What’s new in beauty? Whether it’s a product launch, salon opening or ground-breaking treatment to try, we keep you up to date on all the latest beauty news in Hong Kong.
What Would Rihanna Do?
Fenty Skin has launched Fenty Skin Start’rs, three multi-tasking products that are easy to use and packed with skincare benefits. They comprise Rihanna’s own real-life routine for getting healthy, glowing skin in just a few steps. One of our readers has tried the range and swears by the moisturiser – “very nice, easily absorbed and leaves the skin feeling hydrated all day”; she adds that her teenage daughter has had great results with the cleanser and toner on spotty skin. Available from Sephora stores and online at sephora.hk.
New Online Platform
With the aim of bringing affordable yet quality organic skincare products from Europe to Hong Kong, new online platform The Organic Store Hong Kong provides an alternative platform for anyone looking for beauty items. Founders Angie and Rosalie believe that organic skincare doesn’t have to be luxurious to be effective. “With our independent status, we hope to stand out against the mainstream in Hong Kong and bring in more conscious choices that are good for our skin, our wallets and the planet.”
Here at EL, we’ve already tried out the Vegan Manicure Duo, by vegan nail polish brand Kia Charlotta. We loved both the nail polish and the natural polish remover that come in the set; they were effective and nice to use, and the remover had a much nicer smell – infused with eucalyptus and lemongrass – than traditional ‘chemical’ versions. We also liked the fact that the nail varnish comes in a small size (5ml), as larger sized nail varnishes tend to dry up and get chucked away!
Softer Skin
We’ve been loving the products in “A Lover’s Chest” ($998), a gift set of skin-love products and rituals (oils, gels, sprays and creams) in an artfully designed treasure box. It’s one of two limited edition Tales of Bodies sets by independent Hong Kong vegan and natural cruelty-free skincare label Skin Need; available online at Skin Need’s sister brand website wokeuplikethisbeauty.com.
The brand says that its products are formulated for the HK climate and conditions, and we can definitely vouch for this. The body lotion and hand cream, in particular, really stood up to the test during the recent cold and dry weather. No more dry winer hands!
For the Men!
Guys: did you know that your skin is structurally different from that of ladies? This means you might need something more than just your wife’s, mum’s or sister’s moisturiser or face wash! California-based online store Lumin was founded on this concept, offering simple yet effective skincare for men, tailored to different skin types and concerns. The process is simple: just fill out a brief questionnaire and you’ll get a personalised skincare regime that’s suited to your skin type and lifestyle. You can choose to go with a one-time purchase or have your products delivered on a subscription basis. Alternatively, shop from the curated range of skincare sets catered to different budgets and preferences.
Smooth & Absorbent
Portugal-based luxury skincare brand Ignae has been unveiled in Asia, and is available through Hong Kong entrepreneur Canny Leung’s Maxi House online shop. Ignae’s anti-ageing formula combines ingredients such as Azorean colostrum and camellia oil to leave the skin looking younger. One EL team member recently tried the brand’s Eye Complex and Night Complex, and commented: “My skin is definitely smoother and I think some of those pesky fine lines around my eyes are smoothing out. The product absorbed easily, without leaving any greasy feeling.”
The Eye Complex combines high-performance peptides designed to reduce dark circles around the eyes and diminish wrinkles while the Night Complex stimulates collagen production and softens skin for a youthful glow.
h2o-living.com/news | maxihousehk.shoplineapp.com
Stellar Lips
Lips are always stealing the spotlight! Here are a couple of recent updates to know about.
• If you’re keen to prep your lips to be the best canvas possible, try Lush’s Unicorn Lip Scrub (HK$110), a magical blend of plum and organic jojoba oils. Order online via hk.lush.com.
• Keen for extra-shiny, kissable lips? Slick your pretty pout with Dior Addict Stellar Halo Shine or Dior Addict Stellar Gloss, available at beauty counters across the city, or order online at shop.diorbeauty.hk/en. The Halo Shine range has a starry centre full of long-wear pearlescent pigments.
Naked Revolution
Have you joined the naked revolution? We’re talking about naked packaging, specifically shampoo bars. Over the past five years, shampoo bars have saved around 30 million plastic bottles from landfill. It’s an important statistic for those of us here in Hong Kong facing a rubbish crisis. We love Lush’s solid shampoo bars because they smell beautiful, make your hair feel great and they last for 80 washes. That’s about three bottles of shampoo – really economical! Now, Lush has a new Shampoo Bar suitable for vegans. Hurrah! Grab one at Lush for HK$118.
Plant-based Skincare
AO+ Skincare is a breakthrough and patented probiotic skincare brand from the US. Fusing the very best of science and nature, it provides skin with essential health and beauty benefits derived from live good bacteria and only plant-based ingredients. The brand promises to deliver a healthy, more confident complexion by bringing balance to the skin’s microbiome. Pioneering this new approach to skincare, all AO+ products are 100% natural, preservative-free and fragrance-free.
Pencil Eyeliners
The Flypencil Longwear Pencil Eyeliner by Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty is a creamy long-wear eye pencil that’s water-resistant and comes in 20 shades. There’s a pencil for every look, ranging from glitter to metallic and back to matte. What does Rihanna say? “Smoky, natural, bold – whatever! This pencil makes it so easy to change up my whole look, and I love how it just glides on. It’s so creamy and pigmented.” Pick one up from Sephora, Harvey Nichols, Beauty Bazaar and Beauty Avenue.
Boost for Tired Skin
If you have damaged and tired skin that needs a boost, we have good news. Dior’s first micro-nutritive caviar-creme gelée has 22 micronutrients to help boost skin. The creation of Dior Prestige Le Micro-Caviar de Rose was inspired by nutritional supplements, and it can be applied daily as a booster for your moisturiser or as an intensive pre-serum treatment to recharge tired skin.
Be Sun Safe
Protecting yourself from the sun while you splash about in the sea is important, but so is the ecosystem you’re enjoying. Sadly, compounds in chemical sunscreens contribute to ocean pollution, causing irreparable damage to coral reefs. That’s why Banyan Tree Essentials developed a coral reef-safe mineral sunscreen. Grab a tube of Banyan Tree Coconut & Seaweed Mineral Sunscreen before your next beach session.
DIY Wedding Band
“Crafting your own rings imbues sentiment far greater than you could imagine.” Wise words from the team at Obellery, a contemporary jewellery studio in PMQ that hosts wedding ring-making workshops. In these workshops, you’ll work alongside trained jewellers within their professional studios to ideate and craft your own wedding bands. Beautiful!
See more our in our Style & Beauty section:
Where to go for blonde highlights in Hong Kong
Our pick of top men’s tailors
Which fragrances do we love?
Beauty news is featured in every issue of Expat Living magazine. Subscribe now so you never miss an issue.
