BeautyTalks with Karin Herzog

What inspired the name Karin Herzog?

The founder, my father, Dr. Paul Herzog, named the brand after my mother’s name, Karin Herzog to thank her for everything she created with him.

What is the backstory behind Karin Herzog? How did it come to be?

My father has realized his dream, he has succeeded in stabilizing active oxygen in an emulsion. The idea with this product was to give the hospital environment a product that disinfects the hands while moisturizing them. A product that helps to heal the skin. But, as is often the case, behind a great man, there is a woman. And my mother tested these products on herself, with her experience in aesthetics, to see the effects, the tolerances... She noticed that these products with oxygen brought, day after day, a healthier and more beautiful skin. This is how Mrs. Herzog asked her husband to give this invention to the world of cosmetics. This is how the Karin Herzog range was born.

What are your go-to Karin Herzog products?

I have several of them, of course, but in order, more or less:

-Essential Mask: I know I can take this mask with me anywhere, even if I only have it, it will guarantee a mini glow treatment, will remove all the redness, will brighten my complexion and it's my great friend when I travel to conferences.

-Professional Cleansing: it's simple, I don't go anywhere without it. Otherwise I feel like I can never get my makeup off, my skin clear and clean. I have very sensitive eyes and if I remove them with something else, I can't stand it. So for me it's an "essential".

-Egyptian Earth: the must have for me too, it allows me to mattify the complexion, even out, give a nice tan and a healthy glow, without clogging the pores. It lets the skin breathe and is super natural.

-Oxygen Body 3%: to have, in my opinion, everywhere with you. When travelling, on holiday, to treat and disinfect everything, cuts, stings, burns, pimples that are about to come out... in short, it regularly saves my skin!

I could go on like this but, if I want to travel light... :-)

Tell us more about active oxygen! What is oxygen based skincare?

Our oxygen range is exclusive in that the oxygen is stabilized in the emulsion. You can leave your cream skin open for days, the oxygen remains encapsulated. When our oxygen creams are applied to the skin, the oxygen is released with a pressure that allows it to inject itself under the skin, bringing, for 1 molecule of oxygen, 2 molecules of water as well as all the vitamins and nutrients contained in the cream.

“Our oxygen range is exclusive in that the oxygen is stabilized in the emulsion. You can leave your cream skin open for days, the oxygen remains encapsulated.”

How important is sustainability to Karin Herzog?

Karin Herzog is a family brand, since 1974. So, sustainability is important to the family and we believe that the quality and effectiveness of our products deserve to be around for many years to come. That's what our customers tell us, some of whom have been loyal to us for two generations! 

“Sustainability is important to the family and we believe that the quality and effectiveness of our products deserve to be around for many years to come.”

What sets Karin Herzog apart from other skincare brands?

I think that apart from the love and conviction with which this family range is made, the stabilized oxygen in our emulsion makes the big difference. A lot of brands are trying to get this oxygen to inject its benefits under the skin but we are still the leaders in this field.

What has been your most memorable moment with Karin Herzog?

I was born with these products... I have been sharing my life with this brand and our company for almost 50 years now. There have been many milestones but I think the turning point in my life was when my father passed away and we realised that we had to take his wonderful inventions and discoveries further and as well as we could. He was a great man, charismatic and made all the decisions... it was up to us to take over.

“I was born with these products... I have been sharing my life with this brand and our company for almost 50 years now.”

Could you share a skincare secret with us?

When I see that a wrinkle is starting to appear, or that my eye area is getting deeper... I take our serum "E&R Pro Booster" which contains hyaluronic acid, I apply it to the areas I want to treat and on top of that I apply a thin layer of our oxygen 3% and vitamin A cream "Vita-A-Kombi 3": it literally injects the serum and the hyaluronic acid under the skin and after only a few days I see a great result! It saves me from having to go to the doctor for injections. 

Run us through your night-time routine!

Even if I'm super tired, I force myself to clean my face with the "Professional Cleansing" gel. Thank goodness it's so pleasant! And I change fragrances, in the summer I use the Professional Cleansing Watermelon scent, in the winter, the one that smells like cinnamon and orange... in between, I use the "nature" one, it breaks the routine! Then I apply either the Vita-A-Kombi with AHA or the "Oxygen Hyalu Lift" according to my desires and as I feel my skin needs. And I take care of my eyelashes a lot, by applying an eyelash serum but it's not our brand :-)

Where are Karin Herzog products manufactured?

Our products have always been manufactured entirely in our laboratories in Switzerland. Currently, we are in Lutry, a pretty little town on the shores of Lake Geneva.

How has Karin Herzog evolved throughout the years?

The Karin Herzog brand has evolved with the times. We have always tried to make our products more and more "natural": I put in inverted commas because we do not claim to be and do not wish to claim to be "organic". But instead of mineral oils (decried in the cosmetic world, but not in the medical world) we have used vegetable oils.

We regularly release new products, but not every year. My mother, Mrs. Karin Herzog, always said: if we bring out a new cream, it must be as effective and extraordinary as all the previous ones of the brand. We are also evolving in a marketing sense, by being on social networks and being as close as possible to the users of the products. But without ever losing our ethics and always being as sincere and clear as possible.

What's next for Karin Herzog?

The next steps for Karin Herzog are the opening of different countries like Kazakstan, Vietnam, Sephora China... we wish a good distribution in the countries we don't have yet.

How do you like to spend your free time?

I spend my free time watching our daughter ride, she competes and travels to Morocco and also the little time I have left playing golf: it relaxes me and allows me to think of nothing but the beauty of the nature around me.