The spoken word has power. But not nearly as much as one would like to believe. Quite frankly, the verbal level of communication is lost ground, as the non-verbal approach makes up around 97% of direct communication between people. In other words, it is not so much about what we say, but how we conveyit.

In the fray of multi-faceted gestures and facial expressions, how we look at somebody plays a special role. It is, so to speak, the alpha and omega of expression by means of body language – independent of age, gender and culture. A brief glance is sufficient to gain insights into the frame of mind of the other person. Sympathies and antipathies are determined within the first moment. And here they are again – the magic three seconds – covering all major communicative actions – be it shaking hands, a hug or, on the other hand, a threatening gesture. Those who look a stranger in the eye will soon realize that the three-second rhythm has also been ingrained into humanity in this regard. After this amount of time has passed, we tend to either blink or look away.

Sleep makes you attractive

The idea that the eyes are the window to the soul is therefore not just a romantic idealization, but part of our conscious and subconscious reality. And the colloquial term “to make eyes at somebody” is definitely justified. What is deemed beautiful depends on different factors.

A study published in the “British Medical Journal” in 2010 took a closer look at so-called beauty sleep and proved a direct correlation between sleep duration and attractiveness in the course of the experiment. The result: In a sleep-deprived state, test subjects were perceived as less attractive, less healthy and significantly more tired.

The correct care – sparkling eyes

Eye care therefore plays an important role when it comes to improving one’s own outward appearance. Men and women can have sparkling eyes at any age. With the right care, wrinkles can be significantly refined. They do not, however, reduce the feeling of attractiveness as long as the complexion is even, the eyes are rested and the expression signalizes attentiveness. Wellness for the eyes therefore also means – if necessary – not shying away from suitable optical aids.

Nobody has to wear contact lenses if they have problems with them. Beautiful eyes can be accentuated much better with well-adjusted glasses than if they are red and irritated. Chamomile tea bags have a soothing effect on reddish eyes and a few slices of cucumber provide the sensitive skin around the eyes with the required moisture. Those of us lacking the necessary time should rely on trusted cosmetic helpers. The use of high-quality natural cosmetics already shows visible effects after only a few applications; with the advantage that the natural ingredients simultaneously develop a long-term effect and counter a wrinkled, tired appearance: The skin is smoother, stronger and is supplied with all the vitamins it needs.

Today’s search for health and beauty is often akin to an odyssey. Unconsidered habits, daily time pressure and an oversupply of products have significantly diverted man away from his actual path – a lifestyle close to nature. One that can actually deliver all the things promised by the food and cosmetics industry. Everywhere you read, you hear about a resilient organism all the way to smooth, wrinkle-free skin. This sounds enticing. However, the body can only be vital and beautiful if healthy nutrition and long-term care go hand in hand.

Those who turn their gaze inwards immediately know which foods on their own menu are agreeable. When it comes to cosmetics, this is a bit more difficult. Products based on softeners and other additives often feign a hair and skin state that does not actually exist. For example, some standard creams clog pores and cover the skin like a film. On the outside, this gives the impression of softness, but the reality of the situation becomes clear the next time you shower. The skin suffers beneath the supposedly treated surface. Instead of disposing of such products, a lot of people react in the opposite manner. Hoping for regeneration, they use even more – a vicious cycle that can have serious consequences. The skin can no longer breathe and waste products are no longer sufficiently secreted.

The true appearance increasingly deteriorates: The skin becomes drier and more wrinkled. And this is despite the fact that the road to healthy care has actually been paved for a long time: Body care products made from natural ingredients support the metabolism of the skin and thus not only contribute to natural beauty, but also to health on a long-term basis.

What can I put into my body?

Damaging substances enter our bodies both through the skin and by means of the food we ingest. Deposited in the connective tissue, chemical additives from foodstuffs and care products put a strain on the body. It is therefore important to know what one should eat and how to care for oneself. Natural agents help the body to reach an equilibrium. And what is good for the body also affects the psyche. Therefore, scrutiny pays off by ensuring that the body only gets the things it can actually benefit from. This rules out a lot of convenience products the food and beverages industry has to offer. The general rule is that fresh things are good things.

A simple question serves as an orientation aid in the supermarket: Which products would exist without the food industry? The remaining products are in most cases healthy or at least justifiable. Based on the example of potato chips, this means that industrially produced chips cannot be recommended. Because these chips are often just potato powder that has been pressed into slices, loaded with flavor enhancers and then fried in cheap oil, they are not part of a balanced diet. If, on the other hand, one dries fresh potato slices in the oven, sprinkles them with high-quality vegetable oil and uses natural flavourings, then chips can definitely support a healthy diet.

Copyright by Sam Scott Schiavo

In cosmetics, the same principle applies. When they remain unaltered, natural ingredients can realize the full potential of their powerful effects. Old household remedies in particular have proven their worth over Feuchtigkeitsvergenerations – as cosmetics and as a remedy for physical ailments. However, those wishing to do their body some good do not necessarily have to scour the woods for herbs. High-quality natural cosmetics products have harnessed the positive effects of natural ingredients and now significantly stand out from mass products. They guarantee the use of high-quality ingredients and compliance with strict manufacturing criteria, such as the lack of softeners. In order to make an individually balanced choice, one must know what the skin requires for optimal care as well as which properties the various plants have. Biological wheat germ oil and top-quality aloe vera, for example, highlight the tremendous power contained in natural substances.

Looking at a drop of water, you are essentially looking at yourself. A human being is made up of roughly two thirds water. No human, no individual organism on this world could have ever developed without water. This knowledge has existed for a long time, even before we were able to put it down in writing. Water was already venerated in antiquity as the source of all existence.

The German philosopher Hegel dubbed it the element of the selfless opposite: “Water’s existence is being-for-others… its determination is to be the thing that is not yet special and it has therefore been called ‘the mother of all special things’ from an early age onwards.” Across civilizations, most of which assumed that life had started in the oceans, an abundance of creation myths have been developed. In their different versions, they all depicted water as the mirror of the universe and subsequently found their continuation in the world religions. The first book of Moses, for example, states: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.”

In the Japanese creation myth, a gigantic carp awakens from its slumber and thrashes around so violently that it creates a tidal wave, causing the Japanese islands to surface on the face of the earth. The Indian god Vishnu, on the other hand, shapes the earth while resting on a snake gliding through the cosmic waters.

Ancient water myths

Starting in antiquity, several water gods were venerated. Some were benign, others evil. They were all, however, omnipotent. Like Okeanos, for example, the origin of all gods and simultaneously the river flowing around the world, or Poseidon, the god of the ocean. The most alluring of the classic goddesses relating to water is Aphrodite or Venus, her Roman counterpart. According to the myth, she was born of the semen of sea foam and blood and rose out of a scallop on Cyprus. She was so beautiful that the seasons of the year came and were bedazzled by the sight of her. As the goddess of love and beauty the “foam-born” inspired numerous artists. This led to the creation of some of the greatest masterpieces in art history, such as the Greek antique statue “Venus of Milo,” Botticelli’s painting “Birth of Venus” or Titian’s work of art “Venus of Urbino.”

People also believed in water nymphs who reigned over streams, springs and grottoes, in sea nymphs who saved mariners and shipwrecked sailors, but also in sea monsters and mermaids – seductive and irresistible creatures – who robbed men of their senses with their demonic attraction and at times cost them their lives. They embodied both the life-threatening and life-giving aspect of water. However, the veneration of water found its expression not only in mythology, but also in cultural rituals.

In order to produce rain, people carried out mystic ceremonies, in the course of which rain dances were performed to exhaustion. Sacrifices were made or processions held with songs of invocation. One washed away “evil” with holy water and subjected the spirit to a spiritual cleansing, also mirrored by the washing of the dead in all cultures. And last but not least, the ritual of baptism symbolizes a bond with God for believers.

Entering “Esbjerg” in the heart of Vienna for the first time, you are welcomed by mild fragrances, sparkling blades, classic pots, jars and a sea of brushes. The most beautiful store in the city is all about the body – its well-being, its beauty. The shaving specialty shop on Krugerstrasse – a side street of Kärntner Strasse – offers Austria’s largest selection of fine wet shaving products and has long since become the city’s premiere address for grooming. This is where men who are concerned about proper grooming and body care come for all their shaving needs. Tastefully and invitingly arranged, the products are a true delight as they reveal their magnificent effect in the privacy of a gentleman’s own bathroom.

Marga Walcher sells nothing but the best: “I love the stylish and the beautiful and spare no effort to be the top of my class and to stay that way too.” You can tell that the lady makes no concessions where quality is concerned. A diverse set of regular customers is her reward. They all have one basic need in common: Nothing but quality can touch their skin.

The further range of scents and care products for men is made up of proven and classic labels, all of which have been personally selected by Walcher. Furthermore, one can shop at Esbjerg with a clear conscience, as fairness at all production stages is of the utmost importance. Because it actively takes responsibility in the field of employee leadership, Esbjerg was ranked third in the “DiversCity” awards of the Vienna Economic Chamber in 2012.

Our own brand of natural cosmetics now complements the Esbjerg range

Before a brand is awarded space in these elegant surroundings, Ms. Walcher puts manufacturers through a close inspection, traveling around the world if need be. “The product must be on solid footing and have the right team behind it.” Success has proven her right. Over the past 30 years, the store has become a real insider’s tip. It gets off to an international start in the morning, as businessmen from all corners of the world make their appearance along with established Viennese regulars. “Some men have been our customers for years. We have heard about their personal lives and their ups and downs.”

To shop at Esbjerg is to reward yourself and spare no expense. Understandably so: So much goodness, such bliss for a weary man’s heart, plus all the expert advice to make your skin feel its best, and none of the tedious shelf-hopping, wasting valuable time before you can find the product that suits you. Back when Esbjerg opened its doors three decades ago, male customers were more liable to opt for the next best solution, pocket their purchase and just carry on. In other words, there was no pleasure in shopping for them.

Nowadays, they appreciate competent advice, they take great care to pick the right product and then stick with it. They have come to indulge in their very own haven of well-being, because this is what a decent wet shave using quality shaving cream and a shaving brush is all about, essentially. It’s an almost meditative ritual exclusive to men.