Susanne Kaufmann grew up inside a spa. Not as a guest, but as a child running through the hallways of her family’s Alpine retreat in Austria, now three generations deep into the business of helping people rest. That inheritance shapes everything about how she talks about beauty and it’s why, inside a quiet suite overlooking Paris, our conversation moved quickly past skincare and into mountain villages, Philippine rice terraces, stress, and what she calls “active restoration.”

In an era where wellness is increasingly measured by optimization, performance, and the promise of instant transformation, Susanne Kaufmann offers something remarkably quieter. Hers isn’t a philosophy built around perfection, but repetition: thoughtful rituals, honest ingredients, meaningful rest, the discipline of showing up for the same small habits every day. Luxury, she believes, isn’t found in excess or spectacle; it’s found in the rare permission to slow down long enough to reconnect with your body, your environment, and yourself.&nbsp;
That philosophy unfolds naturally throughout our conversation in Paris, where the founder reflects on authenticity, sustainability, and what it truly means to age with grace.

Before we talk about beauty, I have to ask—you’ve actually been to the Philippines, and not just Manila. You visited the rice terraces.
I did. It was over thirty years ago during a round-the-world trip, and I specifically wanted to see the rice terraces. They were extraordinary, one of the most impressive places I’ve ever experienced. We even had to walk because there were no proper roads then. I still remember how warm everyone was. The people were incredibly welcoming, and it remains one of my favorite travel memories.
Your brand has always treated skincare as an extension of wellbeing rather than simply a cosmetic pursuit. In today’s increasingly performance-driven wellness industry, how do you protect that philosophy?
Our values have never changed in more than twenty years. We still prioritize quality, clean formulations, sustainability, and effectiveness exactly as we did when we began. Of course, ingredients evolve, science evolves, and our formulas improve; but the principles remain the same. That’s what gives a brand integrity.

Even your packaging reflects that restraint. 
Absolutely. I always believed the investment should go into what’s inside the bottle rather than the bottle itself. Luxury should come from performance, not unnecessary excess.
You often use the phrase “active restoration.” What does that mean? 
Restoration isn’t passive. You can’t simply lie down and expect everything to improve. We believe in active restoration; supporting the skin with products while also improving sleep, nutrition, movement, breathing, and daily habits. The skin doesn’t exist independently of your life, it’s part of your whole wellbeing.

Sustainability has become a buzzword. Was there ever a decision that was difficult but ultimately strengthened the brand? 
Choosing glass packaging. More than twenty years ago, it was significantly more expensive, heavier, and not necessarily practical. People questioned why we didn’t use plastic. But glass felt luxurious to me, and more importantly, it was recyclable long before recycled plastics became commonplace. Sometimes you have to make decisions based on long-term values rather than short-term convenience.
Amid building a global company, what personal ritual has never changed?
Rhythm. Morning and evening skincare. SPF every single day. Fresh air. Exercise. Good food. Sleep whenever possible. I’ve learned that our bodies crave consistency. Whenever I lose that rhythm, especially while traveling, I immediately feel out of balance. Wellness isn’t something dramatic. It’s built from small habits repeated every day.

Authenticity is a word that’s often overused in luxury. How do you define it?
Authenticity is something you feel before anyone explains it. It begins with the atmosphere—the scent, the light, the furniture, the colors, but ultimately it comes from people. Genuine hospitality can’t be manufactured. When everything feels aligned, you immediately know you’re somewhere authentic.
What do you think people misunderstand most about recovery?
They try to fix everything all at once. People decide they’re going to completely change their lives in one week, and that becomes another source of stress. The body needs time to adapt. Wellness isn’t about intensity. It’s about consistency.

As founders become influential voices in wellness, what responsibility comes with that? 
A tremendous one. We’re not simply making products. We’re creating products people use on their skin every day. That means they need to be effective, gentle, and respectful; not only toward the individual but also toward the planet. Responsibility has to exist at every level.
If you could recommend just one product specifically for the Philippines, what would it be?
Our Advanced Anti-Aging Light Cream. The climate in the Philippines is warm and humid, so people need something lightweight without compromising performance. It combines peptides, edelweiss, and ectoin to support healthy aging while strengthening the skin barrier against heat, pollution, and environmental stress. It disappears beautifully into the skin while delivering intensive care.

For Filipinos considering traveling all the way to your hotel in Austria, what makes the journey worthwhile? 
Authenticity. You’re not simply arriving at a hotel. You’re arriving somewhere that reminds you how life can feel when it slows down. Guests often tell us they feel their stress disappear the moment they arrive. More importantly, they leave having relearned something simple: how to listen to their own bodies again.
What does aging gracefully mean to you? 
Aging gracefully means accepting that aging is natural, while caring for yourself completely. It’s not only about your face. It’s about your posture, your strength, your mind, your skin, your energy. Everything should age together, in balance. That’s why I always encourage women to lift weights, to move, to protect their posture, to nourish their bodies, and to care for their skin; not because we’re trying to stop time, but because we’re trying to live well through it. And it’s the same reason I still believe the journey to our hotel in Austria is worth making: guests often tell us they feel their stress disappear the moment they arrive, and they leave having relearned something simple—how to listen to their own bodies again.

The Art of Active Restoration: Susanne Kaufmann

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