The next event is coming up, I’m meeting up with old acquaintances who I can fool into thinking I have my life under control with perfect nails. Or maybe I’m full of euphoria and find a small gap between appointments and to-dos for a last-minute visit to the nail salon. Either way, I rarely put color on my nails, except for special occasions. Which is too bad, because, while my wardrobe motto is “black is the new black” all year round, I’m all too happy to give my nails some color. This is where Abstract comes into play because Pauline Norden — founder of the brand which was established this spring, 2024 — promises a solution for people who don’t make it to the nail salon as often as they would like. With her gel nail stickers, she offers a simple, long-lasting and time-saving alternative to conventional nail polish and gel nails. The application is simple: receive a set of 20 stickers, which you choose according to fit, and apply to your natural nails. File off the excess and place them under the UV lamp for 60 seconds. Done!

You won’t worry about concealing overgrown gel nails with Abstract, because you can peel the stickers off again easily (they will last for at least two weeks). It’s best to begin with the Starter Kit which includes a UV lamp and two sets of stickers of your choice. And what a range of stickers there are! Soleil Soleil, Silver Surfer, Pepsi Red, Heatwave, Sugar High. Sounds like summer, doesn’t it? Goodbye base coat, top coat and all the polishes in between. I’m prepared with refills until the end of summer and eagerly await the F/W drop, which promises darker shades, new patterns and exciting collaborations.

Text & Photos: Robyn Steffen

Abstract

@abstractnaildrops

Snail mucin, bee venom, eggshells — anyone who has used Korean skincare products knows these ingredients are among the most effective m for beautiful skin. Why you should apply snail slime to your face or voluntarily expose your skin to bee venom – these are questions that Anna from Keauti, a company specializing in Korean skincare products, can answer much better. I used exactly this advice in 2022 — still clueless and slightly overwhelmed at the time — and still use the recommended products today. Whether it’s blemishes, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation or pore refinement — Keauti has a product for every skin type and need. For me, the special thing about Korean skincare is the fusion of innovative ingredients and traditional medicinal herbs that have been used and revered in Korean culture for centuries, such as ginseng, rice water, bamboo water and snail mucin. And because Korean skincare is of course also about trends, founder Anna and her partner regularly travel to Korea, visit leading trade fairs and then bring the best directly to Berlin.

In 2018, the pair launched their company with a first online store; the first boutique followed in 2019 and there are now two stores – one in Mitte and one on Ku’damm. It’s worth stopping by, because you’ll leave the boutique with a much better understanding of your own skin. Mine certainly feels cleaner since the changeover and I’ve finally managed to introduce the “7-step skincare routine” – and it’s rare for me to really stick to a routine. I can only be tempted by the beautiful packaging of the products and quick results, which I get both from Keauti.

Text & Photos: Robyn Steffen

Keauti Charlottenburg, Lietzenburger Str.88, 10719 Berlin–Charlottenburg; map

Keauti Mitte, Brunnenstr.195, 10119 Berlin–Mitte; map

@keauticosmetics