hydration, thickness and elasticity of the skin and can achieve slight volume effects.” Further, Kuhs explains, “The special signaling substance EGF from blood can also be produced by and extracted from plants.” No blood needs to be taken and processed. This is also the great advantage of phytoplasma. Therefore, the EGF fresh cell cream can be used at home, but also as a therapy in cosmetic studios and cosmetic practices that are not licensed to take blood samples. Dr. M. Phytoplasma “EGF Frischzellen Creme” is created under high pressure, entirely without emulsifiers. The components are added one by one to the dispenser, which is then sealed and shaken. This means the cream is freshly prepared directly by the user. “Since the fresh cell cream has a skin-like membrane structure, which is freshly formed from plant cell material and encloses the EGF active ingredient within it, the components can overcome the natural skin protection barrier and penetrate into deeper layers of the skin,” says the manufacturer. I am doing the EGF test The tester set I receive in the mail consists of several components: 40 ml of plasma fluid (liquid membrane structure milk) in a brown bottle, a small 5 ml vial with the EGF serum (concentrate), and in the same size the plant activator that transforms the milk into a cream.… weiterlesen

There Are No Trends For A (Woman’s) Body!

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Body in focus. When the New York Post announced on its Twitter account last year that “the heroin chic is back,” it really creeped me out. Firstly, that an otherwise serious press organ would even stoop to such a level, even if the post was about the obvious slimming of the Kardashian sisters Kim and Kloé under the motto “curvy is out, thin is back in”. Secondly, that at all the figure of women, famous or not, is constantly commented. The body is not a fashion item A body shape is not a fashion item like an it-bag that can be discarded when it goes out of fashion and quickly replaced by something more trendy. And besides, no curvy body with a large buttocks and breasts and a narrow waist can mutate into super slim within one season without being helped along. In Kim Kardashian’s case, the minimization is said to have been done by removing her breast implants and her artificial butt, called Brazilian Butt. In addition, she is said to have swallowed a prescription diabetes drug that is praised on TikTok slimmers. But this is all speculation. Adele on the weight bench Recently at the Grammys 2023, Adele’s weight was once again the focus of attention, as it has been so often since she slimmed down. The fact that the powerful-voiced singer received seven awards was less of a topic in the media than her weight loss. Questioned was: What is her secret with which she has lost 50 kilos? Have they become even more in the meantime? The very unashamed posted that she could give her table neighbor, the US rapper Lizzo, weight loss tips. US actress Selena Gomez is also familiar with hurtful body-shaming comments. When she was just photographed in a bikini during her New Year’s vacation in Mexico, she was showered with gloating. She was called “fat” or “chubby” and was advised to “lose weight”. The body positivity message obviously hasn’t reached us after all. What gives us the right to comment on the figure or weight of others. Do we ourselves feel more beautiful, slimmer, more attractive when we hear or read such comments about fellow sex workers? When we come off better in comparison? And yet it would be desirable to feel good in one’s own body without having to belittle others. Self-love is the keyword. Men are mostly left out Sardonic body comments mostly affect women, whether it’s celebrities or taking place among us normies.… weiterlesen

Tested for you: Peeling “Restorative Dual Acid Peel” by Kat Burki

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The peeling that I currently use comes from an American natural cosmetics line, which is still little known in our country. Among insiders, however, Kat Burki is already considered a high-flyer. The nutritionist, who worked in the healthcare sector after completing her studies, has acquired a complex knowledge of nutrition and health over many years. From this background, Burki founded her own cosmetics brand in 2013, bringing the latest research findings to the development of her innovative beauty products. In the meantime, celebs such as Emily Blunt, Naomi Watts and Emma Willis – to name a few – are among the avowed Burki users. Nutrient complex replaces water What makes Kat Burki’s skincare so special is that it does not use the fillers commonly found in cosmetic formulas, such as water, silicone or alcohol. Instead, each of her products is enriched with a synergistic super-nutrient complex. Instead of water, Burki uses a proprietary KB5 complex that supports skin elasticity and collagen production. It also stimulates microcirculation and strengthens the walls of small capillaries. Burki chooses each active ingredient very consciously. All of them are highly active ingredients such as antioxidants, vitamins – especially vitamin C and B vitamins – plant stem cells, silk amino acids, neuropeptides, etc.. In the various combinations, they reinforce each other’s power. In this way, “super active ingredients” with immediate effect and long-lasting anti-aging effect are created. All ingredients are free of animal testing and genetic engineering, come from organic cultivation and wild collection. “Cold process” for more product effectiveness It is also interesting that Kat Burki has introduced the first certified “cold process” in the cosmetics world. This means that all products are manufactured at low temperature. This ensures that the maximum effectiveness of all ingredients is preserved, because high temperatures reduce the quality and effect of vitamins, oils and antioxidants. Therefore, the cold-pressed oils contained in the rich formulas are extremely potent. Deep glycolic peeling The “Restorative Dual Acid Peel” is a retexturizing anti-aging treatment with dual benefits: It regenerates and soothes the skin at the same time. The glycolic acid in the peeling reduces sun damage. Plant-derived hyaluronic acid from the seeds of the Alexandrine senna refines skin texture and smoothes fine lines and wrinkles. Avocado oil, again obtained in a cold process, vitalizes the skin cells. Works better with a brush Meanwhile, I use the glycolic peeling for a month once or twice a week.… weiterlesen

JetBoots Test: In „7-League Boots” To Greater Lightness

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In mythology, the „7-league boots” have magical power. They give the “little thumb” the ability to cover long distances in a short time. The RecoveryAir JetBoots from Therabody also have a kind of magic power. You can’t run with them – too high, too clunky – but blood circulation is boosted, muscle soreness is reduced and swelling disappears. In short: healthier and therefore more beautiful legs. Sounded so great that I wanted to try it for myself. The JetBoots system is a mechanical massage that mimics the action of lymphatic drainage. Lymphatic drainage, which most of us have enjoyed after injury or surgery, is a manual therapy that requires special training. The therapist performs superficial circular twisting, pumping and scooping movements with little pressure. The goal is to stimulate the lymphatic vessels’ own contractions and thus get the lymph flow going and decongest the tissue. Big on the leg, nevertheless cool With the compression boots, integrated pumps in the – as already mentioned – somewhat clunky foot parts replace the therapist’s hands. The package of the JetBoots consists of the two black, long boots made of a strong, coated fabric like the ones used for medical products, plus a two-piece travel bag. There is also a 36W charger with a dual charging cable that allows both boots to charge at the same time. No hoses, no external pump. I think that’s a good thing. The run time is four hours. You can use the two boots together, but also separately – which makes no sense to me. My test starts on a Tuesday, right after I received the package. My JetBoots are size M, but they also come in L (for tall men and very tall women) and S, which affects the length and girth of the boots. The system is easy to understand, the instructions are plausible. Therefore, I also save myself from downloading the app. It annoys me that nowadays you need an app for every poop and clutter up your phone. Fortunately, it is not a must-have here. That’s because an integrated control panel with four self-explanatory buttons is located at the top of each JetBoots. I put them on while lying on the bed or sofa. Entry is via the elongated zippers that reach all the way to the foot section. With one push of each button on the control panel, you can set the four time intervals (20 min, 40 min, 60 min and continuous) and the 4 pressure settings (25, 50, 75, 100 mmHg).… weiterlesen

Tested for you: Rosacea Cream „Redness Relief with Micreobalance“ from Gladskin

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Rosacea is known to be one of the most widespread skin problems. It is also called couperosis or copper rose or copper fin. It usually appears after the age of 30, more frequently in women than in men. The skin disease manifests itself differently in men than in women, often with a thickening of the connective tissue and the sebaceous glands, mostly around the nose area. Rosacea – typical signs I am one of the majority of women who have to struggle with rosacea – although I am still lucky. In my case, only the cheeks are affected, the left more than the right, and the rosacea is not particularly severe overall. It manifests itself in redness and dilated veins. This is typical for mild rosacea. The only problem is that once rosacea is present, it stays. In severe cases, vesicles can even form, and the redness and inflammatory pustules (see picture below) can sometimes extend to the eyelids. Fortunately, I have been spared from this so far. However, in winter when it is cold and the blood circulation is boosted by alcohol consumption, for example, which hardly ever happens with me anyway, the redness becomes more visible. I therefore no longer go to the sauna anyway, only to the steam bath. Unclear causes for the redness Where does rosacea come from? Experts are still arguing about this today. A combination of hereditary and environmental factors is discussed. But none of this has been scientifically proven. Bacteria and the composition of the skin’s microbiome most likely play a significant role in the development of rosacea. This can lead to inflammatory reactions such as redness, itching, pain and swelling. The bacterium Staphylococcus aureus is regarded as the primary culprit. Staphylococci are spherical bacteria that in themselves belong to the normal flora of skin and mucous membranes in humans. However, Staphylococcus aureus is the species with the highest virulence, responsible for inflammation and more. Dermatologists treat rosacea with antibiotics, among others. The only drawback is, antibiotics lead to antimicrobial resistance when taken for a long time and Staphylococcus aureus no longer responds to them. Help for my microbiome Swallowing antibiotics to get my rosacea under control is out of the question for me. And I really don’t suffer that much that I would put my body through that. That’s why I decided to test an over-the-counter product containing the active ingredient StaphefektTM, which kills only Staphylococcus aureus bacteria.… weiterlesen