Category: Beauty

Pouty Mouths: Summer lipsticks to enhance your luscious lips

The hotter temperatures herald the arrival of summer, and with it, the revival of beach trips, junk boat parties and patio picnics. To ensure you greet the season with your best face forward, check out these latest summer lipsticks from some of the world’s best-loved beauty brands.

Turn up the heat with these summer lipsticks

NARS, the legendary French beauty marque, is looking to add a little sheen to your pucker this season with its Multi-Use Gloss. The newly-launched treatment is said to enhance your lips, eyes and cheeks. Apparently guaranteeing wearers an ultra-smooth, non-sticky experience, as well as comfortable and long-lasting wear, these summer lipsticks available in a wide range of shades.

Summer lipsticks - NARS' Multi-use Gloss
NARS’ Multi-use Gloss

With sorbet lips very much on trend this spring / summer, Giorgio Armani Beauty’s Lip Magnet comprises a collection of pretty mattes that act as second-skin lipsticks for that no-makeup look. Aptly employing emulsion technology, it dries with a fine and weightless feel, delivering a captivating lustre to your luscious lips.

Summer lipsticks - Giorgio Armani Beauty's Lip Magnet
Giorgio Armani Beauty’s Lip Magnet

Another brand seeking to polish your lips with a wide selection of colours is Chanel, with its Rouge Coco Flash featuring an array of vibrant shades that provide both extreme shine and sublime lip comfort. As a bonus, there’s also an added touch of nourishing oils, including jojoba, mimosa and sunflower in these summer lipsticks to ensure you look more sun-kissed than sunburnt.

Summer lipsticks - Chanel's Rouge Coco Flash
Chanel’s Rouge Coco Flash

Spring Fare: How to get the look of D&G’s perfect pastels

Spring Fare

Perfect pastels to salute the season

get the look
D&G spring look

Get the Look:

Perfect that pretty peony look for the last days of spring by starting with a dash of YSL’s Top Secrets Instant Matte Pore Refiner to smoothe out your skin, then add a touch of Touche Éclat High Cover Radiant Concealer to conceal dark pigments before moving to Dior’s Prestige Light-In-White Mineral UV Protector for a luxurious touch-up, then add the no-brush-required D&G Blush Touch to your cheeks. Moving onto the eyes, go for a soft yet precise look, courtesy of Charlotte Tilbury’s Brow Lift as you enhance your brow shape and accentuate its arch, then add a sharper velvety touch with Pat McGrath Lab’s Perma Precision Liquid Eyeliner before applying eye shadow from Chanel’s LE BLANC Les 4 Ombres Cristal de Printemps range to enhance the floral feel. And to finish the look? A wand of ControlledChaos MascaraInk from Shiseido, what else. Last but not least, finish with a seductive pink shade from NARS’ Explicit Colour Lip Duo Sex Machine collection.

No-Curl Power: New ghd platinum + styler could unlock your hair’s potential

Since time immemorial, the more curly-haired girlies have experimented with every variety of trichological trickery in a bid to hamper humidity-induced frizz or to try and untangle seemingly untameable tresses – a quest that ultimately gave rise to the high-tech hair straightener that is now a staple of so many bathroom cabinets.

ghd platinum + styler look

Despite their ubiquity, this particular manifestation of tonsorial technology often takes a barbarous toll – dried-out hair strands, follicle damage or permanent colour loss.Now, though, the coiffure connoisseurs at ghd, the UK-based specialists in robust ringlets, have introduced the ghd platinum + styler, a device they claim delivers “healthier styling in one stroke”.

ghd platinum + styler model

More specifically, thanks to integrated predictive technology, this handy hairstyler adapts its settings to best suit your hair texture, tracking the lustre of your locks and the speed of your strokes, then adjusting its heat and power accordingly. It is also said to deliver 70 percent stronger hair, twice the colour protection and 20 percent more shine than its competitors.

ghd platinum + styler for perfect hair

While there may be more comb-over than substance to some such claims, there is no denying that the ghd platinum+ styler is both efficient and versatile, with the add-on rounder barrel allowing you to add curls and waves to your straight-hair repertoire too.

Perfect Pores: A closer look at Japanese skincare guru Ya-Man’s latest beauty technology

While the rise of house-hold electronic beauty equipment may be a new venture for many beauty companies, for Japanese-based YA-MAN, it’s been part of their larger picture for years. In fact, the brand has been helping the women of Japan experience ‘authentic salon devices’ in the comfort of their own homes over 40 years ago, ever since its founding in 1978, and is now available in Hong Kong.

We spoke to YA-MAN CEO Kimiyo Yamazaki about her vision of the brand, its inception, her favourite products and of course why she is so passionate about delivering salon-quality beauty products for on-the-go working woman to enjoy within the comforts of her home.

          

ya-man

Perhaps the most exciting product from the brand, is the Medi Lift, Japan’s first medical silicon mask, which is equipped with high frequency EMS. Ideal for career women with little time to visit the spa, the mask only requires its wearer to place it on her face for 10 minutes for it to work its magic. The magic itself is the automatic workout it gives the wearer’s difficult-to-exercise cheek muscles, while simultaneously helping to relax the often-over-used jaw muscles. 

Meanwhile, we also spoke to Heinisguli Simayi, YA-MAN‘s official Make-up Artist about the brand’s RF Beauté Photo PLUS – a product said to be able to treat all types of skin troubles – as well as her personal feelings about why incorporating home beauty technology into our daily lives is imperative to maintaining healthy skin.

          

To find out more about YA-MAN’s latest offerings in Hong Kong, interested parties can visit the brand’s store within Facesss Queensway Plaza, Lab Concept, Queensway Plaza, 93 Queensway, Admiralty.

Four skincare tips from Dr Barbara Sturm, skincare specialist to the stars

What do Kim Kardashian, Victoria Beckham, Bella Hadid, Irina Shayk and Hilary Duff all have in common, you ask? For one thing, these Hollywood A-listers are all enamoured with the molecular skincare line developed by German skincare specialist, Dr Barbara Sturm. Whether it’s her rather strangely-named ‘vampire facials’ – an apparently highly-rejuvenating treatment, which sees platelet-rich plasma extracted from a client’s blood and then applied on their skin – or her highly-effective serums, it’s clear that the good doctor knows how to diagnose and treat a wide array of dermatological issues.

Dr Barbara Sturm launches her eponymous skincare line in Hong Kong

Now, Dr Barbara Sturm has turned her attentions towards Asia, and more specifically to Hong Kong, and recently launched her eponymous skincare products at luxury beauty retailer JOYCE Beauty. We caught up with the beauty guru, who share her top four skincare tips to keep your skin glowing through the ages.

Dr Barbara Sturm also has a line of child-friendly skincare products

Start a skincare regimen as soon as possible
According to Dr Barbara Sturm, it’s never too early to start setting a daily skincare regimen for yourself. In fact, the earlier you start – say in your 20s – the more you can counteract the effects of ageing and the impact of negative factors such as UV rays, pollution and acne. A basic schedule should at least include a foam cleanser to wipe away any dirt build-up, a moisturising face cream, and a hyaluronic serum – a substance naturally produced by our body to maintain optimal skin hydration – to boost your au naturale glow.

Sunblock is your friend
It’s no secret that the sun’s rays are not only damaging to your skin, but can lead to skin cancer as well. Sturm recommends selecting a sunscreen that offers both UVA and UVB protection. Avoid any products claiming to have unbelievably high SPF values as these are usually marketing gimmicks. Use sunscreen liberally and ensure you cover every part of your face, including your ears and neck.

To start, check out the Barbara Sturm Skincare Discovery Kit

Go the extra yard when travelling
Travelling places huge amounts of stress on your skin, with the pressurised air drying out your dermis and the stress / long hours causing dark circles and other unwanted skin problems. For Sturm, who travels regularly, her go-to includes a daily application of her hyaluronic serum, generous use of moisturing face creams and her rejuvenating face mask – a regimen she claims helps rehydrate and detox your skin.

Pay attention to what goes into the products you use
Dr Barbara Sturm uses only the gentlest, most natural products for her skincare line, and is known for researching those ‘superfood’ substances that provide huge levels of beneficial nutrients for your skin. Her go-to is purslane, a mineral and vitamin-rich leafy vegetable whose antioxidant properties offers strong regenerative effects on a cellular level. With any skincare product, though, Sturm recommends using caution and researching before using them.

Preventing Pigmentation: Luxury skincare products to brighten up your skin

It’s much easier nowadays for a girl to hear that she’s glowing (even sans any potential baby in the oven), thanks to a slew of ever-more-innovative skincare products via luxury brands such as L’Occitane, Clarins and Shiseido. In fact, skin-brightening products have never been so plentiful, with so-called miracle formulas now crafted to combat the signs of ageing whether it be damaged by the sun, pollutants or just the unavoidable passage of time. Below you can find our editor’s picks for the latest and greatest skincare products to keep you looking and feeling bright.

skincare products to brighten

French cosmetics manufacturer L’Occitane is trusting to a touch of the wild in its bid to defeat dark spots via its new Reine Blanche Targeted Spot Care Duo. A day and-night combo, it is said to restore excessively sun-kissed skin and reduce uneven pigmentation by employing liquorice extracts and exfoliating agents to goad the skin into a calming renewal.

skincare products to brighten

Not ones to be satisfied with just one new product, Clarins has also introduced the White Plus Targeted Spot Brightener, a luxurious roll-on treatment designed to dab dark spots away. Said to target those areas in need of brightening with a soothing Vitamin C and tri-intensive brightening serum, your skin should be left balanced and bright.

skincare products to brighten

Shiseido has high hopes of its iconic cherry blossom formula, the active ingredient in its White Lucent MicroTargeting Spot Corrector, for removing unwanted signs of ageing. Promising to banish blemishes, the corrector uses microtargetting technology to eradicate any spots that are depriving your skin of its melanin.

Uncommon Aromas: Enticing new perfumes to spruce up your scent

As any fashionista is well aware, a well-chosen scent can elevate any outfit to a whole new level. As spring unfolds into summer, the world’s leading perfumers have unveiled a slew of seasonally-inspired new perfumes for you to add to your collection. Here are three particular scents that merit special mention.

New perfumes - Lancôme's La Vie est Belle
Lancôme’s La Vie Est Belle

Paris-headquartered Lancôme prides itself on its unceasing quest to make life ever more beautiful with its crystal-bottled La Vie Est Belle – a feminine combination of bergamot, jasmine and rose – the latest in its aromatic armoury. With its floral notes having an innately sensuous appeal, a contrastingly light dash of creamy sandalwood adds a surprisingly grounded counterpoint, making this one of the must-have scents for the coming summer season.

New perfumes - Penhaligon's The Ingénue Cousin Flora and The Impudent Cousin Matthew
Penhaligon’s The Ingénue Cousin Flora & The Impudent Cousin Matthew

Not to be outdone, Penhaligon’s, one of Britain’s foremost fragrance houses, has added two new stunning scents to its Portraits portfolio – The Ingénue Cousin Flora and The Impudent Cousin Matthew. While the former ably captures a refreshing innocence with its citrus notes and musky beats, the latter manifests more of a mischievous tone, courtesy of its capering notes of patchouli and warm spice.

New perfumes - Il Profvmo's Fleur De Cerisier
Il Profvmo’s Fleur De Cerisier

The good people at Il Profvmo, meanwhile, clearly remain committed to supplying true romantics with the sweetest possible scent, with its new Fleur De Cerisier able proof of that particular proposition. While remaining true to its Italian roots, the fragrance takes apt inspiration from Japan’s flowering sakura season, granting the scent welcome notes of the freshest blossoms and a beguiling splash of cherry liqueur.

Simply Smouldering: Tips for perfecting the smoky look

Getting those smouldering, smoky look doesn’t have to involve a marathon make-up session if you can master a few surefire shortcuts.

smoky look

First off, judiciously deploy Clarins’ Instant Poreless Pore-Blurring Matifying Primer to create a smooth canvas, then add Tom Ford’s Glow Tone Up Foundation SPF 40/PA++++ Hydrating Cushion Compact, a genuinely one-stop solution for sun-blocking and moisturising your skin. For a pink glow on your cheeks, reach for Charlotte Tilbury’s The Pillow Talk Blusher Swish & Glow, before moving on to the eyes, the obvious centrepieces of this particular smoky look.

Smoky Look

Here, you can choose from a range of eyeliners – YSL’s Couture Eyeliner N ̊11 or RMK’s Soft Fine Eye Pencil EX-01 Black or Chanel’s Stylo Ombre et Contour Blue Nuit. Whichever you opt for, enhance the smoky look by adding eye-shadow from the darker shades of Chanel’s Les 9 Ombres – Edition N ̊2 Quintessence. Next, apply a generous veneer of Dolce & Gabbana’s Passioneyes Mascara before shaping the eyebrows with The Brow Liner. Sign off with a pretty pout, ideally courtesy of Giorgio Armani’s Lip Freeze N ̊407 Ruby. 

Solar Solace: Brightening creams to restore your natural radiant skin

Not every solar embrace bestows upon your skin a healthy glow, with uneven pigmentation and unwelcome dark spots all too frequently the consequence of stepping out of the shade. Courtesy of a few well-chosen cosmetic allies, however, the original vibrancy your skin can be restored, with its perkiness and brightness maybe even turned up a notch.

In the case of Givenchy, its double-action approach equates to double the efficacy of its all-new Blanc Divin Brightening and Beautifying Tone-Up Cream and Blanc Divin Intense Brightening Spot Corrector, both of which are said to restore your skin’s natural lustre, while bringing an added glow to any complexion. Combining daisy extract and Japanese magnolia for an ample brightening affect, an added infusion of Japanese apricots adds anti-ageing into the mix.

Brightening

Over at Dior, its latest addition to the skincare market – the Prestige Light-in-White La Solution Lumieré – is the result of upgraded technical know-how, courtesy of its partnership with Parisian Hôpital Saint Louis. Together, they claim to have devised a revolutionary cell-renewal and melanin-control system, ideal for the reducing dark spots.

Brightening

Meanwhile, Chanel’s beauty boffins have come up with Sublimage L’Essence Lumière, a skin perfecter with vast medicinal plant content. Drawing from the botanicals of Madagascar, its ingredients form an anti-stress protective shield that delays ageing.

Finally, there is Swiss premium cosmetics house La Prairie with its signature collection – White Caviar. Hopefully meriting the hype, its two hero products are the White Caviar Illuminating Pearl Infusion and the White Caviar Crème Extraordinaire, which work together to pummel adverse pigmentation and help your inner luminosity shine through.

Text: Gafencu Beauty Team

Beauty News: Hermès Is Officially Launching Makeup and Skincare

You may want to mark your calendar (or rather countdown app) as Parisian fashion house Hermès, has announced the exciting news via Business of Fashion, that the brand will be launching both make-up and skincare lines next year in 2020. Both collections are being developed in-house, however manufacturing is taking place by third-party suppliers, primarily in France and Italy.

Hermès

Joining the ranks of luxury brands who already offer their own high-end cosmetic lines such as Chanel and Dior, just to name a few, Hermès though, will offer consumers the unique and eco-friendly choice of purchasing make-up and skincare sans the plastic packaging, goodbye bubblewrap!

Citing the success of their fragrance collections, which saw profits rise by 9 percent last year in 2018 and now account for the 5 percent of the brand’s overall sales, Hermès is choosing to branch out and become a full-scale global beauty brand.

Despite the exciting news that has us all on the edge of our seats we’ll need to stay put and be patient, as not many details regrading the products or the official release date have been announced yet. In the meantime, we can use our imaginations and dream of all the luxurious moisturisers, lipsticks and eyeshadows to come… with what we’re sure will have the pretty price tags to match.