I’ll be honest, I like Dr. Hauschka. Simple products that work, and make my bathroom shelf have the feel of an old apothecary. The company, founded on a love story, seems to have its heart in the right place : all ingredients are developed and produced with as little impact on nature as possible ; since its origin in 1967, Dr. Hauschka has never tested on animals ; and the treatment philosophy centers on the idea that our skin can heal itself.
Last week I entered a secret hallway off the busy rue de Charonne to go to my rendez-vous at Maison Dr. Hauschka. I was late, as usual, but remembered to slow down to enter the lush courtyard Dr. Hauschka shares with a Feng Shui institute : nothing but good feelings welcome here.
From start to finish my soin (a word I still cannot pronounce in French…sounds more like swan when I attempt an accent) was enjoyable. A tisane to begin, and an introduction to the Dr. Hauschka philosophy. I have what most refer to as « problem skin », a problem I tend to combat with scrubbing and other punishments. As the esthetician told me, Dr. Hauschka never practices massage or aggravating touch. Instead, she encouraged a gentle touch that stimulates the skin. Thus the soin began–wrapped in the most feathery silk sheet, and kept bien chaud with a light wool blanket–a treatment from head to toe, with a special focus on the facial, including Cleansing Cream, Dr. Hauschka’s fundamental product of almond meal and medicinal herbs. After, a mini-hamman for the face, a cleansing clay mask, and a special facial treament that could only be described as thousands of tiny little brushes.
The esthetician was kind and patient with the Frenglish we were obligated to speak together. Since I don’t have a live-in esthetician, she told me how to utilize the Hauschka philosophy chez moi with products suited just for me! And next time I need a little help aligning my skin and my mind, I know that the hidden courtyards of the Bastille are waiting for me.