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Mon Aug 21, 2006 1:26 am  |
Be warned: This is a LONG review including FIVE Dr. Hauschka products.
Let me first state that until I started the Rhythmic Night Treatment I had never used any Dr. H. products. As hubby went to Germany a couple months back, I got him to buy me the following Dr. H. stuff for me to try:
- Cleansing Cream
- Facial Toner
- Normalizing Day Oil
- Rejuvenating Mask
- Rhythmic Conditioner Sensitive (50 Amps)
They had been sitting here for a month and I was wondering how to incorporate them in my regular routine, then I decided that the best way to get a really good idea on how well they work was to cut out everything else in my routine for the 25 nights of the Rhythmic Conditioner cycle (yes, bye bye beloved Cellcosmet and DNA Repair for a few weeks).
Other than the Dr. H products listed above, I only used 3 other organic/chemical free items (1 Organic Pharmacy, 2 Osea) in order to fill in the gaps for a fully organic routine. If I used any water spritz at work, I used Caudalie Grapewater.
ROUTINE:
AM
The Organic Pharmacy Rose Gel Cleanser
Dr. H. Facial Toner
Dr. H. Day Oil
Osea Essential Hydrating Oil* (eyes)
PM
Dr. H. Cleansing Cream
Dr. H. Facial Toner
Dr. H. Sensitive Amps (2)
Osea Essential Hydrating Oil* (eyes)
* I used one roll along the lower orbital bone prior to spritzing the toner, then I smoothed it into the skin using toner for extra slip. I did not add any other eye cream either AM or PM.
Twice a week: Dr. H. Rejuvenating Mask (at night)
Once a week: Osea Red Algae Mask (at night. I removed this using their “friction rub” technique for a bit of extra exfoliation, rather than for the mask properties).
OBSERVATIONS
Below are my observations written at 5-day intervals throughout the course and my final comments on the products. I waited till the end to post everything here on the board as I thought it would make it easier for people to follow.
5th day:
I was expecting more “reaction” to such a change in my routine, but thus far, nothing. My skin does not look that different, but I must say I am enjoying the night routine of ampoule only and no other actives or creams. I developed a hormonal pimple on my chin and am finding that it is taking a lot longer to heal. I tried putting some of the rejuvenating mask on and leaving it one night and then the second resorted to a touch of the PSF O2 Rescue Serum.
10th day:
Blah. My skin looks like crap. I have a lot of red blotches around the top of my forehead and also on my left cheek. I have never been a pimple sufferer (other than hormonal ones on the chin). My skin has lost is vibrance and clarity and its glow. I remember The Organic Pharmacy having an article that said when changing to non-chemical organic products there will be a time when your skin looks like crap because it is getting rid of all the chemical build up – I sure hope that this is the case for me now. Don’t get me wrong, I have not developed acne overnight or anything, the skin just does not have the nice glow I have worked so hard for at the moment. And, I STILL have not been able to heal the one pimple on my chin – it is not yuk, but still have a red bump.
15th day:
Things have settled down again over the last 5 days. Skin is not as blotchy and red and some of the clarity has come back, but not completely. Doing better with the day oil, some oiliness on center of forehead still, but my nose is better – and blackhead free I might add!! Loving the cleansing cream even more now that I am using it better.
20th day:
Well, I cannot say I am getting a WOW from this, but I think it is more because I am not using ANY actives during the month. No Vitamin C, no DNA Repair, no exfoliation (other than the gentle exfoliation of the CC and the Osea mask), etc. I am still having some trouble with breakouts, which is likely due to the summer heat and humidity, so I would not recommend doing this mid summer (my skin needs more TLC than this during summer).. then again, maybe if I had the Dr. H. clay mask I would not have the problem. Had to resort to a thick Osea mask on the problem areas on day 20 and that seems to have settled things down a bit. How long does it take till “cleansing” breakouts stop? I am very happy with the night part of the routine, but not the day. I will continue with the balancing oil during the day till the end of this trial though.
25th day:
It seems in the last 5 days of this I had a breakthrough. I started using the Dr. H. Cleansing Cream in the mornings as well and somehow the Balancing Oil worked better when it followed this cleanser rather than the Organic Pharmacy one. I am really starting to think that this is one line where everything DOES work in sync with each other, so the more items from the line you use the better the result. By the end of day25, my skin was looking healthy again. Still a couple of red blemishes (not pimples, just red blemishes – but these are just heat related).
OVERALL PRODUCT COMMENTS:
Cleansing Cream:
Well, the first 10 days I was not using the cleansing cream right (but still liked it)  . Once I was using it the right way, I liked it even more. I would definitely keep some of this on hand to use a couple times a week, but I notice that it says it should be used within 3 month of opening and you would have to be using it more regularly than twice a week to get through it all in that amount of time! I might end up only getting this once a year to use with an ampoule course. Of course, if you are using it night and morning, it is no trouble to use up in that time. At times, I got a bit “homesick” for a nice gel, balm, or milk cleanser though. Kind of missed that traditional cleansing feel. But in the end, I give this  (out of possible 5)
Facial Toner:
I really LOVE this stuff. It has a pleasant smell and leaves no residue on the face. I will definitely repurchase to keep on hand to squirt under oils, masks, etc. It goes into my firm favorite list and I would definitely consider another purchase. After one month of using twice daily (and I do quite a few spritzes each time) I have almost 2/3 of the bottle left. Nice value! Again, I give this
Normalizing Day Oil:
It really took the full 25 days for this stuff to grow on me and even then it has not taken root.  I still don’t really like the color or smell, but it does not bother me as much now. I am still on the fence about it, but leaning more towards “wont use again” side. To apply, I squirted the toner and while the face was still damp, I put a small drop of oil on my palm, quickly spread across the palm and then patted/massaged the oil into my face and neck. This gave me no trouble for application.
Although I don’t really think I want to continue using this, there is so much left I don’t want to NOT use it I guess the main reason I probably wont continue with this oil I want to go back to using my Vit. C serum and also DNA Repair during the day, and I cannot see how to fit the Dr. H. oil in with that. I wonder if I can bribe hubby into helping use it up? (poor little guinea pig hubby)
One thing I must say is why don’t they sell face oils in smaller bottles?! Considering the TINY amount needed for the whole face and neck, a 1/2 oz bottle would make better sense. I will give this a (out of possible 5) – 1 off for the smell and color.
Rhythmic Conditioner Sensitive Amps:
These are lovely. Leave the skin feeling super soft. The secret to being able to use just this on the skin (and no creams) is definitely using the Dr. H. cleansing cream and facial toner first. My face did not feel as hydrated on the couple of nights I used the Organic Pharmacy cleanser (was feeling tired and lazy). It was also very nice when used over Camellia Seed Oil as a facial cleanser (again, because the camellia oil left the skin moist).
(I used 2 per night. Patted half an amp into face (and on eyes a bit), then the second half on the neck & chest. Waited 5 min and repeated with second amp.
I must say thought that they are a PAIN IN THE BUTT to get out. The liquid does not want to come out of the bottle at all..and I am not a huge fan of the glass amp that you break off (though they are easier to use than the Cellcosmet Ultra amps).
HINT: when you take them out of the box, make sure to flick the top of the bottle a few times to get the liquid out of the top half. After breaking off the top, hold upside down and tap into the palm.
I will most definitely be getting some more to keep on hand (maybe in the fridge – they say that is very refreshing) to use if I get a touch of the sun and also to use on my one-night-a-week break from my regular skin care. I give these babies a (out of possible 5) – I take off one heart just because .. well, I expected something a bit more from them (maybe my rhythm was pretty good already? )
Rejuvenating Mask:
This is a nice, lightweight mask, good I think to use after exfoliating for nourishment. I cannot say that it improved my pores at all (I have some largish pores on my cheek just under the orbital bone). I tried it as thin layer overnight once, but it left my skin feeling oily in the morning. I used about 1” with each use. I don’t think I would repurchase this one though. Sorry, I know a LOT of people worship this mask, but I give it only (out of 5)
Quick comment on my eyes:
After 20 days of having nothing applied other than a bit of a pat of the Rhythmic Amp at night and the Osea oil on the lower orbital AM & PM, I was not happy with hydration and increasing appearance of lines (from dehydration), so I started back with my regular eye cream a few days before the end of the trial. Perhaps if I had the Dr. H eye cream or some other eye cream of the type (primavera, osea, organic pharmacy, jurlique, etc.) I would have faired better.
I keep telling myself that I do not think that I could be a full convert to Dr. H… however I just bought the clay mask and steam concentrate from EDS. I now wish that I had done this experiment with this duo as well as a Dr. H eye cream. I will say that I think if you are young and have no issues with lines and/or sagging, then taking on the whole routine would be good. It is a good program for healthy skin, but I believe that additional products are definitely needed to keep lines at bay and for facial firmness. |
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SKIN: combination, reactive to climate changes and extremely fair. "Women complain about premenstrual syndrome, but I think of it as the only time of the month that I can be myself." --Roseanne |
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