Author: Margit Rüdiger

CultureAndCream Author from Munich To travel during my profession as a beauty journalist was never enough for my. Also my six month on a world trip didn't do it. It always attracts me to other cities, foreign countries, on roadtrips and places I don't know yet. But I am not only interested in "culture" and "cream", I am also fascinated by people who have stories to tell .  Such unique experiences I want to share with you.
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We’re Getting a Dog

The birth of a child is an exciting experience. But I am almost as excited as I was with my daughter before the arrival of our four-legged new member to the family. Yes, we are getting a dog. For years my husband used his veto when the topic of dogs came up. “You travel too much, there is no place for a dog” was always his convincing argument. Unfortunately he was right about that too. Because in my last editorial job as a beauty director of a the German Instyle magazine, I was on appointments and trips almost every week. I counted 36 flights in one year at Lufthansa alone, and that was no exception. No dog in handbag size Working as a freelancer now gives me a lot more freedom to organize my days, and ultimately, owing to Corona, I take much less air travel. The time for a dog is ripe. For months we discussed race, height, gender in the family. The pros and cons of a dog from a shelter or a breed. One thing was clear to me from the start: A “handbag format” is out of the question for me. I need my bag for myself. I also want a dog that walks on its four legs and doesn’t need or want to be carried around. A watchdog for me My husband made the case for a Labrador? I think the silver-colored ones are beautiful, but unfortunately it is a fashion dog and I do not want to support any gene mutations brought about by irresponsible breeders that bring in a lot of money for them. It is not without reason that the breeders’ association does not recognize the silver color of the Labrador. In addition, Labradors are famous for their constant hunger and therefore overweight. Even thrown away leftover food on the street and in the park, friends tell me, is not safe from them. Labradors aren’t exactly known as watchdogs either. But for our living situations in Germany as well as in my second home Italy, I need a four-legged protector when I’m alone in the house. My childhood dog Finally we came across the dog breed, which also accompanied me with great joy in my childhood. An Airedale Terrier. In my parents’ house we had two, father and son. With Astor or Bärle as minder, my mother could safely leave the stroller in front of every store.… weiterlesen
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Tested for you: Mascara „Supra Lift & Curl“ from Clarins

In other countries the innovation from Clarins will be available in autumn, but in the USA it is already on the market. I am very happy that I was allowed to test it in advance. Hurray! Mascara is one of the few make-up devices that I use every day. „Supra Lift & Curl“ is a 2-in-1 mascara that is supposed to visibly lift, curl, lengthen and thicken the eyelashes and thus create an open, wide-eyed look. Mascara in the test First of all, the texture: It is light, water-resistent (not waterproof). It neither smudges nor clumps – it stays perfectly in place even on hot summer days. The job: The curved brush, with unique fibers, curls the hair perfectly and delivers a controlled dose with each application to define every single lash. The effect: thanks to a boosting complex with panthenol and sphingosine (amino alcohol), it makes the lashes look thicker and longer. A lifting complex with natural polymers from Linseed and Chia seed creates the right curl of the lashes. Indeed, I’ve been using the innovative product for 28 days now. My eyelashes look longer and thicker even when I don’t wear mascara. And I no longer need my eyelash curler – the unloved tool. It seems like I have got a professional lash-lift effect. „Supra Lift & Curl Mascara“ from Clarins, 29 US$… weiterlesen
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Sex Toys Can Change Your Love Life

Vibrators, dildos and lubricants. Sex toys are no longer a taboo topic. Even serious scientific platforms deal with this topic. And rightly so, because more than half (52 percent) of all women and men between the ages of 18 and 69 use sex toys in a relationship, 72 percent of women and 31 percent of men use them during solo sex. This is the result of a study from Prof. Nicola Döring, “Media Psychology and Media Concept” at the TU Ilmenau. A survey carried out by the market research company OnePoll on behalf of Lelo, Danish manufacturer of intimate lifestyle products like sex toys, shows that bad sex not only occurs at one-night stands. A lack of passion, too much alcohol, shame, different ideas and much more can be the reason for catastrophic sex. The results are surprising and, above all, sometimes funny. Pleasure and frustration during sex When asked about the funniest and most terrible experiences in bed, there were answers such as shouting the name of the ex in the heat of the moment or falling off the couch with the result that four intervertebral discs were injured. One tried to have sex in the parking lot of a cemetery. “Let’s just say my partner thought he saw a ghost,” she confessed. “It was hilarious to me.” One in five admitted that they have had more than ten really bad sexual encounters in their life. That’s why two out of five have even broken off the act at one point or another. It is astonishing, however, that for 69 percent of those surveyed, good and bad sex is equally unforgettable. Of those who got injured while having sex, 57% said it happened in the shower, while 53% said it was caused by a position known as a “wheelbarrow”. But the highest risk of injury is “doggy style”, according to 62% of those surveyed. A third have stopped in the middle of sexual intercourse because they had to pee, and another third fell asleep on their partner during the act. “Embarrassing sex injuries or stories can make you laugh, no matter how seriously you take yourself, “says Sara Kranjcec Jukic, Global Brand Manager at Lelo.” The more of these stories are shared without prejudice and humor, the more fun everyone will have Life is not a movie – sex between real people is always embarrassing to some extent and no one can avoid it.… weiterlesen
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Tested for you: „Body After Sun“ from Dr. Schrammek

I love the sun, even if it has been a bit rare in this country this summer. It goes without saying that when it shines, I protect myself from UV rays with a good and caring sunscreen product. And yet the skin is often dried out in the evening. Especially on the arms, on the cleavage and even worse on the legs. From an after sun product, I expect the skin to feel plumped up and cared for and not to leave it feeling greasy. Body Science The products of Dr. Schrammek I have trusted for a long time. Do you still have in mind that it was the first German “Doctor Brand” and that it has been represented in 60 countries for over 60 years? In any case, there is a new sun protection and care series that combines effective UV and cell protection with intensive care. After sun freshness I am extremely enthusiastic about the after sun care. It’s a transparent, gel-like formulation. What I noticed positively when opening the tube is the subtle fresh scent. You can feel the refreshment immediately on the skin. Pleasant coolness spreads. Any feeling of heat disappears and redness is reduced.Tried and tested active ingredients such as panthenol, sea salt and bisabolol moisturize the skin and give it a velvety matt look, without the otherwise so common greasy shimmer of after sun products. In addition, vitamin E has an antioxidant and smoothing effect. The summer classic coconut oil should not be missing because of its nourishing and anti-inflammatory properties. Applied regularly, the tan stays longer and more even with this after sun care. „Body After Sun Body Science“ from Dr Schrammek derma.cosmetic, 200 ml, 28,00 €… weiterlesen
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Friends can be chosen, family not …

Family is simply assigned to you. You don’t have to like everyone and you don’t have to maintain equally good contact with everyone. Everyone has to decide for themselves. However, they should then act consistently. Therefore it surprises me all the more why distant relatives suddenly remember me when they can use me for something, even though they were barely aware of my existence beforehand. And unfortunately that has happened to me a number of times. Just recently again, which made me think a lot. No, wrong, it really annoyed me. The story goes like this: A male relative, whom I have rarely seen in my life or in his life, also I never talked to him on the phone, sends me a WhatsApp. Out of the blue. I have no idea how he got my cell phone number at all. I don’t have his either. But it doesn’t matter. In any case, he wrote to me that he and his wife were on their way to South Tyrol from Hamburg and that their overnight stay in Munich had been canceled. Whether they could stay with us the following night. Zo explain it, it should be said that this is not a penniless student, but a lawyer who certainly does not earn badly. In addition, we were the only ones from our family who weren’t invited to the wedding of the two of them a few years ago. But as a free lodging place – with food, of course – on the way to vacation, we would have come into consideration. Actually outrageous. Or did I misunderstand the whole thing and the two tried to make better contact? Certainly not. That became clear to me when there was no more answer from them to my “regretful” refusal that we were on the way to Italy ourselves, which was also true. I like to invite friends But even if I hadn’t been making travel arrangements myself, I wouldn’t have accepted the two of them for an overnight stay. After all, I’m not a hotel. To make it clear. I love to have guests and to make them comfortable with me. Stinginess is far away from my character. If I already invite guests to my home, I would like to look forward to meeting them and having nice conversations with them. Then a funny, long evening and also breakfast together on the next morning is an enrichment.… weiterlesen
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Skinimalism: Less is the new more!

Minimalism is no longer exclusively understood as an art movement from the 1960s. Concentrating on the essentials has developed into a lifestyle concept that encompasses many areas of life. In the meantime, skin care is also part of it. A trend that is to be welcomed because it is good for your skin and your wallet. The term Skinimalism was announced as a trend for 2021 by the social media platform Pinterest at the beginning of the year. The trigger for this was that the search queries for topics such as “natural make-up” and “radiant skin in a natural way” appeared more and more frequently. The search term “natural skin” alone has risen by an incredible 400 percent recently, and hashtags such as #skinimalism, “skinpositivity” and “bodypositivity” have caught on on Instagram. Skinimalism for more natural skin The idea of skinimalism includes not only focusing on fewer but effective care and make-up products, but also showing your skin as it really looks – not falsified by layers of primer, foundation, contouring powder and blush or through social media filters that cheat away even the smallest pore. Real skin has irregularities, spots and pimples. And you can stand up to it. Everyone knows by now that the perfect skin is a big lie. It just don’t exist, even if filters, Photoshop, photo-editing apps, and airbrushed beauty brand campaigns would have us believe. Alicia Keys “naked” face It was 2016 that famous American soul and R&B singer Alicia Keys decided to go without makeup. Also on stage. She confessed that she was addicted to make-up. She became the protagonist of the no-makeup and skinimalism movement. To this day, the artist appears in public without make-up. She only uses mascara and kohl at most during her appearances. And yet she is no less successful and is no less loved by her fans. She, too, has probably determined that you shouldn’t put on make-up to conform to a beauty standard, but only when you really feel like it. The corona pandemic has changed a lot, including makeup behavior. According to an international survey by the Statista Global Consumer Survey from June 2021, 41 percent of German women now do without make-up. More than 8,000 women in Germany, Brazil, China, France, Russia, South Korea, Great Britain and the USA were surveyed. In China and South Korea, only 20 percent refuse to apply make-up. When it comes to interest in beauty, on the other hand, Germans bring up the rear with nine percent.… weiterlesen
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Tested for you: New sustainable make-up line “Green Couture” from Artdeco

Sustainability, naturalness and maximum performance – these are the three pillars on which Artdeco is based the new “Green Couture” collection. Sustainability is not new territory for the company, because it has been in the DNA of the family business for decades – from in-house production to home work to the well-known refillable systems for make-up pallets.But for the new make-up line, the company goes one step further. In order to orientate himself even more strategically in the area of sustainability, Helmut Baurecht, founder and owner of the Artdeco cosmetic Group, brought with Prof. Dr. Anja Grothe, Professor of Sustainability Management, an expert on board who can look back on 30 years of experience in business and science. Good for you. Good for the planet. That is the focus of the new sustainable “Green Couture” line. 60-99 percent of the ingredients used for the textures are of natural origin. The products are free from mineral oils, parabens, silicones, microplastics, nanomaterials, PEG compounds (polyethylene glycol) and GMO (genetically modified organisms). Where palm oil is needed, it comes from RSPO-certified sources. Only sustainable materials are used for the packaging, such as paper from sustainable forestry and prints on water-based inks. Sustainability down to the last detail Sustainability also applies to hulls, tubes and jars. The vegan “Natural Cream Lipsticks”, for example, are contained in recyclable rice hulls with 75-90 percent organic substances. The same applies to the blusher, bronzer and blush jars. All liners, whether for eyes, brows or lips, are made of wood, the cap is made of recyclable polypropylene (PP). This is known as an alternative to the “bad” plastic bags of the past. The basic substance for the concealer tubes is a bioplastic made from the sugar cane plant. Top quality, great colors It goes without saying that the quality of the sustainable formulations and the color result are top for all products. The color palette leaves nothing to be desired. And everything has been thought of – even a sharpener for thick and thin cosmetic pencils. The “Double Sharpener” has a specially shaped blade made of high carbon steel instead of stainless steel. Finally a blade which doesn’t get blunt so quickly and cuts the wood without splintering it. And the material of the sharpener is also biodegradable. The manufacture of the Mater-Bi from corn starch and oils is comparatively water-saving. For the raw materials of 1 kilogram of Mater-Bi you need 15-30 liters of water for irrigation.… weiterlesen
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Tested for you: „The Better Body Serum“ from LAB to BEAUTY

In summer I find a light body serum much more pleasant than a body cream, which is always a bit richer. The American prestige skincare brand from the Clean Beauty category is based on the active ingredient that is currently on everyone’s lips: CBD (cannabidiol) from the hemp plant is considered to be anti-inflammatory and calming. The body serum contains 50 mg of it. It is now known that the small inflammations in the tissue are some of the worst enemies of youthful, firm skin. The hemp extract should also help to alleviate redness and ensure an even texture. Unfortunately, there are no scientific studies on this yet.The serum also contains other goodies such as vitamin C. The water-soluble vitamin is rich in antioxidants, has a lightening effect and improves collagen production and thus the appearance of the skin. Vegan hyaluronic acid has proven itself as a strong moisture magnet that makes the skin plump and radiant and promotes its ability to regenerate. Green Coffee Beans: Helps tone the skin, improve its texture, boost collagen production, smooth out wrinkles, and promote blood circulation. There is also seaweed, which also supports the moisture balance, as well as cell regeneration and elasticity. Horsetail, on the other hand, is super-rich in silicon, strengthens the tissue and makes the skin more supple. Body serum with a spa feeling The pleasant thing about the serum is that it is immediately absorbed by the skin. The aromatic rosemary-mint note conveys a relaxing feeling of spa aroma. This also affects the skin. It looks refreshed and invigorated. My tip when the outdoor temperature is rising: I also like to use the Better Body Serum in between, especially when the skin needs an immediate boost in suppleness. It smooths the skin as soon as it is applied and makes it softer.And another benefit to mention: all LAB to BEAUTY products are vegan and free from parabens, sulfates, silicones, phthalates and gluten. They are among the 8-free. The abbreviation, which is now common in industry, means that the products labeled with it are free from a number of toxic ingredients. „The Better Body Serum“ from LAB to BEAUTY, 60 US$… weiterlesen

Craftsmen urgently wanted

In the winter cold, a window pane cracked in our apartment directly above the patio door. It needs to be replaced. The renovation of the bathroom, more precisely the shower, is also a long and urgent task. But thanks to Covid, craftsmenship is obviously booming now. In my next life I’ll be one too, I already know that. I understand that the craftsmen have a lot to do at the moment, and I’m happy for them too. What I don’t understand is the arrogance with which they get rid of you. Because of a single pane of glass – ten would have to be replaced in the entire property by now – no, it’s not worth it, you hear there. Sure, major construction sites bring in more money. But it’ll be finished at some point. And then you need us little ones again, dear craftsmen. Promises and then? Hurray. Finally found a tiler through relationships who signals the time and obviously also the desire for the job. He says he can come next week. Two or three days – the work couldn’t take longer. He seems competent and also well versed in matters of installation. A glimmer of hope for our bathroom. We selected the tiles, the sanitary requirements in the village are also willing to deliver. They even replaced the two toilets in the apartment a few months ago. Our tiler wants to be contacted via WhatsApp. Allright! So I send him the photo of the tiles and the address of the dealer. Locally resident, so no long journey for him. Still – no reaction. I wait a few days, you don’t want to be a nuisance, and ask – again via WhatsApp – whether he had ordered the tiles and when he would start with us in the bathroom. No answer this time either. A craftsmen saves the honour of the guild So much ignorance, not to say arrogance, makes me angry. I also give feedback when a customer asks me, or I cancel an appointment if something doesn’t work. For me it is an act of courtesy and respect for the other person. But that seems to have gone out of fashion today. In any case, four weeks have already passed since the declaration of will to be able to start right away next week. A major order probably got in the way here too… But I would also like to break a lance for the craftsmen’s guild.… weiterlesen
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Tested for you: Pillow „My Neck“ from Hefel

Because I sit at my desk a lot – as I do now – I often struggle with tension in the head, neck and shoulder area. Sleep also suffers. A problem that is due to our modern everyday life and affects many of us. Some time ago, my physiotherapist recommended a special ergonomic pillow to relieve and support my cervical spine while sleeping. It is based on the ergonomic design developed over the years by the South Tyrolean physiotherapist Günther Forer and it was produced by the Austrian bedding expert Hefel. The special pillow has already been awarded by the AGR Campaign for Healthier Backs. Pillow with wings Since I’ve been using the pillow, I’ve been sleeping better and healthier. It supports and relieves the cervical spine in back sleepers and side sleepers. “My Neck” looks like it has three fingers or wings. And that’s exactly the secret. The extended middle section supports the thoracic spine and thereby „opens up“ the rib cage. This primarily helps to make breathing easier and more effective, at the same time it stretches the chest muscles, mobilizes the thoracic spine and gently elongates the cervical spine. Actually exactly what my physiotherapist does to me. And then there are the side wings of the pillow, which promote the stability of the head and neck when lying on your back. In the side sleeping position, the two pillow wings correctly position the head and the cervical spine, and the shoulder can sink down ergonomically between a wing and the middle part. Dream in color The pillow is of course machine washable at 60 degrees and suitable for the dryer. It consists of 100% cotton and is filled with special fiber balls. For those who like it more colorful while sleeping: there are jersey covers in white, taupe, navy and orange. „My Neck Kissen“ from Hefel, 70x50x12 cm, 129 Euro, Cover each 24,90 Euro… weiterlesen

Traveling and Beauty are my passion.
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