The Way I Work... Skincare Expert Dr. Barbara Sturm
Dr. Barbara Sturm is a name that has become synonymous with results in the world of skincare. Described by some beauty insiders as the ‘skin whisperer’, the German doctor began her career in orthopaedics before turning her attention to beauty after recognising the need for effective, science-backed solutions.
Her Dr. Barbara Sturm skincare line includes products like high-tech serums, cleansers and moisturisers, formulated with potent, skin-loving ingredients. And she’s renowned for her pioneering beauty treatments: her most famous – the ‘vampire’ blood facial, in which a patient’s own blood is reinjected into skin (see below for more details) – earned an army of A-list and industry fans for its rejuvenating effects when it first launched in 2002.
Over two decades later, Dr. Sturm continues to build on her legacy as a skincare pioneer with her latest innovation, Glow Cream – the culmination of years of research. It is designed to create lit-from-within radiance, with a blend of antioxidants, along with hydrating and anti-aging ingredients.
So, what does it take to run a skincare empire spanning decades? Here, Dr. Sturm speaks to Service95 about her working life – from her early bird habits and her eclectic music taste to the importance of kindness.
My Morning Routine… I love the mornings, I’m an early bird so I always get up early. If I get up before my daughter Pepper, I try to watch the sunrise or be mindful and then fit in a quick workout, usually while I am on calls. I’ll then put my Face Mask on, which I wear every single day, drink an oat milk latte and go through my emails.
My Workspace… My head office is at my Spa & Boutique on the Königsallee in Dusseldorf, and it’s beautiful – but I travel so much, I’m rarely there.
The Place That Inspires Me… I love to be surrounded by the mountains and nature and I love the snow. It was always my childhood dream to spend the winters in the mountains, so now whenever I am anywhere like this, alongside my family, I am at my happiest.
What I’m Working On Now… I’ve just launched Glow Cream, which is an amazing product. It is enriched with powerful ingredients that give the skin an immediate luminosity, but have also been clinically proven to enhance radiance over time. It’s also packed with antioxidants, triple hyaluronic acid and bistorta root extract that nourish, hydrate and plump the skin️. One of the most googled skincare questions of all time is ‘How do I get glowing skin?’ and this product gives you that and so much more. I’m obsessed with it.
My Inspirations… My inspiration for innovation comes from everyday life: family, friends, patients – everybody around me; being in nature; and everything I do, see and feel. It’s also in the least expected moments. It’s important to stay curious and to never stop learning. I talk to scientists every day and I’m always discovering new methods, techniques and research from these conversations.
My Working Playlist… I love listening to anything that makes me happy and relaxed, from classical music and ’80s hits to modern pop. It’s a real mix. My kids are always introducing me to new music, too. I love that music has a way of taking you places – I try to introduce this to my children as well.
My Work Uniform… I love a cool pair of jeans, a white T-shirt and some Jessica McCormack jewellery. I really like vintage pieces, so I like to go to Marche Aux Puces [the noted second-hand market in Saint-Ouen, Paris] and other flea markets and find old designer pieces, such as YSL and Chanel. I also like elegant red-carpet pieces from designers [such as] Galvan London and Celine.
The Best Career Advice I’ve Received… The most valuable lesson I learned was from my mother and that is to be kind and respectful to everyone. Approaching people with kindness and respect is a beautiful deed that takes no extra time.
If I Wasn’t A Doctor… My current job is my dream job. But if I wasn’t a doctor, I’d still be doing something creative. I love art, ceramics, interior design and collecting antiques, so I would love to do something involving these interests.
My Proudest Career Moment… The ‘blood facial’ or what the public termed, the ‘vampire facial’, which was a translation of the scientific research and practice I had been working on in orthopaedics. I translated this into a facial treatment where I took a patient’s own blood, treated it over the course of a day in the laboratory to accelerate the healing factors and expression of other beneficial proteins, and then reinjected the treated plasma into the skin. It had a tremendous healing and anti-inflammatory effect.
Dr. Barbara Sturm’s 5 Skincare & Beauty Brands To Know
- Jillian Dempsey – “Her Gold Bar is a great skin-sculpting tool. I sometimes use it with my Super Anti-aging Eye Serum to depuff the delicate area under my eyes.”
- Victoria Beckham – “Victoria’s [Satin Kajal] eye liners are my favourite. They’re soft enough to smudge and blend easily so you can wear them as an eyeshadow.”
- Fara Homidi – “This is a great make-up line. I don’t wear much make-up, but I love this Lip Compact – I like to mix the colour with my Lip Balm.
- KNC Beauty – “I love Kristen [Noel Crawley] and her KNC Beauty line – her lip masks are so fun to use, my whole family loves them.”
- Anastasia Beverly Hills – “If I do ever use anything on my eyes, I’ll apply some eye shadow from Anastasia Soare’s line and use her Brow Wiz – I always like to have good eyebrows.”
Pia Brynteson is Content Editor at Service95
