"Several pieces of the puzzle have to come together

to produce a full effect," he adds. Dr. Juchheim's Effect Cosmetics, too, are made up of different parts: traditional Ayurvedic medicine - which he has been using in his medical practice for 25 years already - the latest scientific findings and a never-ending quest to discover new and interesting interrelationships between different substances. Dr. Juchheim met desert dwellers while he was travelling through Senegal, Africa. When they found he was a doctor, they showed him how to use desert plants to treat wounds and nourish the skin. From that day on, he has been absolutely fascinated by desert plants. "Desert plants deliver maximum moisture, help the skin to regenerate fast and make it beautifully smooth," he explains. "That's because they contain rhizobian gum, a substance that is formed by micro-organisms in the plants' roots. Rhizobian gum is a gel that surrounds the roots and prevents the plant from drying out, even in extreme desert conditions." This knowledge was then supplemented by two further puzzle pieces. The first was a study on hyaluronic acid, which can penetrate the deeper layers of the skin, especially if it is encapsulated in liposomes, to replenish the skin's natural hyaluronic acid content. The second is research, proving that a combination of hyaluronic acid, botanical substances and peptides can make the skin look fresher, younger, firmer and wonderfully smoother in only a few minutes.