Beauty & the Beat

Skin care alert: My Hungarian love affair with Omorovizca continues

Gold Flash Firming Serum in Shadow
Cleansing Foam by Omorovicza
Omorovicza's Essential Travel Kit
Omorovicza introduces Gold Eye Lift.

For a few years now, Omorovizca, the Budapest-based luxury skincare line, has been my go-to brand for gorgeous, radiant skin. I'm a devotée to my beloved Budapest brand's daily regimen. Well, dear CultureMap readers, my Hungarian love affair continues, as over the summer, I had the opportunity to try a few of Omorovizca's newest products that truly deliver and work well with Houston's climate.

Take note, Omorovizca is renown for natural, anti-aging products that utilize the ancient health and beauty phenomenon of Hungary's mineral-rich thermal waters. According to the company bio, this innovative skincare line developed a unique patented delivery system, Mineral Cosmetology, ensuring the skin's absorption of the mineral rich Hungarian water in unprecedented levels.

Results? How about a firmer, supple and youthful complexion? Bonus: All Omorovizca products are free of scary faux ingredients such as petrochemicals, sulfate detergents or artificial anything.

New beauty obsessions

Omorovizca's new Cleansing Foam purifies, yet refreshes and revitalizes the skin, thanks to such ingredients as lupine, apple pectin and copper complex. It is pricey, so I frugally placed a pea-size amount of my coveted deluxe sample upon my trusty Clarisonic complexion brush, and voilà! A Houston summer day's worth of inferno-like humidity, grime, sunscreen, and water-proof mascara vanished in a flash.

Plus, this aqua-colored foam left my complexion glowing. Warning: this Cleansing Foam's fresh scent and mini-facial like results are elegantly addicting.

My next Hungarian beauty obsession is Omorovizca's recently launched Gold Flash Firming Serum; a multi-tasking powerhouse. Omorovicza's website claims that this new anti-aging serum "relies on the anti-inflammatory properties of gold, as well as other innovative active ingredients, to help re-texturize and repair the skin."

It's a simple way to jumpstart a healthy radiant complexion. This golden elixir prevents and gently corrects hyper pigmentation, encourages the skin's production of collagen and elastin, and hydrates without stickiness, all with only a mere revitalizing pump or two of product — genius!

Should you decide to try these two products, Omorovizca recommends using the Cleansing Foam first, followed by the Gold Flash Serum, and finishing with your favorite Omorovizca moisturizer.

What to do if you're ready to commit

Interested in trying this Budapest beauty secret, yet not quite ready to commit to the full-size regimen?

Take a closer look at Omorovizca's Essentials Kit.This chic blue patent leather double zipper kit includes travel (yes, TSA approved) sizes of Omorovizca's cult favorites including the signature Queen of Hungary Mist, Illuminating Moisturizer (my warm weather fave), Rejuvenating Night Cream, two deluxe samples of Thermal Cleansing Balm (which has won mah-jor acclaim from beauty editors world wide.) Also, you'll find one super-soft terry cleansing mitt.

Finally, here's the scoop on Omorovizca's latest product set to launch next month. It's Gold Eye Lift, a beyond-rich eye cream that Omorovizca states is infused with "cutting-edge lifting and firming 3-D technology that packs both immediate and long-lasting effects." Check Omorovizca.com in October for availability.

Co-founder Margaret de Heinrich de Omorovizca will make a personal appearance Friday at the Neiman Marcus Galleria store. Purchase any two Omorovizca products and receive a personalized 30-minute consultation with de Omorovizca and a 60-minute signature complimentary facial performed by Omorovizca's resident therapist. Purchase $300 of Omorovizca products and receive a full-size Radiance Renewal Serum (a $150 value).

Appointments are required. Call the Omorovizca counter at Neiman Marcus (713-621-7100) to schedule a consultation.

Omorovizca products are available at select Neiman Marcus, Rosewood and St. Regis properties, Bergdorf Goodman and at Omorovizca.com. Cleansing Foam, 5 fl. oz., $70; Gold Flash Firming Serum, 1 fl. oz.; $215, Omorovizca Essentials travel kit, $150; Gold Eye Lift, $175

Disclaimer: Individual results may vary . . . this review based upon sample size products.

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HAUTE HOUSTON

High fashion label Sachin & Babi makes rare Houston appearance

Photo courtesy of Sachin & Babi

Sachin & Babi is hosting an exclusive shopping event so Houstonians can snag pieces from their Resort Collection on November 12 from 5 to 8 pm at Avant Art Gallery.

Having dressed the likes of former First Lady Michelle Obama, Mindy Kaling, and Octavia Spencer, high fashion label Sachin & Babiis known for its attention to embellishment, color, and silhouette. Ahead of the sold-out Saks Fifth Avenue Fashion Show and Luncheon, where the New York-based brand will be headlining with ready-to-wear looks from their fall collection, Sachin Ahluwalia, one-half of the high fashion duo is making a rare in-person appearance in the Bayou City.

"We are thrilled to see what Sachin & Babi will bring to our Saks Fifth Avenue Fashion Show and Luncheon," Angie Lane, Houston Ballet's chief development officer, tells CultureMap. "Saks Fifth Avenue has been an invaluable partner over the years, consistently creating an engaging and dynamic show for Nutcracker Market luncheon guests."

The brand, which has a large customer base in Texas, has its sights set on more permanent digs and retail expansion in the Lone Star State.

"In Texas, fashion is embraced in the truest sense. There's a celebratory spirit and full-of-life energy that aligns with our brand ethos," said Ahluwalia. "Our goal in everything we create is to celebrate the women who inspire us and remind us why we do what we do. I have always believed that the most important component of a woman's wardrobe is her smile, and Houston has that joyfulness so ingrained in its culture."

We sat down with Sachin Ahluwalia to discuss the brand's fall collection and what we can look forward to from the label in 2025.

CultureMap: How would you describe your fall collection?
Sachin Ahluwalia: Each season, we're inspired by the nature surrounding us, but this fall, we were particularly struck by the captivating beauty of botanical flowers. We referenced some of our favorite photographers who have captured striking macro shots of oversized blooms, and from this, we focused on the romantic allure of a 'White Rose in Moonlight.' While we often envision roses bathed in sunlight, a rose is equally enchanting beneath the moon's glow. There's a subtle message there — a reminder that beauty can thrive even in the quiet of night.

CultureMap: What colors and fabrics are you leaning towards for fall and winter?
SA: This fall, we focused on deep floral contrasts on luxurious viscose chiffon, faille, and Mikado. As fall also welcomes the return to the social calendar and gala season, we emphasized intricate beading and embroidery, creating unique, wearable pieces that make her feel her best for all the celebrations ahead.

CultureMap: When you create a collection, who are you designing for?
SA: For the past decade, Sachin & Babi has been redefining what it means to dress for life's most memorable moments. We design to a level of sophistication rather than any particular demographic. Aiming to offer more than just a garment, we want to give our customers a transformative experience that celebrates each person's unique style and story. We dress her for her most special occasions because she deserves to feel extraordinary without compromise.

CultureMap: What has been inspiring you for your 2025 collections?
SA: We are inspired by the incredible women in our country. She continues to marvel and inspire us with her confidence, elegance, and beauty. We're committed to helping her feel her most beautiful for all of her special moments, big and small.

CultureMap: Do you think you will ever move away from your east-meets-west aesthetic?
SA: It's hard to divorce ourselves from our natural inclinations and DNA. Babi and I spent our first 20 years in India, but we've spent the last 30 years building our home in New York City. We embrace our natural propensity for color, craftsmanship, and embroidery from India and marry it to the lifestyle of the women we know and adore in the US. Our goal is to converge traditional Indian techniques with a modern sensibility to create ready-to-wear that feels made for you.

Photo courtesy of Sachin & Babi

Sachin & Babi held an exclusive shopping event in Houston.

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