Health is wealth – one thing that was made abundantly clear in the last two years of the pandemic. Even though Hong Kong is once again plagued by social restrictions, and the looming threat of the fifth wave is hovering, we’re cautiously optimistic that 2022 will be a good one. Like most people if you’ve decided to make health and wellness a priority, you’ll find that the trends for the year ahead are way more substantial than faddy (teatoxes and golden latte, we’re talking to you!), in fact they’re rather sensible, and sustainable. Try one, two…or all of them. New you, indeed.

Adaptogens 

Herbs, plant extracts or mushrooms, adaptogens are natural, non-toxic substances which are having a moment right now. Broadly speaking, these herbal derivatives (eg: reishi, ginseng, tulsi, schisandra or ashwagandha for example) help calm you down or perk up, depending on the ones you use. Whilst they are now surging in Western wellness concepts, Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine have used them in potion, powder and topical form for centuries and their healing powers are well established in these cultures. Whether boosting the body internally or externally, they act non-specifically – meaning they don’t target a particular issue or an organ but tweak hormonal production and physiological responses to stress to ensure you are functioning at your optimal best physically and mentally.

Zero Damage Beauty

Our approach to beauty has drastically changed. The pandemic mostly relegated the need for make-up and forced us to invest more in our skincare regime. No wonder, skinimalism or the welcome concept of minimal beauty looks where the real skin — texture, pores, blemishes, discoloration, and all — shone through was a raging trend in 2021 and still continues to dominate our lives. Investing in clean, green, sustainable skincare which adjusts the texture and function and the environmental impact on the skin, is the calling of 2022. Skin Need, Christal Leung’s independent skincare brand with its range of vegan potions for all skin types ticks all the right boxes for zero damage beauty. 

Also Read: Less is More – Skin Need Founder Christal Leung on the Chemistry of Beauty

In the era of selling eternal youth, there is something refreshing about owing up your natural, healthy skin and standing up to the US$52 billion anti-ageing industry. Committed to enhancing your inherent beauty, is Australian skincare veteran, Aesop. Their Healthy Skin campaign is all about taking the time and space to allow the lasting gratification delivered by high-quality products to set in, and show tangible results. It’s Triple C Facial Balancing Gel is an ideal vitamins B and C formula for Hong Kong’s hot and humid weather – used regularly, the green tea extract, chamomile and witch hazel are intensely nourishing, smoothening and mattifying for the skin. 

Exercise Drives Happiness

Most of us don’t care for a bikini body any more, because let’s face it – who is going on a vacation anymore? But, Covid-19 has forced us to take a more holistic approach to health. And, waiting for the world to fix itself starts with wanting to fix our own health and fitness routines. Two years into the pandemic,  constant closures of gyms and fitness centers is no longer an acceptable excuse to skip your exercise regimen. Most personal trainers and gyms are now charging for hybrid membership – almost all have become veterans in running virtual classes with minimal or no equipment. If outdoor exercises, trail runs or hikes is more your thing, then go for it – remember, those Christmas calories won’t burn themselves, exercise is where the mat is! 

At-home Beauty Tools and Facial Devices

Another big trend this year is the infusion of technology in skincare, from virtual try-ons (eg: the Sephora app which lets you try makeup and check how it looks before actually buying) to smart beauty devices which analyse your skin in real time and update with solutions, to at-home lasers – The LYMA Laser, for example – the pocket-size beauty launch of our generation – beauty is no longer dependent on treatments and facials which follow the Covid-clock. Big shout-out to this medical-grade laser which gives incredibly smooth, even complexion without any of the downtime, pain, or side effects of a professional laser treatment (severe redness and irritation) and also for being the first safe laser for dark skin. Whilst most micro-needling treatments risk scarring for darker complexions, LYMA on the other hand is completely safe and effective in dealing with fine lines, acne marks and a ton of other blemishes for all skin types.

Also Read: Make mental health a priority with these highly rated podcasts

 

DNA Testing To Find Health Risks

Big things come in small packages – couldn’t be truer for the cells in your body. Those tiny things shedding off inside your cheeks and saliva carry big secrets to your entire genetic code. The strings of As, Cs, Ts and Gs can reveal a gamut of information – your predisposition to life-threatening diseases, gene mutations, the location of your ancestors, which targeted treatment will help incase of cancer and things among other details. 

It might sound like a lot of medical information to process, but in the genomic age getting an in-depth analysis of your DNA to prevent health risks is the 2022 way of living. And we’re all for it! CircleDNA , the Hong Kong-based company started in 2014, is a great starting point to gather all risk assessments, detect disease history, and get a personalized prevention plan. 

 

Also Read: Pledged to eat healthy in the new year? Here’s what a month of eating clean will do for your body