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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.

Cold Therapy: A New Trend – Freeze Fit!

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A new cold therapy has recently become very popular with celebrities. British pop star Harry Styles runs his bathtub full to the brim with cold water and a load of ice cubes. US-Model Bella Hadid dips her face into a bowl of ice water. Lady Gaga, Zac Efron, Gwyneth Paltrow, Liam Hemsworth, Oprah Winfrey and Twitter founder Jack Dorsey have also already embraced the ice-cold beauty and wellness treatment. The cold therapy with ice cubes is not a new fitness trend. In many countries with freezing waters, swimming in cold water has been considered a popular sport for centuries. Even Johann Wolfgang von Goethe has ndulged in a cold therapy. It is said to have chopped up the ice in the river Ilm to take a dip in the cold river. The combination of a sauna session followed by a rubdown in the snow has a similar effect to an ice bath. Cold therapy with many benefits A cold therapy at 10 to 15 degrees has many advantages. It clears the head and has a relaxing effect. But an ice bath can also relieve inflammation and pain, improve sleep quality and the ability to concentrate, and boost blood circulation and important metabolic processes. Last but not least, the cold is a booster for the immune system. If you don’t want to do the icy trick right away, you can already do a lot for your immune system by taking regular cold showers. According to studies, cold-showerers are more resistant and healthier. They are 30 percent less likely to call in sick at work or school. In terms of beauty, there is also a lot to be gained from a cold therapy: Unlike hot water, cold baths or showers do not extract moisture and oil from the skin. In this way, dryness and flaking are reduced and the skin regains its suppleness and radiance. And even more: connective tissue is strengthened, vein activity is activated. Last but not least, you are rewarded for shivering with a wonderfully rosy complexion. Ice bathing at home or in the lake Dare to try an ice bath in the bathtub at home. How long must or may it last? For starters, you should not overdo it and only stay in the tub for five minutes. The water should also not be too cold, so that the body can gradually get used to the unaccustomed temperature. Also, don’t submerge yourself completely right away, but hold your feet and hands in the tub first.… weiterlesen

Tested for you: Nars Holiday Edition

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Nars X-mas-Higlights! Still looking for a Christmas gift in a hurry or want to make your beauty look even more glamorous for the holidays? Then the Holiday Edition of Nars is just the thing for you. For me, too, by the way. I have opted for two products from the Limited Edition. The “Stargaze Eyeshadow Palette” makes her stars decorated, black lacquer case not only visually much. It contains twelve intensely pigmented eyeshadows with velvety nude shades and shimmering colors. With the matte shades, you can create the perfect smoky eyes. Prefer something more dramatic? You can achieve that with pearlescent powder. Satin shades with creamy shine and glittering pigments make the eyes shine. With the twelve colors, countless looks can be made up and reinvented again and again. Nars: pure Hollywood glamour All colors can be blended seamlessly. They are pure glamour, which is also reflected in the names of the individual eyeshadows such as Hayworth as a homage to Rita Hayworth, the unforgotten Hollywood star of the 40s. Another is called Instant Stardom or Walk of Fame. With the highly pigmented shakes, however, you can not only create countless shades, but also set highlights or use them more puristically as a liner for the eyes. The shimmery shades can be applied alone or in layers for a dramatic glow. The glitter colors can be applied dry or moistened, for example with the “Cream Blending Brush” from Nars, to achieve a metallic finish. Nars: Starstruck lips Great eye make-up needs a more subtle lip color. The “Starstruck Audacious Lipstick” in the new, trendy shade Ava is the perfect complement and goes well with all Eyeshadow creations. It is a warm beige tone, strong but not obtrusive. The luxurious texture feels like silk on the lips, but offers full coverage from the first application and leaves a moisturizing feeling for many hours. The lipstick itself is adorned with an eye-catching star embossing, and it comes in a golden case littered with the Holiday Edition star design. „Stargaze Eyeshadow Palette“ with 12 shades, $60 „Starstruck Audacious Lipstick“ in Ava, $34… weiterlesen
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When Friendships Get Lost…

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The pandemic taught me one thing: Friendships, no matter how close they once were, have no claim to be lifelong. This applies to all genders, with whom we are linked by certain phases of our lives. As can also happen in a partner relationship, we part ways at some point. We have grown apart, as it is then so succinctly explained. While during the pandemic and its lockdowns the connections were still close because we had to remain in a kind of communicative prison, unable to meet and only able to keep in touch via social media or the old-fashioned phone call, the step into more normality, the return to the presence job, has changed a lot. Also in terms of friendships. Ex-friendships due to lockdown I had to realize that if the initiative does not come from me, I often hear nothing for months from formerly close friends. Also on messages by WhatsApp or SMS comes not rarely for weeks no reaction at all and if, then only on Nachhaken with the question “Did you not get my….”. Despite all efforts and sometimes with deep regret, these friendships no longer seem as deep as they once were. One must then simply recognize this and also accept that the former friend:in have become only acquaintances. Even if you have known each other for many, many years, from childhood, school or shared jobs. The other person has set new priorities and no longer wants to invest work in the friendship. Friended on social media I think that it is often not even the case that some ex-boyfriend:in purposefully disregards me. There is not necessarily an intention behind it. The calendars have become fuller again. For many, I notice that they focus their social contacts outside of work on social media. And such platforms can claim you completely if you let them. Then it also makes no sense to fixate on the friend:ing from the past and to question their actions. I’d rather focus on the few people who are interested in holding on to the friendship and keeping in close contact. Still, thoughts inevitably come up about whether you did anything wrong in the relationship that alienated the other person. Was I too critical, too controlling? Nevertheless, it always takes two to tango when things go wrong. Falling off the grid In particular, I am thinking of an ex-girlfriend with whom I had many ties over the years.… weiterlesen

Tested for you: Anti-cellulite Care from Esensa Mediterana

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Anti-cellulite care is a controversial issue. When it comes to products that are supposed to work against cellulite, I am usually very skeptical. Because by now everyone knows that you can not easily get rid of the dimples once they are visible. Preferably they show up on the thighs, buttocks, abdomen, hips and upper arms. Now the problem is not yet so obvious in my case. The experts would call it stage 2. This means that isolated dents are visible. In places, the pinching of the tissue can also be painful. And all this despite the fact that I exercise a lot and drink enough water every day. So what I would like to see, the skin could be a little smoother and more even, the tissue firmer. Anti-cellulite care from Croatia For this reason, I tried two products from the Croatian beauty line Esensa Mediterana. It was founded in 2004 by Ivana Legovic. What many also do not know is that the SPA, wellness, cosmetics brand is represented in over 800 four and five star hotels and high quality cosmetic institutes in Croatia. It is produced in the company’s own laboratories in Istria. What makes the brand special is a combination of phyto-, aroma- and thalasso therapy. Highly active ingredients from nature Esensa Mediterana has two intensive anti-cellulite treatments in its portfolio that are designed to stimulate microcirculation, promote the elimination of toxins and alleviate water retention through a highly concentrated combination of active ingredients including caffeine, mate, guarana and algae extracts: “Lipo Activ Slimmer” is a firming and skin-refining cream-gel serum with papaya extract. In synergy with the active ingredient-rich red algae Rhodysterol, Mate extract and caffeine, fat reduction is activated and the storage of new fat deposits is inhibited. The second anti-cellulite product, the “Coffee Guarana Minceur” is an intensive smoothing, purifying and draining cream-gel. Through a novel combination of active ingredients such as green coffee, guarana and rosemary, it inhibits the formation of new fat cells, fights lymphatic congestion and water retention. More effective as a duo? I wanted to get maximum results. So I was not satisfied with trying out one product after the other, but decided on a combination of both: In the morning, I therefore applied the “Lipo Activ Slimmer” to the thighs, because the cream-gel serum is somewhat lighter in consistency, and massaged in circular motions. It smells pleasantly herbal and can be worked into the skin well and without residue.In… weiterlesen

Tested for you: Eye Massage with „SmartGoggles“ from Therabody

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Futuristic high-tech eye massage glasses with a wide range of applications: Restful sleep. Relieve eye strain. Relieve headaches. Relieve facial tension. Reduce stress. Or simply relax physically and mentally. All this and more is in the portfolio of the intelligent eye mask with SmartSense Technology with three customizable modes. “Smart” eye massage How does SmartSense Technology work? It combines a biometric heart rate sensor with vibration, heat and massage to control SmartRelax mode, which physically lowers the heart rate and helps reduce stress and anxiety. Heart rate is measured by a built-in sensor on the inside of the massage goggles. This allows the parameters to be individually adjusted to the person who wants to relax with it. A total of three programs are available for relaxing: Focus, SmartRelax and Sleep. They differ in the type of preset massage, vibration and heat levels. For example, the temples are relaxed, the forehead or the cheeks are loosened. Heat and vibration can also be adjusted to one’s own needs via the control buttons in three stages each. After 15 minutes, the massage glasses switch themselves off. Relaxation for the senses Visually, Therabody’s Smart Goggles remind me a bit of oversized sleeping goggles. They are adjusted to the size of your head with an elastic strap. You can’t move much with them, but you’re supposed to relax. And the best way to do that is to lie on your back and do nothing. As soon as the massage goggles are switched on, they massage the upper half of the face by filling and emptying the air chambers as well as additional vibrations. At the touch of a button, it can additionally generate heat. Best with music Music supports the relaxation experience and also helps to block out the massage goggles’ own noise, which emits air noises and a slight hum when the chambers are filled. In one test, the volume was rated at 47 decibels. A multi-sensory sound therapy “TheraMind” is available for the Smart Googles in a corresponding app, which is best listened to via headphones. Practical especially when traveling and for storage is the flexibility of the massage glasses. They can be folded in the middle at a prepared bend and stowed in the accompanying black fabric case. Packed in this way, they do not get dusty if they are not used for a long time. Oh, and you should definitely remove your makeup before putting on your smart goggles.… weiterlesen

Lip Make-Up: This Is What Matters!

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During the pandemic, lip make-up has become rather unimportant. Behind the mouth-nose protection, no one would have seen it anyway and the color would merely have been smudged. In the meantime, lipstick is more often seen on mouths again. Often, unfortunately, not well done. Therefore, here again everything you should know about appetizing made-up lips.. When it comes to lip make-up it is said that since the fall of masks lipstick sales have increased by 173 percent. In the first place is still red, because red lips make the complexion immediately radiant. Red adds glamour even when no makeup is otherwise applied. It’s the quickest number to look fresh and refreshed in an instant. However, it is also the most difficult color to make up, because neither fluff nor irregularity remain hidden from the viewer. Even a makeup pro like Londoner Celia Burton confesses, “I’ve long dreamed of wearing lipstick again, but now after what feels like a year without lip make-up, a matte red that used to be my staple, so to speak, seems kind of scary.” As a sort of warm-up exercise until she returns to her “staple,” she uses what she calls lip tints. Easy to use: lip tints These liquid textures still give off little color on the first coat, but can be built up layer by layer your lip make-up for stronger effects. Such a tinted lip product also forgives small makeup mistakes. It creates a rather natural finish, the edges of the mouth may even look a little blurred with it. Apply correctly: It is best to apply the lip tint to the center of the lower lip and spread the color with a finger towards the cupid’s bow. If you want to make a statement with your lip make-up, you have to work carefully. And for this, the right technique is essential. Here are the most important steps: Prepare To ensure that lip color really lasts long and doesn’t smudge while you’re already eating, blowing your nose or kissing, careful preparation is necessary. Forget the age-old tip of “priming” the mouth with foundation. This does the opposite of what you want to achieve: the color “slips” much more easily on the “silky” foundation. Special lip primers or transparent lip liners that you spread over the entire lip area as a primer are helpful. This fixes the subsequent lip make-up for hours. If you can and want to invest more time or if the lip skin is not completely even, you can exfoliate your lips 20 minutes before applying makeup and then moisturize them with a nourishing balm.… weiterlesen

Tested for you: Talcum Powder “Borotalco” from Roberts

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A talcum powder to save the day. I have one. No time to wash your hair? Everybody knows that. No dry shampoo at hand? I know – especially when traveling That’s why I always have a small can of “Borotalco” from Roberts on hand. Every Italian knows the green, nostalgic sprinkle can. It has been around since 1904 and is a body powder made from natural microtalc – 100% from Turin. Makes the hair roots fluffy again, but has many other applications. This talcum powder – a piece of Italian tradition The history of Borotalco began back in 1878 in a small pharmacy in Florence. There, Henry Roberts was tinkering with a talcum powder body care product and eventually developed his Boro talc. At that time, he certainly did not even dare to dream that the white talcum powder would shape the skin care of Italians for generations. But in 1904, the talcum powder in the classic green tin actually moved into Italian households and it has been impossible to imagine life without it ever since. The classic fragrance alone, which harmoniously combines the fresh notes of citrus with white flowers and a talc base, brings back childhood memories for most people. Practical about the powder is that it can be used by the whole family – from baby to nonno. Natural talc powder has excellent care properties: it is absorbent, refreshing and smoothing. In 1957 the company launches its advertising slogan, universally known in Italy, “Se non è Roberts non è Borotalco”, which means “If it’s not Roberts, it’s not Borotalco”. The journey continues The Bolton Group, which took over the successful traditional Italian brand Borotalco in 1992, has continued to run the company with the same high quality standards ever since. The 1990s then saw the emergence of the Borotalco product lines. This was soon followed by the innovative deodorant products, which use microtalk not only to absorb the sweat already present, but also to regulate perspiration. Shower gel, bath foam and liquid soap complete the portfolio. And let’s not forget the popular Crema Vellutante, which has been popular for full-body care since 1904. In 2011, the line was also launched in Switzerland and Slovenia, followed three years later by Austria. Although the newer products feature a modern presentation, the nostalgic look has fortunately remained with the green powder. The ph-neutral and dermatologically tested “Borotalco” is available in practical travel sizes through to tins in the family size of 500 g and in a bag for refilling.… weiterlesen

Tested for you: Lifting Mask „EMS-Lifting“ from Medi-Lift

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The lifting mask made of black medical silicone looks a little scary at first sight. But do not be frightened! I’m not looking for an outfit for a fetish party, although it would certainly score there too. No, all jokes aside! What I tested this time is an EMS lifting mask for the face. EMS stands for Electrical Muscle Stimulation. Known so far only as an effective body workout. But we also have muscles in thelface that can be stimulated to shape, tone and tighten them – especially in the cheek and chin area. Exactly where sagging tends to show up. And that’s exactly where the Medi-Lift mask comes in. You don’t have to invest much time either. 10 minutes a day is enough, they say. EMS lifting at home The mask comes from Japan. There, the Medi-Lift series has already collected 53 beauty awards from various magazines and media in the categories of women and men. According to the description, you could say that the lifting mask works like a kind of intensified yoga for the face or similar to the Gua Sha stone – only even more effective. Namely, the mimic muscles are treated with two different EMS modes. This not only improves muscle volume, which in turn smoothes fine lines and wrinkles, especially around the mouth, but also tightens the jawline. The lifting mask is also effective against facial puffiness. Lifting mask for any face shape The mask fits everyone, woman or man, round or square face shape. True, most faces are asymmetrical and vary in size. But the elastic medical grade silicone adapts to any shape and size. With the program, you can choose from six levels, individually adjustable for the right and left sides of the face, to give the muscles a “customized” workout, so to speak. Particularly addressed by the EMS technology are “critical” muscles in the face such as the large zygomaticus muscles that run longitudinally along the cheeks.lose tension and volume, wrinkles and sagging skin occur. In release mode, the masseter muscle, which pulls down from the cheeks toward the jawline, is relaxed with low-frequency EMS of 20～100Hz. The masseter muscles are often overused, which can lead to a square jaw. My personal test: First, the two triangular massage tools have to be charged. It takes about 90 minutes each, but then they last for about five hours. It’s a shame that only one charging cable is included, which is of course a special one, so you can only connect the two parts to the socket one after the other.… weiterlesen

Tested for you: „Facial Toner Witch Hazel“ from Thayers

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A facial toner should be part of every skincare routine. There are countless on the market. Therefore, one would not have to lose too many words about it – one would think. What particularly excites me about the Thayers facial toner is the tradition behind it. Thayers has been a product with cult character in the USA for generations. The brand looks back on a 175-year history. It was started by Henry Thayer, son of a physician and one of the founding families of Massachusetts. He graduated in medicine from the Boston Medical School and also practiced medicine for a short time.In 1843, at the age of 21, Dr. Thayers opened a drugstore in the Douglass Block of Cambridge until 1847, when he established his famous Henry Thayer & Company at the corner of Main and Essex Streets in Cambridge. Facial tonic with the witch hazel In 1850, he began a series of experiments to perfect the technique of evaporation in a vacuum. His goal was to produce extracts in concentrated form, then the production of liquid extracts followed. Over the years, Dr. Thayer had over 800 herbal extract products in his portfolio, which he offered in the form of infusions, poultices, syrups, tinctures and wines. One of these was witch hazel extract, which was touted as a “tonic, astringent and sedative.” It became the brand’s signature ingredient and has remained so. Witch hazel has always been popular for its medicinal properties. To this day, it is used in Thayers’ alcohol-free facial toners and sprays. Their certified organic witch hazel is sourced from a family farm in Fairfield County, Connecticut. All of the brand’s skincare products are produced the old-fashioned way – not distilled, are animal-free and of the highest natural quality. They contain 195% more tannins. Found in the bark and skin of some plants, these substances have mild antioxidant properties and have a balancing effect. Witch hazel brings the skin into balance For me, a good toner is an essential intermediate step in my daily skincare routine. It moisturizes, re-cleanses and smoothes my skin. The complexion glows – completely without filters – and the subsequent skin care products can work even better. Unlike the toner, the gentle spray of the Witch Hazel Facial Mist can also be used in between, when the skin needs refreshment during the day. Witch hazel is one of my favorite ingredients because its natural astringent properties soothe the skin and restore pH balance after cleansing.… weiterlesen

Glycation: Don’t Let Yourself Get Sugared Up!

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Scientists call glycation the “saccharification” of tissue components. In the skin, collagen and elastin are particularly affected. Stiffened fibers mean that the skin visibly loses tone and elasticity, especially in the areas of the cheeks and chin, and ages more quickly overall. An effective means of reversing this process does not yet exist – although some cosmetics manufacturers promise it. One small consolation: prevention can prevent worse. Glycation? How does it actually occur? Chemically, the body reacts with proteins or lipids and forms so-called AGEs (Advanced Glycation Endproducts). We don’t even have to constantly snack on sweets to do this. We absorb the glycation end products mainly via glucose and fructose, but also in fried, grilled, roasted or baked food. The AGEs are mainly contained in the brown outer layer that forms when food is heated, such as roast skin or bread crust. Even with burnt milk, a reaction of protein and fat molecules with sugar molecules, i.e. glycation, takes place. This was proven by the French biochemist Louis Maillard in 1912. The same process takes place in our organism when excessive amounts of sugar enter the bloodstream. The only difference is that it happens much more slowly than in an overheated milk pot, because our body temperature is also lower. The fact that blood sugar shoots up during an overload of sweets is due to the fact that this excess cannot be excreted via the kidneys. Glycation damages the organism AGEs not only cause the skin to age faster. Hyperglycemia triggers a wide variety of diseases. It promotes cardiovascular disease by clogging the arteries. It is also involved in diabetes, osteoporosis, arthritis and chronic kidney disease. Increased AGE concentrations have even been detected in cataracts and in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients. But back to the skin. There, the sugar-protein compounds coat the collagen and elastin fibers. As a result, these structural proteins stiffen and lose their ability to form healthy, new cells. As a result, fine lines and wrinkles remain visible because the skin can no longer compensate for them naturally and also stores less moisture. It looks sallower and overall older, less firm and elastic. The dreaded sagging also sets in much earlier than biologically intended. Check for the glycemic index The WHO (World Health Organization) recommends a daily sugar ration for adults that does not exceed five percent of the total calories. This corresponds, for example, to two apples, or one apple plus 100 grams of berries, 200 grams of whole grain rice.… weiterlesen