Category: Beauty

Go for the Glow: Four new foundations to try this season

French luxury skincare brand Clarins is seemingly on a mission to persuade its keen adherents to turn over a new leaf this year, at least dermatologically, with its all-new Skin Illusion foundation being touted as the first veil foundation with a silky serum texture and a bare skin finish.

Hot on its heels is another haute French beauty brand – Guerlain – that has just reinvented its L’Essentiel Natural Glow Foundation. Promising everything from a 16-hour glow to guaranteeing an au naturel complexion, it’s apparently a 30ml miracle that’ll transform your skin forever, at least according to the company.

However, if it’s the most futuristic form of skincare that you seek, perhaps you should try out US-based cosmetics brand Hourglass’ hero product – Vanish Seamless Finish Liquid Foundation. A highly concentrated liquid, only a tiny drop of this foundation is said to be enough to give you full coverage. As an added bonus, it’s vegan and cruelty-free.

Meanwhile, for some extra radiance, why not seek out the Sheer Glow Foundation from French beauty marque NARS? In addition to the expected assurances of full coverage, even skin tone and long-lasting formula, it’s also said to provide maximum luminosity, giving you that ever-desirable glowing skin. Available in 20 shades, there’s sure to be something here for everyone.

Get the Look: Bring a spring flush to your cheeks with these pretty pinks

As the spring season approaches, your schedule will likely be flushed with outdoor events and perhaps an Easter get-away. With the feminine and floral festivities approaching  it is no doubt important to channel your inner girlish nature. As one of our most desired looks for spring comes courtesy of the fusion of many designer cosmetic brands, indeed, the mixture of Dior, to Chanel to Charlotte Tilbury and more. We’ve carefully selected the best and brightest pinks of the luxury make-up world. Here’s how you can get the look and embrace the time occasion of spring flings.

get the look

Get the Look:

To create the perfect rose pink look just in time for spring, begin with a dab or two of silky texture foundation courtesy of Chanel’s Le Blance Brightening Gentle Touch Foundation, then add a touch of YSL’s Shimmer Rush Face Palette for a shimmery rosy afterglow. If you’re looking to add just a hint more of radiance to your cheeks, touch up with Clarin’s GLOW 2 GO Blush and Highlighter Duo. Meanwhile, give yourself a set of bedroom eyes with Charlotte Tilbury’s Pillow Talk Luxury Palette, while adding a dash of mascara with Burberry’s Cat Lashes Ultra Black. No girlish look is complete, though, without soft matte lips and Givenchy’s Le Rose Perfecto 201, which is all but guaranteed to see you at peak kissability. However, if you’d rather plump up for a more sparkly affair, try Dior’s Lip Maximizer #003 Holo Purple, which has been said to bolster lips most impressively. Finally, apply Addiction’s Soprano Beige Nail Polish to your nails for a lasting precious pink patina.

Optical optimisation: New eye creams in the market

It’s a commonly known fact that the region around the eyes is the most sensitive area on the face – one that is susceptible to dark circles, wrinkles, eye bags and other tell-tale signs of ageing. Thankfully, some of the leading beauty brands have launched some new eye creams this spring, all promising to be the miracle solution to eye problems. Let’s check them out.

eye cream

Ever since it was discovered in 1952, Life Plankton – a patented ingredient owned by French luxury skincare company Biotherm – has been celebrated for its rejuvenating effects on the skin. No doubt eager to cash in on the renown of its hero ingredient, the beauty brand has just unveiled Life Plankton Eye, a soothing serum for the eyes that is said to reduce fine lines and dark circles from the first application onwards.

Another brand making a similar claim is Japanese luxury skincare marque Clé de Peau Beauté. Its newly launched Enhancing Eye Contour Cream Supreme is said to not only reduce fine lines and signs of ageing, but also to re-contour the eyes altogether – largely thanks to an iris extract that apparently plumps up the skin from within.

Hot on its heels is Shiseido, with the Japanese brand having just released its Essential Energy Eye Definer, said to deliver a cool, energising look. Saturated with Vitamins E and C, its unique cinnamon extract claims to boost oxygen flow, thus bidding any signs of fatigue an unfond farewell.

Timeless Beauty: Rediscover the lost cosmetic arts of the Ancient World

It has long been known that many of the world’s most ancient civilizations boasted sophisticated and highly effective beauty regimes, the secrets of which have been lost over the intervening centuries. Now, though, it seems at least some of those arcane aesthetic arts have been rediscovered by the contemporary cosmetics sector…

anti-ageing
Derm Institute Youth Alchemy Soft Cream

Pre-eminent in this move to restore such timehonoured treatments is Derm Institute, with the ultragentle formula of its Youth Alchemy Soft Cream said to contain a number of active plant cells, including blue lotus and myrrh, both of which are reported to boost the skin’s immune system and help protect natural collagen, ultimately delivering a luxurious anti-ageing effect.

Guerlain’s Orchidée Impériale

Fresh to the market and all but guaranteed to freshen up your facial features is Guerlain’s Orchidée Impériale. A modern take on a classic remedy formula, it actively soothes the papillary dermis, reducing enlarged pores and gently concealing deep wrinkles.

anti-ageing
su:m37˚’s LosecSumma Elixir Day Ampoule and LosecSomma Elixir Cream

Those enamoured with the renowned wisdom of ancient India may already be familiar with su:m37˚’s LosecSumma Elixir Day Ampoule and LosecSomma Elixir Cream. The active ingredients of this traditional Indian Ayurveda fermentation remedy are said to detoxify and regenerate the skin, while trapping essential moisture within for anti-ageing effects. 

 

anti-ageing
Sulwhasoo’s Timetreasure Invigorating Cream

Another heritage treatment well worth investigating is Sulwhasoo’s Timetreasure Invigorating Cream. The brand’s take on nature incorporates Korean red pine needles, an arboreal element said to help combat the effects of ageing while bolstering skin cells.

anti-ageing
La Prairie’s Platinum Rare Cellular Life Lotion

Finally, should you still be searching for just one multifunctional means of amelioration, La Prairie’s Platinum Rare Cellular Life Lotion, with its fusion of antioxidants and platinum metal, is said to help restore your skin in myriad different ways.

Studdly Scents: Our favourite luxury colognes for spring

Luxury While there are such timeless scents that are crafted to last the entire calendar year no matter what the season, it’s natural to find oneself craving a fragrance that complements the a particular season, especially when that season is the blossoming spring.

With a plethora of luxury brands offering everything from lightly citrus to full-bodied musky notes, it can be difficult to narrow down which bottle is best suited for you. We’ve narrowed down our favourite springtime luxury colognes for men that’ll help you to embody the season’s character, and leave you feeling as fresh as the springtime showers.

Essence Essentials: Serums to get smooth skin in the Year of the Pig

Courtesy of premier luxury skincare brand Shiseido comes Clé de Peau’s reformulated Essential Refining Essence. Its cutting-edge formulation is said to target the root cause of visible pores, while reducing the roughness and dullness of the skin. Designed to minimise excess sebum release and erase impurities, it also promises up to eight hours of hydration, ensuring your skin stays smooth and properly moisturised throughout the day.

EVE LOM, the British skincare brand, meanwhile, has turned its attention to skin-soothing serums, with its new Time Retreat Radiance Boost Treatment – featuring special acids blended with a radiance-boosting formula – guaranteed to even out your epidermis. Said to help reduce wrinkles and puffiness, the serum also apparently boasts cell-renewing properties, all intended to bestow a healthier glow.

BIOTHERM is on a mission to help you turn over a new leaf – at least dermatologically – in the Year of the Pig with its firecracker-themed Life Plankton Essence. Sourced from the thermal springs of France – home territory for the company – comes this naturally nourishing life plankton, which works to activate skin renewal and enhance absorption. It’s said to make your skin feel younger in just eight days.

 

Opulent Optics: Regain your youthful glow with these luxurious eye creams

Wrinkles, eye bags, sagging skin – these are just a few of the dermatological woes that plague us as we get older. Thankfully, some of the leading marques of the beauty industry have turned their attention to creating truly luxurious eye creams that purportedly combat these skincare problems, leaving your peepers refreshed and rejuvenated with a wholly youthful glow. Here are three particularly potent potions that caught our eye.

Luxurious eye creams

New York-headquartered Estée Lauder had opulent optical care in mind when it commissioned Resilience Multi- Effect, a multi-effect face-eye crème designed to boost the skin’s collagen level by 12 percent in just three days. Its IR defense technology also targets skin barrier damage by neutralising moisture barriers, while its polygonum extract provides natural herbs to help counter visible ageing, making eye bags a thing of the past.

Shiseido Essential Energy Eye Definer
Shiseido Essential Energy Eye Definer

Making similar great strides forward is Fresh, the renowned American beauty brand, which is on an avowed mission to make you appear a little less weary via its Black Tea Firming Eye Serum. A blend of nature and science, the formula treats your delicate eye area to a refreshing fluid gel, rolling back the years with ease.

Fresh Black Tea Firming Eye Serum
Fresh Black Tea Firming Eye Serum

Denying the Americans all the plaudits is Shiseido, with the Japanese brand having just released its Essential Energy Eye Definer, said to deliver a cool, energising look. Saturated with Vitamins E and C, its unique cinnamon extract is said to boost oxygen flow, thus bidding any signs of fatigue an unfond farewell.

Estee Lauder Resilience Multi Effect Eye Creme
Estee Lauder Resilience Multi Effect Eye Creme

Nippy Lippy: Your pout can’t do without these lipsticks

The chilly embrace of the harsh winds of winter is no friend to left-out-in-the-cold lips, with these exposed extremities oft bearing the brunt of this seasonal assault. That’s why it’s so important to choose a lipstick that not only compliments your complexion, but also ensures this vulnerable zone remains hydrated and healthy.

lipsticks

With this in mind, Chanel’s limited-edition Rouge Allure N°8, with its powerful satiny red shade fetchingly infused with gold sparkles, is a fine choice. Its blend of green tea, sweet almond oil and an adherent ester makes it ideal for long wear and ensures optimal protection.

Similarly intimately insulating is Givenchy’s Le Rose Perfecto lipstick, which is said to be wholly crammed with nourishing, smoothing and plumping balms. Crucially, it also contains acid spheres, which act as both a filler of fine lines and a barrier that ensures your lips retain the water molecules they so desperately need.

lipsticks

Also well worth considering is Dior’s Lip Glow to the Max. Recently upgraded and now infused with moisture-retentive hyaluronic acid, it’s said to guarantee 24-hour hydration.

Finally, a hardy perennial on the wish-list of anyone craving sustainably-voluptuous lips is YSL’s Volupté Plump-in-Colour. Its special peppermint oil and caprilyl glycol formula apparently make lips appear fuller, while covertly conditioning them with coconut oil and pomegranate extract.

With these lipsticks in your handbag, you can be confident your pout will outlast the keenest winter blast.

Comb All Ye Faithful: The wellness benefits of jade combs

In that arcane corner of the Internet known only as the blogosphere, a new grooming phenomenon has begun to gain traction. If you are among those who don’t frequent such cyber-nooks and one of the dwindling number as yet unsubscribed to Instagram, the fad for US$300-a-piece jade combs may have, as yet, passed you by. The question is – are you missing out on a hair and scalp care revolution or have you just body-swerved boosting the coffers of some follically-minded fraudster to the tune of HK$2,400?

jade combs

Known for their love of self-care, it should come as little surprise that millennials have been beguiled by the hype surrounding jade combs. Ubiquitously promoted as delivering a calming massage while ensuring enhanced blood circulation across the whole of the scalp region, such combs are said to nurture faster and more sustained hair growth. Clearly wanting to manage expectations a little – at least long enough to ensure the “return by” date has passed – the companies behind the combs have been keen to emphasise that it will take at least three months before any benefits become apparent.

In these enlightened times, of course, hair care is no longer just about beauty – it’s also about wellness (a phenomenon not known to exist prior to 1998). So, if your conventional comb merely detangles your hair, without providing a transformation of shamanic proportions, are you truly missing out? Actually, you might be.

jade combs

The notion of combing as a therapeutic experience isn’t merely a latter-day affectation of Generation Me. In fact, its roots stretch back almost 1,500 years to the time of classical China’s Sui Dynasty (581-618 AD). Back then, it was practiced as an integral part of Tui Na, a form of traditional healing massage. With the head seen as the nexus of every bodily meridian, ritual combing was advocated as a means of ensuring the free flow of qi (life energy).

Tui Na adepts recommend that adherents should run their combs through their tresses at least 100 times before retiring for the night, a practice said to ensure sounder sleep, while also offering several more bouffant benefits. Fast forward a millennium and a half and today’s cyber-clinicians are making very similar promises.jade combs

So, is it an uncanny rediscovery of a lost tonsorial tonic or the redeploying of a venerable scalp-related scam on a whole new generation of credulous coiffeur-obsessives for whom bald facts remain forever elusive? Well, we’re happy to testify that a good scalp massage is always relaxing, but as to the restorative properties of jade combs, well, we’ll have to get back to you on that one. In about three months’ time.

Text: Bailey Atkinson

Are DIY laser hair removal kits as convenient as they claim?

The phenomenon of ‘laser hair removal’ seems to have integrated so successfully into the beauty industry that it may be all too easy to forget the nightmares of yore rooted quite literally in dark follicles.

laser hair removal

Indeed, laser hair removal has been commercially available to the public for around 24 years, a cosmetic practice known to treat unwanted hair by exposing it to intense light with a single frequency. The yearning for smooth, hairless legs, underarms, and perhaps places a little more private have been subtly addressed by clinicians for the over two decades.

However, as with any popular cosmetics procedure, the wait time of an appointment can be cause for those with an already packed schedule to be dismayed. Finding the time between the boardroom, social gatherings and time with the family, a trip to the clinic to get zapped with beams of light isn’t exactly the ideal Saturday morning bout.

laser hair removal

Hearing the overloaded-overworked consumers are more than a dozen companies, who are now marketing at-home devices for a mere HK$600 (the usual price of one treatment at a registered clinic) to an impressive HK$6,000. However, it is important to examine what these DIY kits do and at what cost to your body.

While most home hair-removal devices may be safe, they pose a risk when placed in the wrong hands. Consumers have been known to skip the instruction manual more than once, often ignoring the recommended time periods between treatments or knowing which setting is right for their skin and hair type. In fact, those with medium dark to dark brown and black hair are often not the right candidates for laser treatment, and will require electrolysis instead.

laser hair removal

Perhaps the convenience of waving goodbye to stubby prickles on your own time may be as attractive as the allure of smooth legs, but the possible risk of burning and / or permanently scaring your body (especially while trying to beautify it) is well worth considering. In an age where DIY is certainly on the rise, sometimes its important to ground ourselves and remember some things still do require appointments.

Text: Bailey Atkinson