Celebrity Care With Uni Background

Body conscious

Whether it's blemishes or dry skin, ingrown hairs, sun damage, or dark spots, Natalie's body care does more than just provide moisture. The four body lotions and one body gel developed by physician Natalie Lindner are designed as specific problem solvers. At the age of 15, the Munich native dreamed of creating her own body care line because she repeatedly found that the effectiveness of available products couldn't keep up with that of facial care products. Her skin care line contains active ingredients but is free of parabens, mineral oil, silicones, dyes, and fillers. Production, packaging, and shipping are "Made in Germany."

Natalie's Cosmetics; available at www.natalies-cosmetics.com, in select department stores, and via www.niche-beauty.com.

Combinable

The facial care range of Hamburg dermatologist Volker Steinkraus combines the four components of vitamins, niacin, botanicals, and biomimetics, whose ingredients are used at different times in serums and creams. This is intended to maximize their effectiveness. All products are vegan, fragrance-free, and, according to Steinkraus, can also be combined with other skincare products. This democratic approach is also reflected in the prices: The face cream, which is available in three different strengths, and the high-quality serums are (still) in the double-digit euro range. For a doctor brand, this is almost a bargain.

Prof. Dr. Steinkraus; available at www.steinkraus.com and www.niche-beauty.com.

Pure luxury

In the US, Munich-based dermatologist Timm Golüke's exclusive skincare line is listed at Bergdorf Goodman, and his products are also available at the luxury online store Net-A-Porter. He regularly holds consultations at the renowned Lanserhof detox hotel. His skincare line is based on fern extracts, which are said to counteract both genetic and environmentally induced skin aging. Combined with other active ingredients such as vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, and retinol, each product is a top-class treat, not only for the skin and the senses—the scent is truly pleasant—but also, unfortunately, due to the comparatively high prices.

Royal Fern Skincare; available at www.royalfern.com, in select perfumeries, and at www.netaporter.com.

Anti-inflammatory

Nicolas Perricone is not only a dermatologist, but also a nutritionist, a New York Times author, and one of the most renowned anti-aging experts in the USA. His skincare line is based on the theory that inflammation in the body is the primary factor responsible for the aging process. His products contain, among other things, the body's own antioxidant, which has anti-inflammatory properties and is no longer produced sufficiently by the body during the natural aging process. His nutritional supplements are also intended to slow the aging process through vitamins, minerals, trace elements, omega-3 fatty acids, and gamma-linolenic acid.

Dr. Perricone MD; available in select perfumeries, at Douglas, and via www.niche-beauty.com.

For retinol fans

Miriam Rehbein has always been fascinated by retinol (also known as vitamin A), the oldest recognized anti-aging ingredient. However, it can quickly cause irritation on sensitive skin. In five years of research with a laboratory, the Munich-based dermatologist has developed a "deep technology" that allows retinol to penetrate the deeper layers of the skin and exert its effects there without causing damage to the skin's surface. Combined with hyaluronic acid, antioxidants, B vitamins, and AHA fruit acids, the broad-spectrum Dr. Mi! cosmetics line has been created, which also includes perfume and a care line for pregnant women.

Dr. Mi!; available at www.doctormi.de and in selected perfumeries.

Intense fragrance

Sugar is an anti-aging killer—indeed, the number one beauty killer, or so Susanne von Schmiedeberg claims. The Düsseldorf-based dermatologist's skincare line therefore primarily focuses on the active ingredient L-carnosine, which is said to slow down cell glycation and thus skin aging. Based on this, the dermatologist and author developed her own Pro-Youthing line with Douglas in 2019. The products are labeled Clean Beauty, but the scent of many of them is so intense that it's legitimate to question how many fragrances they actually contain and how "clean" they really are.

Dr. Susanne von Schmiedeberg; available at www.dr-schmiedeberg.com or at Douglas.

More is more

Patients from all over the world come to the skin and laser center of Munich dermatologist Stefan Duve. He was one of the first dermatologists in Germany to launch his own skin care products in 2009. The portfolio is correspondingly extensive, covering not only various skin types and needs, but also including dedicated lines for men and children. Duve relies on a symbiosis of potent natural ingredients and modern anti-aging cell research. Hyaluronic acid, retinol, growth factors, and antioxidants such as vitamins C and E are contained in all products in varying concentrations and compositions. Fragrances are a matter of taste.

Doctor Duve Medical Skin Care; available at www.doctor-duve.com, at Douglas, and via www.niche-beauty.com.

Celebrity care

Naomi Campbell, Gwyneth Paltrow, Hailey Bieber, and Johnny Depp are among her clients. During the pandemic, Barbara Sturm, Germany's best-known beauty doctor, has demonstrated her business acumen with virtual workshops and tutorials. She has clinics in cities like London, Miami, Düsseldorf, and St. Tropez. Originally an orthopedic surgeon, Sturm's portfolio now includes more than 90 products, all vegan and categorized according to different skin types and needs. She also offers head and body care, nutritional supplements, and clothing. Whether it's worth including this marketing effort in the price of cosmetics is something everyone has to decide for themselves.

Dr. Barbara Sturm; available at www.drsturm.com and selected retailers.

With university background

Anyone active on social media will hardly be able to ignore the striking royal blue bottle of "The Cream" by Augustinus Bader. The Leipzig University professor of the same name, who is one of the leading researchers in the field of stem cell biology, developed a technology for this cream that uses amino acids, vitamins, and synthesized molecules, as well as ingredients such as argan, avocado, and evening primrose oil, to stimulate cell renewal. There are highly satisfied customers who are willing to pay a rather hefty sum for "The Cream." Other products fare less well in online reviews.

Augustinus Bader; available at www.augustinusbader.com and in selected perfumeries.

Democratically

Werner Mang is Germany's most renowned cosmetic surgeon. The term "Mang nose" originated when he operated on Götz George's nose after an accident. Since then, he has performed procedures on celebrities from home and abroad at his clinic in Lindau. It's all the more surprising, then, that he has discontinued his multi-product skincare line, which was sold through QVC, and is now focusing on a single "Preserve Cream" for a comparatively low price. "No cream in the world justifies a three-digit price," says the beauty doctor. He forgoes marketing in order to offer the best possible value for money.

Prof. Dr. Mang skincare range; available at www.bodenseeklinik.de