I had the pleasure of meeting Stephen de Heinrich de Omorovicza last July, and have been wanting to put the brand to the test since then. Specifically, I wanted to be able to put a representative selection of the brand’s offerings to work together, (it is a personal habit whenever I am trying out a new brand) so as to be able to witness their true potential as they are designed for. However, other things kept getting in the way, and I finally managed to cast aside everything else, and pretty much dedicate myself exclusively to Omorovicza during my recent trip to Italy. It was not an easy decision to make, and I brought with me backups of my tried-and-tested favourites just in case, but the Omorovicza products I had with me were so successful I never had to dip into anything else! Let me share these lovely products with you today.
Omorovicza is a story born of love and history… the story dates back to the 19th century when the Omorovicza family built the Racz Furdo spa on the site of a mineral rich ancient healing spring in the Hungarian capital of Budapest, which is also fondly referred to as the ‘International SPA City’. 200 years later, Stephan was drawn back to the beautiful city of Budapest to explore his roots, and met Margaret with whom he embarked on a new chapter of life with.
The pair was inspired by the rich history of the thermal waters of Hungary, their therapeutic application and the transformative effects the mineral-rich spa waters had on their skin. And so in 2005, Stephen and Margaret began to experiment with techniques to distill the long known benefits of the thermal waters into a skincare line. Each Omorovicza product incorporates properties harnessed from the thermal waters using Hydro Mineral Transference™, a unique technology created in the Nobel Prize Winning Hungarian Laboratory of Dermatology. The process reconfigures the molecular structure of the minerals contained inside the thermal water, and enables the minerals to be absorbed by the epidermis and dermis more effectively.
I had a generous-sized travel set of 5 best-sellers from Omorovicza, and was able to put them to the test over a 2-week period.
The very first product that I dipped into was the Omorovicza Cleansing Foam. This proved to be so good that I completely used it up before I even stopped to take a picture of it! It comes in a flattened squeeze tube bearing the Omorovicza logo in blue in the center, and looks similar to the one in the center of the picture above. It dispenses out with a light mousse-like texture, and creates a gentle foam when mixed with water that cleanses my face leaving it feeling perfectly soft and supple. The formula is sulphate-free, and contains Copper Gluconate to detoxify, regulate sebum and tighten pores. White Lupin extract energises and revitalises skin; and Apple Pectin provides long-lasting hydration and improves suppleness.
In lieu of a toner, Omorovicza’s line includes the Queen of Hungary Mist. This was inspired by the Queen of Hungary Water, the world’s first recorded perfume, formulated for Queen Elisabeth of Hungary in the 14th century, and is scented with Neroli and Rose. So many facial mists claim to boost skin’s hydration, but having relied exclusively on this on both my outbound and return flights (each over 14 hours!), I can wholeheartedly attest to its hydration claims. The full-sized bottle is frosted glass with the slightly yellow-tinged water showing through, quite different from the travel-sized version that I have here.
The Omorovicza Illuminating Moisturizer is a lightweight fluid moisturizer that is quickly absorbed into the skin, and does not leave any sticky sensation. What really impressed me was despite being incredibly light, it still kept my skin perfectly hydrated both days and nights throughout my long trip. It was the early part of Winter when I was in Italy, and though the temperature was in the comfortable teens, the air was definitely drier than what I’ve been used to in humid Singapore. To be completely transparent, I was pairing it with Kiehl’s Daily Reviving Concentrate facial oil [reviewed here], but I never felt I needed anything more at nights or on the flight. Jojoba Seed Oil and Squalane feature very high up in the ingredient list here, and together with Apple Pectin and Plum Almond Oil my skin was kept hydrated and supple. What is even more interesting, is the inclusion of Ruby Crystals to blur the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles!
One of Omorovicza’s top favourites is the Thermal Cleansing Balm, and I finally discovered why. Though solid in the jar, it melts upon contact with the skin and transforms into a light oil emulsion. It is formulated with Hungarian Moor Mud, which is rich in calcium and magnesium carbonates, humic acid and fulvic acid, all working together to purify and nourish the skin. It also contains Sweet Almond Oil which is rich in vitamin E, to help soothe and replenish the skin. There are some tiny physical exfoliants in there that help to remove dead skin cells and trapped dirt. I found it removed my makeup perfectly, and I did not need to double cleanse to be completely clean. However, it does leave the skin with a very slight oily film which serves to re-hydrate dry skin. I’m normally averse to such residue, and prefer to double cleanse, but found that I did not mind it quite so much with this Omorovicza Thermal Cleansing Balm.
There is no better place than Hungary’s Thermal Waters to look for a good mud mask. Omorovicza Deep Cleansing Mask is made with the same Hungarian Moor mud as the Thermal Cleansing Balm, and is rich in calcium and magnesium carbonate to deeply cleanse and nourish the skin. White Kaolin Clay draws out toxins and impurities while naturally absorbing pore-clogging oil. I’m very sensitive to clay masks, and some leave my skin feeling stripped and over-sensitised. This Omorovicza mask dries quickly, and a thin layer was able to cleanse my skin well, leaving it looking fairer and more even-toned, without irritating my skin in the slightest!
What struck me the most during my session with Stephen de Heinrich de Omorovicza was the very thoughtful approach he had towards each of his products. In a mere 10 years, Omorovicza has grown to a well-respected cult beauty brand with an extensive range of products for face, body and spa. This takes more than just family money or sheer luck, and having launched themselves in the market right in the middle of the Global Financial Crisis, it took handwork and business savvy to get the brand to where it is today whilst others floundered. I remember seeing a new brand being launched every month or so during 2005-2006, and most of them are no longer around. And having tried the products for myself, I can fully appreciate Omorovicza’s success. There is something for everyone here, including an often-unpopular product like the humble shaving cream, simply because Stephen needed one himself. So do check this brand out for yourself – in Singapore, Omorovicza is available at Takashimaya Level 3!
This post featured products that were kindly provided for my consideration. Regardless, all opinions expressed here are my own honest, unbiased views.
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