Dr. Hauschka [Review]: Purifying Cleansing Cream, Balancing Oil, Clarifying Toner, and Fluide Day Cream

P.S.: This post is NOT sponsored

This post provides some additional info to my first post My Dr. Hauschka and Mario Badescu Routine: Bye Bye Adult Acne

Some useful info about Dr. Hauschka

Yes, I treated myself to all this 😀

You can buy Hauschka products on the Lookfantastic website (link) or the FeelUnique website (link). These two sites regularly offer 20% to 23% off Dr. Hauschka products

Dr. Hauschka is a German organic brand whose products cater to all skin types (not just blemished skin). Indeed, the brand believes in the skin’s self-correcting ability – meaning everyone can have normal skin, provided we stimulate its natural functions and help it find its natural balance – through a good routine.
However, you can only see improvements under two conditions:
1. You use the entire Dr. Hauschka routine. The products are formulated to work in synergy. You need to use at least the Purifying Cleansing Cream, the oil, and a Hauschka day cream simultaneously for it to work.
2. You apply the products exactly as instructed on their website/insert. This is very important.
The Dr. Hauschka routine says not to use any oily products in the evening. The skin must learn to regulate itself, and it’s programmed to do so at night. If the skin feels too tight, you’re allowed to do cures (water-based) several times a year for 28 days, or use their Night Serum (also water-based).
However, during the day, blemished skin is offered half a drop of oil. By receiving a sufficient dose of lipid film, the skin stops panicking (“I’m lacking oil, I need to produce sebum+++”), so it reduces sebum production. I find this approach clever: too many anti-acne products on the market aim to dry out the skin => the skin produces even more sebum to compensate => more breakouts. It’s a vicious cycle. Whereas a self-correcting approach, with non-comedogenic oils specifically formulated for blemished skin, helps the skin regulate itself naturally.
Note: some skins produce more sebum due to a lack of water => in that case, what you need isn’t the oil but Dr. Hauschka’s Night Serum, which is water-based.
The Dr. Hauschka routine prohibits any exfoliating products, deemed too aggressive for the skin. Normally, if you’ve used the Purifying Cleansing Cream correctly twice a day, you shouldn’t feel the need to exfoliate.
The Purifying Cleansing Cream is not a makeup remover. You need to remove makeup before using it.
They sell a lot of minis and trial kits. Perfect for testing or for weekend trips. Between the samples received as gifts and the ones I bought extra, I now have a nice collection and can go away for the weekend with just this small box.

Alright, let’s get to the reviews!!

Dr. Hauschka Purifying Cleansing Cream: My Review

The promise: Dr. Hauschka Purifying Cleansing Cream gives the skin a feeling of freshness and purity. A gentle daily cleansing care suitable for all skin conditions, it can be used morning and evening. It maintains the skin’s natural hydrolipidic film while preparing it for follow-up care. Its composition of calendula, chamomile, St. John’s Wort, anthyllis, and almond revitalizes and clarifies the complexion. Pores are refined. The precious plant extracts release their purifying and healing properties thanks to this almond powder-based preparation with a pleasantly creamy texture.
Application: Moisten the skin well with warm water. Work about 2 cm of Purifying Cleansing Cream in the palm of your hand with a little warm water. Gradually add water until the mixture becomes creamy. Apply to the face, gradually rolling both hands to absorb impurities. Start from the center outward, and from top to bottom. Avoid the eye area. Moisten your hands again and repeat the motion several times. Be careful not to rub, as this product is not a scrub. Finally, remove the Purifying Cleansing Cream by rinsing thoroughly with warm water and finish with cold water. For sensitive skin, use only lukewarm water.
Ingredients: water – sweet almond powder – calendula and anthyllis extracts – alcohol – peanut oil – chamomile and St. John’s Wort extracts – sunflower oil – witch hazel extract – wheat germ oil – sweet almond oil – essential oils – acerola extract – xanthan gum (natural mucilaginous substance) – lecithin (vegetable) – alginate
Price: from €11.50 for 50ml

Cream review : Using the cleansing cream was quite cumbersome at first; it stung my eyes and the product got stuck in my hair. However, after a Dr. Hauschka-trained esthetician showed me the correct application, I see a real difference on my skin. Usually, I exfoliated once a week and used patches to remove sebaceous filaments from my nose. But after regular use of the cleansing cream (twice a day), I’ve noticed a real difference in my pores. They’re clear of sebaceous filaments, so they look smaller. I’ve even set aside my Clarisonic and patches!! Moreover, the cleansing cream leaves a slightly oily film on the skin, leaving it soft and nourished – very appreciated, especially since you can’t use night creams with the Dr. Hauschka routine.

Dr. Hauschka Clarifying Toner

The promise: The Clarifying Lotion gently stimulates the skin’s natural powers. It gives a rosy, radiant complexion. It is the ideal daily toning care for oily, impure, and enlarged-pore skin. Its formula based on kidney vetch, calendula, and nasturtium regulates excessive sebum production, soothes, and acts on areas prone to inflammation. Its precious composition of medicinal plants regulates and balances by stimulating the skin’s functions.
Application: Morning and evening, spray the Clarifying Lotion on the face, neck, and décolleté, then gently press in with the warmth of your hands.
Ingredients: water – alcohol – extracts of kidney vetch, calendula, nasturtium, horse chestnut bark, echinacea, witch hazel, and daisy – essential oil – lactic acid
Price: from €20.50 per 100ml

My review: it’s the only product in the routine whose effects I can’t confirm with certainty, but I keep applying it twice a day – because we all need a lotion in life. The fact that alcohol (vegetable, sure) is the second ingredient after water bothers me a lot, but in reality, it doesn’t dry out my skin, as the brand explains on their official website:

A water-alcohol mixture serves as a means of extracting many medicinal plants used in cosmetology. It is therefore part of the ingredients in many Dr. Hauschka products.
It is often claimed that alcohol, due to its drying effect, is not suitable for sensitive and dry skin. These claims are rather historical. In the past, facial lotions contained high alcohol content to cleanse the skin with a soaked cotton pad. With this method of use, a portion of the skin’s natural sebum was removed by the alcohol. The skin barrier was thus weakened, causing the skin to dry out.
Dr. Hauschka lotions are not meant to remove leftover cleanser or to scrub the skin with a cotton pad; they are sprayed directly onto the skin and pressed in with the warmth of the hands to penetrate. The alcohol can only produce its toning effect and evaporate under the action of body heat, without depriving the skin of its sebum.

Actually, after several months of use, I can say that I don’t really like this lotion. A hydrosol, or the Serozinc thermal spray from La Roche Posay… would be more pleasant to use.

Dr. Hauschka Balancing Facial Oil

The promise: The Balancing Facial Oil sends a clear message to the skin. It gives it the impulse to produce less sebum on its own. Applied daily, it reveals the skin’s natural beauty. Its formula with carrot, sweet almond oil, calendula, and neem cares for the skin and helps reduce impurities. The precious oil extracts help the skin normalize its sebum production while tightening pores.
Application: In the morning, after cleansing and toning the skin, apply the product to the face, neck, and décolleté. The Day Cream Fluid with a few drops of Balancing Facial Oil added is the ideal care for combination skin. To do this, take a little of both preparations in the palm of your hand, mix, and apply (avoiding the eye area).
Ingredients: kidney vetch extract – apricot kernel oil – sweet almond oil – peanut oil – carrot and St. John’s wort extracts – sunflower oil – calendula extract – wheat germ oil – neem leaf extract – jojoba oil – wheat bran extract – essential oils – lecithin (vegetable) – cocoa butter
Price: from €17.90 per 30ml

My review: This oil smells divine! It’s a shame I can’t use a lot (half a drop each time – and only in the morning). I absoooooolutely love it! I use so little that I preferred to buy the 5ml minis (so it’s lighter in the suitcase). 5ml lasts 1.5 months! For tiny pimples, you can put a little balancing oil on top and it disappears the next day (thanks to carrot and neem extracts). It works less well on big pimples though.

It gives the skin a luminous effect, that famous “dewy” effect, but the skin doesn’t shine like an oily skin. I find it regulates the skin well during the day. For the “long-term skin normalization” effect, I think we’ll have to wait a bit longer, it’s only been 3 months since I started this routine. For now, my skin remains combination 🙁

Day Cream Fluid

The promise: Day Cream Fluid gives a radiant complexion. This light emulsion based on precious oils and plant extracts supports the skin’s natural sebum production and hydration processes, giving it a healthy glow. Day Cream Fluid stimulates skin functions and suits most skin types. Its formula of medicinal plants like kidney vetch, witch hazel, and carrot revitalizes and invigorates the skin. Its precious extracts and vegetable oils balance the hydrolipidic film. Even pale and dull skin is revitalized.
Application: In the morning, after cleansing and toning the skin, apply to the face, neck, and décolleté. Day Cream Fluid with a few drops of Balancing Facial Oil added is the ideal care for combination skin. To do this, take a little of both preparations in the palm of your hand, mix, and apply (avoiding the eye area). Day Cream Fluid can be used as a makeup base. For the evening, we recommend a non-greasy night care with the Night Toner Serum or the Intensive Night Treatment.
Ingredients: water – kidney vetch extract – apricot kernel oil – alcohol – witch hazel extract – sweet almond oil – olive oil – carrot extract – peanut oil – sunflower oil – St. John’s wort extract – vegetable glycerin – calendula extract – vegetable lecithin – wheat bran extract – jojoba oil – essential oils – alginate – xanthan gum (natural mucilaginous substance)
Price: from €16 per 30ml

My review: It smells nice, although the scent is subtle, and my skin absorbs it very quickly. It feels soft, well-hydrated, and well-nourished. The fluid is not at all comedogenic/occlusive. I really like it! The value for money is excellent; I only need one drop for the whole day. For autumn and winter, this fluid works 100% for me.

However, during summer, it’s a bit greasy for me; the Melissa Day Cream will suit me better when it’s hot and humid.

Intensive Night Treatment

The promise: Dr. Hauschka’s non-greasy night care lets skin breathe freely and reminds it of its natural regeneration processes. The Intensive Night Treatment provides the ideal impulse for this. It normalizes skin functions while stimulating the skin’s natural forces. Its formula with rhythmized extracts of silver and medicinal plants like witch hazel and white lily supports the overnight regeneration process and regulates the skin’s fine metabolism. Dry skin learns to maintain its hydrolipid balance again. Sensitive skin strengthens. Oily and blemished skin reduces its sebum production and its tendency to keratinize.
Application: Skin cells renew themselves every 28 days. To follow this regeneration rhythm, the Intensive Night Treatment is used in 28-day cycles, replacing your usual daily care. Each year, follow as many cures as the number of decades corresponding to your age (e.g., 3 cures per year for 30-year-olds). After cleansing, apply the contents of two ampoules to your face, including lips, eye area, earlobes, and décolleté. During the fourth week, one ampoule is enough. Gently press it in with the warmth of your hands. In the morning, use Dr. Hauschka day care. For additional night care, use the Revitalizing Night Serum or the Regenerating Day/Night Serum.
Ingredients: water – rose essential oil – marshmallow leaf extract¹ – aloe¹, bryophyllum¹, kidney vetch¹, sunflower¹, white lily¹, and rose petal extracts¹ – witch hazel extract¹ – mica¹ – royal jelly¹ – spring flower honey¹ – colloidal silver¹ – salt
Price: from €18/week

My review: At first, not using a night cream really bothered me (my skin felt tight), hence the Dr. Hauschka esthetician’s advice for a 28-day intensive night treatment: 2 ampoules/day for 3 weeks, then 1 ampoule/day for a week. I wasn’t too convinced, and it also gave me a good purge at the beginning – because of its slightly alkaline pH, to (I quote the brand) “promote the skin’s nighttime elimination processes.” But gradually, my skin became very smooth. After the treatment, my skin remains smooth and tolerates the absence of any night care.
The cons: The ampoule system annoys me a bit; there’s a small tool to break them, but I still think it produces a lot of broken glass (and waste). It’s not at all easy to pack in a suitcase, and it’s so expensive! But luckily it was just a 28-day treatment.

Honestly, next time I’ll go with their night serum rather than this treatment.

Revitalizing Mask

The promise: The Revitalizing Mask is a multifaceted treatment that evens out skin tone. Its formula with medicinal plants like quince, kidney vetch, and chamomile has a clarifying and smoothing effect, even on blemished skin with enlarged pores. It visibly calms, especially redness, refreshes, and relieves sun-damaged skin. Precious jojoba and apricot kernel oils, combined with wheat germ, help keep skin hydrated. Skin feels instantly refreshed and firmer.
Application: Once or twice a week, apply a generous layer of Revitalizing Mask to your face (including the eye area), neck, and décolleté. Remove after 20 minutes with a compress soaked in warm water. For optimal results, we recommend deep-cleansing your skin beforehand with the Facial Steam Bath and Purifying Mask.
Ingredients: water – quince seed extract – alcohol – vegetable glycerin – kidney vetch extract – apricot kernel oil – jojoba oil – borage extract – fatty alcohols (emulsifiers of vegetable origin) – peanut oil – chamomile extract – bentonite (volcanic clay) – wheat germ oil – wheat bran extract – carrot extract – propolis – essential oils – vegetable lecithin – xanthan gum (natural mucilaginous substance) – chlorophyll
Price: from €25.50 per 30ml

My review: My skin drinks this mask in 1 minute. The texture is so much like a regular cream that I’m tempted to leave it on all day (actually, it can even be used as a very thin base under your day cream if your skin feels too tight). After applying this mask, my skin is indeed calmed and incredibly soft. The scent isn’t sexy, but it’s not overpowering either. I find the price quite reasonable since you use very little product each time. I only bought it in a mini size because I prefer making masks with manuka honey (which calms redness but also fades spots).

Conclusion

Dr. Hauschka is a very good organic brand with a skincare protocol aimed at normalizing the skin. It helped me get rid of my adult acne and establish a stable routine suited to my skin type.
However, since these are natural products, the effect is noticed less quickly than with other conventional products. Let’s say you turn to Dr. Hauschka for long-term results; not to make a big pimple disappear the day before a job interview, a party, or your wedding, etc.
The value for money is excellent since you don’t need to use much product each time. By the way, I recommend buying either the miniatures or the 30ml formats to save money. The only product to buy in 100ml is the purifying cream (which empties faster than the others).
For frequent travelers, Dr. Hauschka is not the ideal brand: hard to find outside Europe, glass bottles that are too big and too heavy… and above all, it’s not suited to tropical climates because the products contain too much oil. It’s a brand to use only in Europe, and it’s perfect for Europe.