Annemarie Börlind Care Masks

When it comes to beauty care, many people first think of face masks and cucumber slices on the eyes. There is hardly a woman who has not yet tried this classic. No surprise, because all you need is a cucumber and a little bit cool curd. For centuries, the simple recipe makes tired skin look younger and fresher. For a long time such care tips were the secrets of noble ladies and their maids. The public probably only learned about nourishing facial masks because of the rivalry of two particularly beautiful princesses: Pauline von Metternich and Elisabeth of Austria-Hungary, also known as ”Sissi“.

In 1854 Elisabeth married Franz Joseph, the Emperor of Austria, who was seven years older. Thus she became the Empress at the tender age of 16. From the beginning the people and the press were very fond of the young couple and adored, above all, the beautiful Sissi. But life in the palace was less harmonious for the young monarch, than most of her subjects imagined. In the mid-19th century Europe changed with express speed. Franz Joseph, who had to govern an empire of nearly 38 million people, was more and more occupied with policy and had little time for the family. Thus Elizabeth was all on her own at court. Her worst competitor took advantage of this shamelessly. Princess Pauline Metternich had moved to Vienna in 1871 and railed about the Empress at every given opportunity. That’s why she got the nickname ”Mauline“. The wife of the Austrian ambassador in Paris was considered a style icon and always set the tone when it came to fashion. After a short time she was the centre of attention of the Viennese high society. While the eloquent Pauline was the darling at the court society, the heart of the population continued to beat for the introverted Sissi. As different as the two women were, they shared the envy of the rival. Since they could not resolve their rivalry openly at court, they were trying to outdo each other with their appearance. But both had two totally different strategies.

Pauline relied entirely on glamour. Fancy dresses, lush jewellery and plenty of decorative cosmetics displayed her style. In comparison, the Empress appeared more modest and natural. Sissi believed that beauty is rather determined by a healthy body, pure skin and beautiful hair. For this she spared neither costs nor effort. For the care of her hair alone, which allegedly reached down to her ankles, she invested almost three hours a day. When it came to her appearance, Sissi was very disciplined. Before sunrise she trained in her own gym. A cold bath and massages were also a part of her morning ritual. However, her secret weapon for a youthful complexion was face masks, which she applied at night. She was very eager to try new things: cucumber and curd were used as well as fresh strawberries or raw veal. The result spoke for itself. For over 30 years the radiant beauty of the Empress was subject of conversation throughout Europe. How it was possible to fool age for such a long time has not been clarified until today.

Since the turn of the century, cosmetics have evolved considerably. The face mask, however, is still a part of the repertoire of each beautician. Even at home, facial care masks are irreplaceable. But the ingredients today are a lot more pleasant than at Sissi’s times – especially in natural cosmetics. The five Intensive Care Masks of Annemarie Börlind are perfectly tailored to the needs of different skin types. The rich Anti Aging Cream Mask with Szechuan pepper and pistachio tree oil is designed for demanding and mature skin. For sensitive skin Annemarie Börlind recommends the Sensitive Cream Mask which is particularly soothing and relaxing with blackcurrant seed oil and balloon plant extract. Dehydrated skin is looking forward to the Hydro Gel Mask with hyaluronic acid and red algae – a true boost of moisture. The 2 in 1 Black Mask is a mattifying mask and a gentle peeling in one. It has a cleansing, balancing effect on large-pore combination skin. The Vitamin Duo Mask is just right for tired and dull skin that needs a vitamin kick: goji berries, acai berries and buckthorn berries revitalize the complexion visibly.

Pamper yourself with the Annemarie Börlind Intensive Care Masks. All five masks are vegan. They take full effect when applied once to twice a week onto cleansed skin. For an even, relaxed and fresh skin feeling.