Is Dry Skin The Same For Everyone?

Everything you need to know about the Apricot Day Cream

Interview Credit: Dr.Hauschka | Melanie Anderson

For the exclusive launch of the NEW Dr.Hauschka Apricot Day Cream we asked Dr.Hauschka Australia's Esthetician Trainer, Melanie Anderson, for her thoughts on the new moisturiser.

Hi Melanie, thank you for joining us. We were wondering what you could tell us more about the exciting NEW Dr. Hauschka Apricot Day Cream?

NEW Apricot Day Cream is absolutely fantastic, I've tried it myself. I'm usually a Quince Day Cream person, but in my experience what I've noticed about Apricot Day Cream is, it's similar to the quince day cream, but it has a richer  more fluffy texture. It feels amazing on the skin and even though it is rich, it rapidly absorbs into my skin without leaving a greasy residue. Even though this day cream was developed for a very dry dull skin, and my skin is more dry, dehydrated and sensitive, I have been pleasantly surprised by the positive effect Apricot Day Cream has had on my complexion and the feel of my skin.   

Actually Dr. Hauschka developed Apricot Day Cream to be more of a rich companion product for those using light Revitalising Day Lotion, but who are wanting more of a creamy rich texture maybe in cooler weather or when their skin needs more of a jump start. If you could imagine the Firming Mask, how fluffy and rich it is and how easily it absorbs into the skin and then you mix that with Quince Day Cream which is also really luscious, but not heavy, and then you add a little bit of Rose Day Cream in as well to add richness and stability and you mix them all together that's how I think of the effect of new Apricot Day Cream. 

It is an absolutely fantastic moisturiser. For any fine lines you have, it helps plump the skin, giving you that lovely nourished, hydrated, healthy and radiant look to your skin. If you think about an apricot, how soft yet firm the flesh is, and how smooth the skin, that's what translates in a tube of Apricot Day Cream. 

Would you tell us a little more about about the ingredients in the formulation please Melanie?

There’s a high quantity of marshmallow, which gives a lovely fluffy texture to the day cream. Also the whole apricot is used as well as apricot kernel oil, a rich source of essential fatty acids, which really helps bind moisture to the skin. The composition also has a rye/wheat/oat ferment, which contains live bacteria, and this supports your skin’s microbiome. That’s probably why it also works so well for a sensitive skin, by strengthening the skin’s microbiome. So even though it was developed for a pale, dry skin which needs a jump start, I think we will find more skin conditions will actually benefit from it. 

St. John's wort is in the formulation and with this particular botanical ingredient the flower, leaf and stem have been used. When we talk about the way Dr. Hauschka develops their products this is quite common, to use three parts of a botanical ingredient, to address the three layers of the skin. St. John's wort creates a red oily extract and it really helps to give a luscious and hydrated skin, it’s also strengthening and soothing for the skin. Olive oil is rich in essential fatty acids. There’s calendula, which has anti-inflammatory and regenerative properties, so of course anyone with sensitivities will benefit from that. Anthyllis, which is a hero ingredient throughout the whole range, and helps guide all skin conditions to a balanced state. Provitamin A rich carrot root extract and precious raspberry seed oil, which is very expensive. You know how expensive raspberries are, and if you don't eat them quickly they go off. Highly volatile and it takes quite some expertise to extract the goodness. It's a fantastic ingredient for skin, high in unsaturated fatty acids, linoleic acid, linolenic acid and carotenoids. Seabuckthorn is very rich in vitamins A,C and E and has a high content of carotenoids, also potent cell-regenerating, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It's quite interesting how many anti-inflammatory ingredients are in the formulation together with strengthening and regenerative ingredients as well. 

Does Apricot Day Cream have any fragrance?

Yes, the fragrance composition was developed by our very own in-house Perfumer, Jörg Zimmermann, only using essential oil fragrances from nature. It's a really beautiful and subtle fragrance. A sense of freshness which is reminiscent of apricots, in a light and subtle fruity scent.

How does the new Apricot Day Cream differ from Rose Day Cream?

Rose Day Cream is extremely rich and protective, it's developed for someone that may also have sensitive skin, maybe they also have redness in the form of couperose or dilated capillaries. It's highly protective and therefore you can think of it as a barrier cream.

Is dry skin the same for everybody?

No it isn’t, dry skin is definitely not the same for everyone. For a tight and red skin, that's the type of skin that does produce oil and it does have moisture, but the problem is that it's such thin skin it can't hold moisture. So what we recommend for that person is rose products, which protect the skin's barrier. Those people with redness and sensitivity will do better choosing rich Rose Day Cream or the lighter version, Rose Day Cream Light. 

For those with a dull, dry skin, a skin which is lacking both water and oil that's where our new Apricot Day Cream comes in. It will give you that stimulus and vitality in a very luscious and caring way. 

Then you have Revitalising Day Lotion which is for skin that's super fine, in fact one of the things I've noticed with Dr. Hauschka customers, who have been using Revitalising Day Lotion for years and years, was that they have a very fine poreless look to their skin, a thicker type skin, but still poreless. I think this may be due to the high amount of pro vitamin A in this lotion. It has an extremely regenerative effect on the skin. When I asked these people which moisturiser from our range they had been using and they said Revitalising Day Lotion for the past twenty years, look at me! However, everyone has different wants and needs so that's why we have these two other day creams for the drier skin condition; the Apricot Day Cream and the Rose Day Cream. 

How does Apricot Day Cream fit in with Regenerating Day Cream/Regenerating Day Cream Complexion or indeed the more rich Regenerating Day Cream Intensive? 

Dr. Hauschka orange banderol products, may be used for anyone and at any stage of their life, it doesn't matter. It’s all about choosing the best product for the skin condition. 

The Regenerating range is aimed for a specific time of life. Regenerating Day Cream, Regenerating Day Cream Complexion, Regenerating Serum, Regenerating Eye Cream and Regenerating Neck & Décolleté Cream are for people aged 40+ and perhaps seeing their first signs of ageing, this may be due to perimenopausal effects, or possibly “I’ve been indulging a bit too much on the weekends and it's now catching up with me stage”. This is when they can look to Regenerating for vitality and self renewal. 

Regenerating Day Cream Intensive and Regenerating Oil Serum Intensive is aimed for 50-55+ and those who are extremely dry.  They are noticing that their skin doesn't have the vitality it once had and are also likely seeing increased sensitivities.  We tend to need extra help post menopause and this Intensive range helps skin to feel more firm and resilient. 

The other thing we wanted to chat about Melanie is the title 'Day Cream', so does this mean it's only for use in the morning, not in the evening?

Yes, correct Apricot Day Cream is to be used in the morning, not in the evening. In the Dr. Hauschka morning skin care ritual we Cleanse, then close our eyes and mist our Toner, a hydrating botanical extracts formula. We then warm our moisturisers between the palms of our hands, and we apply to our face, which is still moist from Toner. There are several reasons we apply moisturiser to skin still moist from Toner. 

1) To lock in hydration

2) Aids absorption of moisturiser

3) Ensures moisturiser is applied evenly and economically

The day time needs of your skin are products that protect against environmental elements, and to also balance, regulate, nourish, strengthen and firm. 

For your evening skin care ritual we prefer to use light night treatment products. Your skin is going through a detoxification process while you're sleeping, it's also working and regenerating eight times faster than it is during the day, so you really need to support that process with a light serum, such as Night Serum for all skin conditions or Regenerating Serum to support maturing skin. Alternatively our Renewing Night Conditioner or Sensitive Care Conditioner watery ampoules are my favourite. These help guide your skin during its night time elimination and regeneration activities.   

What would you say about NEW Apricot Day Cream in a nutshell?

I'm really excited about the NEW Apricot Day Cream and encourage anyone with dry/dehydrated, dull, and may also have a sensitive skin as well, to give it a go. As with all Dr. Hauschka products, there's a little bit of magic in every tube!

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