Let me tell you about a woman who took one look at the high-maintenance chaos of the beauty industry and said, “No thanks, I’ll just be quietly perfect over here in the Austrian Alps.”
Her name? Susanne Kaufmann.
Her brand? A minimalist-glass-bottle fantasy of spa-level skincare that smells like a luxury resort and works like a lab experiment gone right. It’s the kind of brand you instinctively whisper about, because it feels like shouting in the middle of a hot spring.
Let’s get into it.
🏔 From Alpine Grandma to Global Glow-Up
Susanne Kaufmann didn’t stumble into beauty from a random influencer collab or because she needed a tax write-off. Nope. She’s the fifth-generation hotelier from a tiny Austrian village called Bezau (which sounds like the name of a hot but emotionally unavailable jazz pianist), and she built her skincare line for the spa in her family’s wellness hotel.
Picture it: you’re sipping herbal tea in a bathrobe, the scent of pine and arnica in the air, and someone is gently massaging your face with ingredients your great-grandma used to forage. That’s the vibe.
She launched the brand in 2003 with a mere 24 products that said, “We do not have time for your drama, but we will depuff your face.” Fast-forward to today: over 80 products, stocked in 20+ countries, and still giving main-character energy without ever raising its voice.
🌿 Nature, Meet Biotech
Susanne’s whole deal is holistic skincare. Think: herbal apothecary meets pharmaceutical-grade efficacy, wrapped in packaging that makes your bathroom shelf look like a Goop editorial spread.
The formulas blend Alpine botanicals—like rosemary, arnica, and witch hazel—with modern science to support your skin’s health instead of waging war against it. No harsh stripping, no unnecessary actives playing fast and loose with your moisture barrier. Just smart, slow beauty that actually works.
It’s like if your skin went on a two-week silent meditation retreat and came back looking radiant and suspiciously well-rested.
♻️ Sustainability? She Invented It.
I’m not saying Susanne Kaufmann is single-handedly saving the planet. I’m just saying: if every brand took sustainability this seriously, the Earth would probably have trust issues a lot less often.
Here’s what she’s doing right:
- Solar and thermal-powered production.
- Recyclable glass and up to 75% post-consumer recycled refills.
- Ingredients sourced locally to minimize carbon footprint (like spring water filtered on-site, because of course).
- No BS marketing. No fake “clean” claims. Just a company actually walking the walk—on a trail made of pine needles and moral superiority.
🌟 Hero Products (AKA: What Your Face Wants)
Let’s talk about the stuff that’s earned its shelf space:
- Enzyme Exfoliator – Gentle. Effective. Makes your skin feel like you’ve been mainlining hydration and good decisions.
- Eye Rescue Serum – Infused with green coffee and hawthorn, it gives the illusion that you’ve been sleeping eight hours a night since 2017.
- Oil Bath for the Senses – Turns your tub into a $300 spa appointment, minus the awkward small talk.
- Rejuvenating Eye Cream – This one’s…fine. Great moisture, sticky texture, weird spreadability. If it were a Tinder date, you’d say “nice guy, just not for me.”
💡 Kristen’s Take: Is It Worth It?
Let’s not kid ourselves: Susanne Kaufmann is expensive. Like, “you’ll probably lie about the price if someone asks” expensive.
But it’s also thoughtful. Every product is made with intention, not because TikTok said niacinamide is trending again. The formulas are effective without being aggressive, luxurious without being wasteful, and indulgent without feeling gimmicky.
If you’re someone who likes results and principles—who wants to glow responsibly—then yeah. It’s worth at least one bottle on your top shelf.
Just don’t be surprised if you start browsing Austrian spa getaways “for research.”
TL;DR:
Susanne Kaufmann is what happens when Alpine herbalism, sustainable design, and clinical performance meet on a mountainside and make skincare magic. Come for the packaging, stay for the face oil, and prepare to lose interest in most other brands.
Want me to review some of their individual products next? I’ll take one for the team (and my T-zone).
