I am one of those annoying people who has fairly good skin in my 40s – albeit sensitive combination skin- so I don’t try a lot of products, sticking to the ones I know don’t irritate my skin and I don’t change very often as is an expensive risk…
I am one of those annoying people who has fairly good skin. Though I am in my 40s (and I refuse to divulge exactly WHERE in my 40s I am), I am often told how good my skin is.
I wish greatly for this to be because of the excellent care I have taken with it over the years and the lavish products I have used. It appears to be (in my case anyway) down to a couple of things. My mother is South African and as such when we were children we went everywhere with a hat on. We wore hats way before it was fashionable… and my mother always wore a big hat and big sunglasses – even while swimming in the sea! She is nearly 70 now and has the skin of a woman 20 years younger.
The only issues I have ever had of any note is that I have sensitive combination skin and I suffer from redness on my neck. I don’t try a lot of products as it does react easily so I tend to stick to the ones I know don’t irritate my skin and I don’t change very often. It is an expensive risk. Over the years I have turned a deaf ear to many of the new products to come onto the market. The problem also for me has been that many of the more ‘natural’ products have been the ones I have had the greatest reaction to. I have found this particularly irritating (in more ways than one) with the thought that somehow the more natural the ingredients, the better for your skin. The concept is a good one, but often lacking in the science to back it up.
So I was genuinely a little reluctant to test the new Dr Hauschka Melissa Day Cream. This product was created specifically for combination skin. It is a complicated business trying to balance the opposing needs of both oily and dry patches of skin. The needs of these two types of skin are often conflicting. Somehow the skin needs both moisturising for dry areas, and moisture regulation for the oily areas.
The active ingredient is Melissa, or Lemon Balm, as it is more commonly known here. It supposedly has a unique ability to regulate different moisture levels and help skin regain a natural, healthy balance. Sensitive complexions are harmonised and reddened skin is soothed and softened.
Below: Lemon balm plants at the brunch launch of Dr.Hauschka’s Melissa skincare on Wednesday 23 March.
The cream itself has a lovely fragrance – quite different to the usual highly-perfumed skin creams. It is simple and not too over-powering.
The launch brunch for Melissa.
Media learning all about it.
I was going to just try out the cream, but after reading the literature that came with it, I realised that the cream would probably be more effective if I tried it in combination with the other Dr. Hauschka products. They encourage the concept of oil-free night care. After cleansing at night with the Cleansing Milk, it is followed by the Clarifying Toner.
Now I am NOT a toner sort of girl. I have always secretly suspected that toner was just about trying to convince you that you needed another product that didn’t actually do much, cost very little to make and then still cost the earth. I haven’t used a toner in years. Add to that, I ALWAYS react to toners – so I nearly didn’t even try this one. The secret with this one is you use it by just spraying it on, and then at night, just leaving it to dry on the skin after gently patting it in. There is no moisturiser to follow. This I found most disconcerting! The theory is to simply not clog the skin – and during the night to just let it get on and do what it needs to do to keep the skin healthy. I agree with the concept completely – but I wasn’t sure how it would work in practice.
I have been using the full range of products during the day also. After cleansing in the morning – wiping the Cleansing Milk off with a warm flannel, I used the Cleansing Cream, which has a light almost nutty texture. This is washed off and followed by the toner and then Melissa Day Cream. The toner is sprayed onto the face and the Melissa Day Cream is applied while it is still wet.
I have read a lot about the processes of Hauschka, about their organic status, ingredients, their own beautiful gardens that they grow their materials in, and I could fill most of this article with that. But I won’t.
Three weeks after I started using these products together, my skin is great – but most interesting of all is all the redness on my neck has disappeared. I could often be seen in family photos with a normal colour in my face and my neck quite red on both sides. For years I thought I was just a bit sun sensitive (oh really?) until I realised it often got worse after I cleaned my face and put my make-up on. I stopped spraying perfume directly onto my neck and that helped. But the toner, and Melissa Day Cream seem to have done the trick.
Also, my general skintone has slowly improved. Often you get the immediate improvement of a plumping effect from some products. This is an artificial feeling and wears off with the product. Mine just has a better tone and feel to it. I am a convert. So long after I have exhausted the products that I have been given to test, I will be buying them myself. I think that is true test of any reviewing of skincare products. They will remain on my bathroom shelf. I really don’t think there is much else to say.
Melissa Day Cream $65
Cleansing Cream and
Cleansing Milk – Bought together $79 (save $19)
Clarifying Toner $59
Dr.Hauschka Skin Care products are available selected department stores, Farmers stores, health food stores, pharmacies nationwide, as well as authorised Dr.Hauschka Natural Estheticians. To locate your nearest stockist visit Dr.Hauschka’s website www.drhauschka.co.nz or call toll free 0508 423 737.
By Anya Brighouse, 14 April 2011.
Leave a Reply