We were lucky enough to meet Claudine Reinhard, General Manager of the WALA France group, of which Dr. Hauschka is a part. A great art fan with an inspiring philosophy of life, Claudine talks to us about herself, her daily beauty routine and what she simply loves.
Can you tell us about your background?
My career path is rather atypical, in fact it’s mostly made up of encounters and orientation, as I wasn’t necessarily destined to run a company. I went to art school. I was particularly interested in ecology and so, with my partner at the time, almost 40 years ago, I set up a store selling natural products, and we toured France meeting producers. I learned a lot about organic farming.
We didn’t have much in the way of cosmetics, but my husband was very familiar with the Weleda and Dr. Hauschka brands, which were still little-known in France, so we sold them in our store.
And as we met new people and found new resources, we set up a subsidiary in France.
Is it fair to say that you’re passionate about beauty?
My approach to beauty is partly linked to touch. Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve loved giving massages, taking care of people around me when they’re ill, for example… and then art! A passion for drawing and painting, but above all the nude, the relationship with the body. I don’t dissociate art and beauty; I like to observe the gestures of the people around me: I find a lot of beauty in them.
What is your relationship with the Dr.Hauschka brand?
I discovered the brand when I was 20, and fell in love with the products: the texture, the quality… I was a consumer first and foremost.
I also discovered the quality of the manufacturing when I worked for the brand, at the Jardin des Plantes, a period I more than adored, it was a delight to work there.
This is where the whole story of the product begins: the picking, the extraction of the plants… everything is done by hand. As long as you’re dealing with living things, it’s all manual work.
Is that what sets you apart from other brands?
Part of our difference comes from our highly specific extraction processes and our extensive know-how at Dr. Haushcka in terms of composition, combining plant parts and dosage, which makes all the difference. We also have a pharmaceutical laboratory where we carry out all our research into medicines made from plants and natural substances that are also used in cosmetics.
What is the Dr. Hauschka Foundation?
To disseminate and support the whole field of alternative medicine, and to truly preserve the fundamental aims of the company and production. There is no one management team, but a collegial one, with the added principle of self-financing, which allows us to maintain complete freedom in our quality.
Let’s move on to the realm of beauty. What do you think the current beauty trends are?
I’m not going to be able to answer your question, because personally, I’m interested in what’s out there, but I live outside the trends.
I have affinities in terms of clothes, what will best suit my personality, but I’m not influenced by trends, I look at them with curiosity. I’m completely in line with the laboratory’s philosophy, which is to respond and listen to consumers more in terms of skin treatment and make-up. Our aim is really to reveal beauty, and of course we’ll try to blur imperfections, but we won’t hide or transform them with make-up.
I live with the affinities that correspond to me.
On the other hand, I’m completely on trend because I love purple, and ever since I was a little girl I’ve been unhappy because I couldn’t find anything in that color! I don’t know how long this will last, but I’m happy for now! (laughs)
So what’s your beauty routine?
In the morning? First, I cleanse: it’s important to cleanse your skin in the morning after eliminating it at night. We don’t often do this, because we think more about cleansing in the evening with make-up removal.
A friend told me: ” In the morning, before telling your dreams anyway, you need to wash your face with water “, because you need to cut yourself off from the atmosphere of the night.
I then apply a toner or lotion, followed by a serum -I generally prefer the serum- and then a day cream. I can use a single cream in its entirety, but I also sometimes mix or vary depending on the temperature of what I feel on my skin.
Then I apply a tinted emulsion, which isn’t a foundation or a day cream, it just gives a healthy glow to my rather pale complexion, and I can’t do without it.
During the day? I don’t see the time go by, I may feel like putting on lipstick or blush again, but I use very little. But otherwise, the make-up holds very well throughout the day, so I don’t do much.
In the evening? I remove my make-up and then apply my serum, that’s all I do. I don’t feel the need to apply an oily texture at night, as this would also interfere with the natural night-time elimination process. Once again, I stick to the Dr. Hauschka philosophy.
Do you have a favorite beauty address to share with us?
Obviously I’ll tell you the Dr. Hauschka house, but otherwise I love head massages! It relaxes me. I know a hairdresser who works with the Rémi Portrait method, i.e. they work the hair with a razor without damaging it. The way the hair is worked creates a resonance on the meridians, and the hairdresser plays with the hair like with strings or an instrument. On the other hand, it can sometimes hurt, as in acupuncture when you touch a sensitive point. But the head feels much lighter, and the hairstyle takes care of itself. A massage is also available, of course, as well as hair coloring with natural ingredients.
The salon is located in an apartment, which I really like. It’s called “Ô cœur de l’âme” and is situated at 4 avenue de Versailles in Claye Sous Bois in the 78 region of France.
Finally, what do you think luxury is?
Space and having a window in your bathroom! I love being in my bathtub with the light on, hearing the birds singing. I love that feeling of freedom and space.
Many thanks to Claudine and the entire Dr. Hauschka team!
Cette publication est également disponible en :
