She’s so Cult: Margaret de Heinrich de Omorovicza
Call us old-fashioned, but we adore a good love story here at CB Towers - especially if skin care is involved. That was precisely the case with {Omorovicza}, whose co-founder Margaret de Heinrich de Omorovicza met her husband Stephen while working as a US diplomat. Stephen was a descendant of Budapest's noble Omorovicza family and during a trip to the historic city, visiting its ancient spas, the two were amazed at the effect the healing thermal waters had on their skin. One marriage and pioneering skin care line later and the rest is history.
The line has a fiercely loyal fanbase and for good reason - combining Nobel Prize-winning science and all the goodness from Hungary's mineral-rich waters (think hard-hitting antioxidants and an amazing delivery system that gets all the goodness into your skin where it's needed). From mineral-packed cleansers, to award-winning mud masks and oh-so-indulgent creams and spritzes - this is an investment that your skin will thank you for.
Currently our #CultBrandOfTheMonth we're offering FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING until the end of January (not long to go!) so there's no better excuse to treat yourself to this pioneering range.
We caught up with Margaret to learn more about why Hungarian skin care is the way forward...
{Margaret de Heinrich de Omorovicza} The Omorovicza waters are unique as the source. Budapest is a geological curiosity, as the earth’s crust there is thinner than any other place in the world, resulting in more thermal water sites than any other city. These waters are remarkable due to their mineral composition. Their healing properties were first discovered 2000 years ago… I experienced their effects personally when I moved to Budapest in 2001. Having suffered since my teens from a bad complexion – after just one visit, I saw a change to my skin. It made me want to bring this experience to those who could not travel to Budapest.
{MHO} The heritage, the innovation and the stories behind the formulas. Even after trying a small sample, people see, and feel something powerfully effective and luxurious. The fact that our products are remarkably effective while excluding obscure synthetic ingredients helps them stand out from the traditional luxury companies.
{MHO} Skin goes through a lot during the day. From UV rays to pollution, to harsh weather conditions and more, there is no greater feeling than a clean, washed face at the end of the night. No matter how tired you are, or how loudly your bed is calling for you, skipping out on your nightly beauty routine will only lead to more problems and dull-looking skin. For 2018, adopt the habit of taking care of your skin every single night. Lately, I’m completely obsessed with our new {Acid Fix}. I apply it before bed and leave it on overnight. It is a multi-purpose treatment, combining a potent blend of AHA/BHAs, which help to reverse all the damage caused by sunlight, pollution and make the skin feel smooth and luminous.
{CB}Omorovicza’s products are formulated in collaboration with a Nobel Prize-winning laboratory. Can you talk us through which formulations or ingredients you’re most proud of, and are there any innovations you’re especially excited by?
{MHO} There are so many! We are proud of our Healing Concentrate™, which is in every one of our products. This is a high concentration of dozens of minerals which have been transformed via a patented process so that they make the skin more smooth, supple and younger looking.
In our {Blue Diamond Range}, we found an innovative way to revitalise the cells that tend to compress (or fall asleep) with age… We call this Skin Fitness.
Our sand lily extract is particularly exciting, due to its high potency and success with treating dark spots and improving skin uniformity. Extracted from the white flowers of sand lily, this brightening extract helps to inhibit the overproduction of melanin, thus reducing dark spots and hyper-pigmentation. Combined with exfoliating black willow bark extract and salicylic acid, the complexion is left smoother, clearer and more refined.
I also love the mud we use in our products, which we source from the largest active thermal lake in the world. Its effect on the vitality of the skin is something we are very proud of.
{CB}What’s your stance on ‘natural’? It’s such an ambiguous term, but what does ‘natural’ mean to Omorovicza?
{MHO} Our products are between 95-100% natural. However, it is not so much about being natural as it is being responsible.
In terms of formulating, you have to look at each and every ingredient and evaluate it on its individual merits. There are some natural ingredients that cause as much harm as synthetic ones.
Bottom line - we will only include the best, most effective ingredients. If there is a synthetic ingredient (which is not harmful) for which there is no equivalent in nature or available science to increase the potency of the natural option – we may very well end up using the non-natural version.
In the winter, my skin is incredibly sensitive, dry and prone to redness. Our {Gold} range is my failsafe to deal with these issues and leave my skin glowing and healthy. In the summer, I am prone to breakouts but also have an oily T-zone. For this, I use our {Mud Range} which regulates my moisture level and detoxifies the skin. This, along with our {Miracle Facial Oil}, {Queen of Hungary Mist}, and {Rejuvenating Night Cream}, never fails to revitalise my complexion.
Setting realistic expectations for myself. I often fall victim to overloading my daily to-do list with unrealistic goals. After a lot of trial and error, what seems to work is to separate the ‘chunky’ tasks that take up a lot of headspace, not to mention time, and schedule slots in my day to devote to these topics. Also, don’t underestimate the power of clarity, which comes from exercise or even a good walk in nature.
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Cult Beauty’s Content Editor and a Cult Beauty OG, Verity loves nothing more than the marriage of language and lip balm. A quintessential Libran, she’s a self-professed magpie for luxury ‘must-haves' and always pursuing the new and the niche — from the boujee-est skin care to cutting-edge tech. Balancing an urge to stop the clock with her desire to embrace the ageing process (and set a positive example for her daughter), Verity's a retinol obsessive and will gladly share her thoughts about the time-defying gadgets, masks and treatments worth the splurge...
