My One Thing For Spring

Life can be complicated, intense, and overwhelming.  We live in a fast paced society that values doing. I value finding clarity on what is most important in the moment.  With a mind on simplicity I want to share my one thing for Spring skincare tip. I like to think of caring for your skin as not that different then caring for your body.  You know what your basic requirements are to care for your body: water, fresh foods, exercise, sleep etc etc.  Caring for your skin doesn't have to be complicated. The skincare industry makes it complicated so you buy a bunch of products that often times don't get used. When you understand your basics, cleanse, tone, moisturize, you can make a more informed decision on your 'supplements'.  Each month I check in with myself health wise, a kind of mind body/ taking stock.  I don't  care to take handfuls of vitamins and supplements so I am choosy about what I purchase.  The days of having a cupboard overflowing with unused vitamins and supplements is over for me. Today to support myself I purchased the Indian herb ashwaganda.  It's an all round tonic and great for the adrenals.  Who doesn't need adrenal support.! That's my focus for this month.  I have a few other vitamins and supplements I am taking but right now adding ashwaganda feels like what my body needs.  If you have your basic skincare needs met, then I invite you to tune in and see what support your skin might be needing.   What I have noticed is that the majority of my  clients seeing me in March are in need of one thing: Clay. My cliental base  are women mostly in their 50-60's and using a clay mask is not something they would consider. We are use to thinking that a clay mask is for oily, acne prone skin and for mature skin we conclude that clay would be drying.  Not so with the Dr Hauschka Clarifying Clay Mask. In addition to using a rare form of clay (loess clay), this mask contains witch hazel and nasturtium, both are  purifying for the skin.  ​ What happens with mature skin is that the waste removal processes in the skin weaken as we age. This simply means our skin holds on to waste products longer. This can result is skin that is puffy or simply not vital looking. Another important point is that clay is a safe natural exfoliant.  Mature skin  has a harder time sloughing off dead skin cells, contributing to skin that feels rough, and lacks a healthy glow.   My training as a Dr Hauschka esthetician is grounded in Anthroposophic principals.  The treatments I give and the Dr Hauschka products  I use have been created on the basis of anthroposophic ideas. Clay is used in the facial treatment and the Clarifying Clay Mask was created to address the physical body which corresponds to the earth element.  The Clay Mask gently absorbs dead skin cells while drawing impurities and toxins from the skin. The skin - the earthly, physical organ is cleansed and clarified.  I uses this mask once a week as it smooths my skin, makes the texture of my skin feel soft and refined and also soothes inflammation in the skin ( redness). In addition clay promotes skin cell regeneration and as we age we can all use that.  The Clarifying Clay Mask 90g - $50 This will last you 4 months, based on using it 1x per week.  Dr Hauschka Facial Treatment with Clay Mask Application 60 minutes - $110 To book or purchase call or email me at 250 294 9913 or kdaunhauer@shaw.ca

Reminder: I still have stock of the new 30ml size of Dr Hauschka Cleansing Cream, Cleansing Milk and Facial Toner.  These are perfect for air travel as 30ml is the allowable size. Till the end of March when you purchase any 2 Dr Hauschka products, receive a Free 30ml size of your choice while supplies last.

For product purchases or to book a Dr Hauschka Treatment  Please call me at 250 294 9913 or email kdaunhauer@shaw.ca  kathleendaunhauer.com

How I Got Started as a Dr Hauschka Esthetician

Dr Hauschka head office in Germany

I'm  use to being the one asking my clients questions when they come to see me.  I realized there are some questions that they ask of me over and over so i'ts time to share my stories.  One question I am asked regularly is how did I come to be working with Dr Hauschka skincare. It really is a magic story, so I am excited to share it with you here.

After graduating  from the Aveda Institute with a  diploma in esthetics,  I  worked in upscale spas, like Willow Stream Spa at the Fairmont Empress Hotel in Victoria BC. I knew I wanted to eventually have my own skincare studio and when the time was right for me I was able to turn the living room in the 100 year old house I was living in, into my skincare studio.  Now I needed a skincare line to use. Not having heard of Dr Hauschka I traveled to Vancouver to attend a spa industry trade show.  When I arrived at the convention centre, I was given a list of all the vendors. I looked at the list of 100 plus companies and when I came to the name Dr Hauschka Skincare, it jumped out at me and I said to myself, "that's the one I want to check out."

Map in hand I made my way to my destination, fighting off aggressive sales reps along the way.  I arrived at the Dr Hauschka booth and announced that I was ready to buy their products. Let me tell you, I was shocked when they told me they didn't have anything to sell.  Now think about this, a skincare company at a trade show not selling anything.  I knew something very different was doing on here.  I was welcomed by one of Dr Hauschka Canada's owners Andreas Ernst. Relaxing on the  comfy couch they had at their booth, Andreas shared with me the background behind Dr Hauschka skincare. Andreas explained that Dr Hauschka was a student of Rudolf Steiner and had sought Steiners advice in regard to finding a way to capture a plants life force once the plant was picked.  That was all it took for me to know I had found the holy grail of skincare. A skincare line based on the ideas and principals of Rudolf Steiner the man behind Waldorf Education, Biodynamic Farming and Anthroposophic Medicine. This was something special indeed.

Its been 15 years since my chat on the couch with Andreas and my passion and reverence for the wisdom behind the Dr Hauschka Treatment and the products grows and deepens.  And to end my story on a sweet note. Although I had to walk away empty handed because they weren't selling anything at the spa show a few days later a package arrived for me in the mail. It was my very own and very first Dr Hauschka Face Care Kit, compliments of Dr Hauschka Canada.

Menopausal Skin = Change

Something different about Dr Hauschka skincare is that they don't make use of the term anti aging.  Wow! The skincare industry is rocking and rolling, and they know women will spend money in the hopes of looking younger. For a company to not hop on the anti aging band wagon and capitalize on the profit making is highly unusual. What Dr Hauschka skincare does do it recognize that our skin has different stages. All through our life our bodies and our skin are changing. What the skin needs when we are in our teens is different then what it needs when we are in our 50's and 60's. 

 Dr Hauschka skincare recognizes that in mature skin different processes in the body are slowing down.  Some of these waning processes are the skins ability to make its own  oils. This is  dramatically so for women once they hit menopause. Other processes that are slowing down are the skins ability to remove waste products, resulting is skin that looks dull and lack lustre.  And  yes, the collagen in the skin is decreasing too.

Dr Hauschka skincare utilizes whole plant ingredients to help support these processes in mature skin.  By using select  medicinal  herbs, flowers, gem stones and minerals, these natural ingredients  help keep the processes that are weakening strong, and vital. 

Menopausal skin has its own unique needs.  Huge hormonal shifts have taken place in the body and there is an impact on the skin.  The most common change for menopausal skin is heat. Hot flashes may be so problematic that the skin requires products that are cooling in nature. 

The following products from the Dr Hauschka line have cooling properties to help heat effected skin:

Regenerating Serum and Regenerating Day Cream

Quince Day Cream

Rejuvenating Mask

Revitalizing  Day Cream

Some menopausal women are shocked to discover their skin is experiencing break outs for the first time in their life.  Dr Hauschka Cover Stick treats and heals pimples as quickly as possible.

Other women experience extreme dryness. The Hydrating mask used  2x a week is a boost for your skin. It can also be used as a daily moisturizer until the dryness improves. Also recommended is the light Revitalizing Day Cream which activates the oil glands. 

Sunday Makeup Soirée - Spring Makeup Bag Clean Up

 Spring is coming.  For us here in Victoria I would have to say, "Spring Is Here!!!"

With Spring comes longer evenings, fresh flowers and sunshine. Sigh. 

Give your makeup up bag a spring clean, a clutter cleaning, a feng shui overhaul. 

Once a month on a Sunday I host a FREE one on one makeup consultation. 

March's Makeup Soiree is devoted to cleaning out your makeup bag.  

Let go of the old, what no longer serves you and make way for the new.

I will help you go through your existing makeup and consult with you on the colours that are right for you now.  Sometimes we get stuck in a rut and use the same colours for years, even though as we get older our features and colouring changes. Sometimes you're a smart cookie and you know the colours that work best for you, in that case let me introduce you to some stunning options in your colour palette from the Dr Hauschka collection.

Space is limited and this free monthly event always fills up. 

All ladies who book a spot will receive a free sample of the New Dr Hauschka Foundation.

New formula, new fresh scent and supreme lightness. 

When - Sunday March 15th from 2pm - 5pm

Where - Kathleen Daunhauer Holistic Skincare Studio 316 Moss Street

           To book call  250 294 9913 or email me at kdaunhauer@shaw.ca