German beauty, or “G-Beauty,” is the current leading trend in skincare spearheaded by a new wave of cult luxury brands including Dr. Barbara Sturm, Royal Fern, and Augustinus Bader. Renowned for being straightforward, functional and clean, German beauty products target specific problems with clear solutions and scientifically-backed results. Although today’s G-Beauty obsession has its emphasis on advanced anti-aging solutions, German skincare has a heritage in combining well-sourced natural ingredients with cutting-edge medical research. Its good reputation within the clean beauty community stems from the generations-old success of naturopathic powerhouses like Weleda and Dr. Hauschka, and the fact that Germany has a particularly strict list of ingredients it deems safe.
Dr. Barbara Sturm
Stars like Kim Kardashian flock to Dr. Barbara Sturm’s Düsseldorf clinic for the famous “Vampire Facial” and “Blood Cream.” But those who can’t make the trip to Germany are able to benefit from Dr. Sturm’s world class Molecular Cosmetics line, which is developed through a medical understanding of cellular rejuvenation and anti-aging. A “three-pronged approach of anti-inflammation, hydration/nutrition, and telomerase activation” produce formulas packed with potent antioxidants (such as Purslane) that protect, strengthen and detoxify the skin without overburdening it. From holy grail Hyaluronic Acid drops to luxury face creams, Dr. Sturm’s products are some of the most celebrity-loved, editor-approved top-shelf staples around because “they just work.”
Royal Fern
Renowned German dermatologist Dr. Timm Goleuke launched Royal Fern after discovering the powerful anti-aging benefits of the humble fern plant — a 400-million-year-old plant species whose evergreen and sunlight-resistant properties protect skin cell DNA from light-induced aging. His patented Royal Fern Complex combines nature’s active powers with modern anti-aging cell research, resulting in a minimalist, gender-neutral line of products that nourish down to the deepest layers of the skin, stimulating collagen and elastic production while counteracting damage from environmental stressors. Every Royal Fern product is handmade, filled and tested in Germany with the utmost attention to detail. It’s no wonder the Munich-based derm has a clientele list that includes royal family members from Europe to Dubai.
Augustinus Bader
World-leading stem cell and biomedical scientist Professor Augustinus Bader spent over 30 years researching the body’s self-healing processes to inform the science behind his facial moisturisers— The Cream and The Rich Cream – that Diane Kruger, Demi Moore, Victoria Beckham and Kris Jenner all swear by. The advanced formulas are enriched with Bader’s patented Trigger Factor Complex (TFC8), which combines natural amino aids, vitamins, and molecules naturally found in the skin to unlock your body’s innate ability for skin rejuvenation and cell renewal. The Cream is fast-absorbing and weightless while The Rich Cream is more luxurious and hydrating — both work to minimise lines, scars and pigmentation while leaving your skin plumped and luminous.
Susanne Kaufmann
Born and raised in German-speaking Bregenz Forest near the Austrian Alps, Susanne Kaufmann is the fifth-generation of family hoteliers who founded the Hotel Post Bezau. When she joined the family business in the 1990s, she set out to create a luxury spa and wellness experience that worked in harmony with the surrounding nature. She launched her first line of natural products in 2003 intended only for spa use at the hotel, but the response was so strong that guests requested to take them home and niche beauty boutiques asked to stock them. Today, Susanne Kaufmann’s holistic skincare range is hand-finished in Bregenzerwald and formulated with organic, locally-sourced active plant ingredients utilised in their purest and strongest form.
Dr. Hauschka
A pioneer of clean, organic beauty, Dr. Hauschka skincare was founded in 1964 by Dr. Rudolf Hauschka and Elisabeth Sigmund out of a passion for natural medicine, holistic health and sourcing ingredients sustainably from their own farms and gardens. Considered avant-garde at the time, Dr. Hauschka was one of the first to create solutions for stable cream bases without chemical and/or synthetic ingredients, harnessing the powers of botanical and natural ingredients that work in sync with your body’s natural renewal cycle. Today, you can find their multi-award-winning products like the Rose Day Cream anywhere from the shelves of Whole Foods Market to the beauty bags of Madonna and Julia Roberts.
Weleda
Another founding member of the farm-to-face organic beauty approach, Swiss-German brand Weleda was established in 1921 by Dr. Rudolf Steiner as a pharmaceutical laboratory with its own medicinal plant garden. Their best-selling Skin Food — an ultra-rich and nourishing plant-based cream — was created in 1926 and has been a cross-generation cult favourite (fans include Rihanna and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley) for its ability to heal dry skin and give complexions a luminous glow. Their calendula line boasts some of the best products for babies and sensitive skin types, too.
Editor
Joanna Fu
