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.
6 Steps to Beauty
Baesix is a vegan, organic beauty brand formulated in Korea that aims to reset your skincare regime back to basics with its fuss-free six-step ritual (say goodbye to complex, lengthy beauty routines!). All about real results that make a difference to skin without harming the planet, there are no lofty promises or miracle claims with this brand. What you see is what you get: organic, vegan ingredients that work their magic to give users happy skin every day. In addition to the six core skincare products, the brand also offers a range of gadgets, merchandise and gift sets. All packaging is either 100 percent recyclable or biodegradable.
Shop online at baesix.com.
Pamper Picks
Feeling stressed? Book yourself in for a well-deserved spa session at The Chaless! The Central-based salon offers an array of beauty and wellness treatments that include non-invasive facials, massages, nails and waxing services, and it has just launched a range of new wellness treatments. We love the sound of the Energising Reset Package ($1,398), a two-hour session that includes three different treatments to cleanse and detoxify (Dry Body Brushing, Drainage Release Facial and Detox Massage). Or, if you’re in need of a good facial, try the Daily Glow Facial ($1,080) which uses the salon’s signature Aqua Glow method and mood-boosting facial massage for healthy glowing skin inside and out. Inspired by the warmth of chalets in the mountainous regions of Europe and Japan, the spa is the perfect respite from busy city lives.
Banish Bites!
French brand Parakito has launched a new range of natural mosquito protection products made with plant-based ingredients without the use of alcohol or DEET. Perfect for sports, sensitive skin and every occasion, the products provide the same level of protection as 50 percent DEET products but without the nasties. The new range features Derm (Moisturising Dry Oil, Sensitive Skin Spray, and Water & Sweat Resistant Spray and Roll-on), Diffuz (oil diffuser pellets for Parakito wristbands); and Bite Relief (Roll-on Gel and Cream) products.
Available at selected stores around Hong Kong or online at parakito.com.
Eco-friendly Skincare
ALKMIE, a natural, anti-ageing, vegan, ecofriendly skincare brand from Poland, has opened its first retail store at Lab Concept, Facesss in Admiralty. It stocks a wide range of clean, harmless, pregnancy-safe skincare products for natural beauty lovers, vegans, pregnant women, animal lovers and environmentalists. Looking for a skin boost before the party season? The ALKMIE Anti-Age Line includes the Nature Is Better 360° Eye Opening Cream, Jelly Lift Hydrolift Booster, Youth On Demand 24H Age Reversing Cream and Beauty Activate Biomimetic Enzymatic Peeling Mask.
Ideal for all
The unisex Crabtree Collection will appeal to everyone, from the Nourish + Renew Lip Balm that hydrates your lips anywhere and anytime, to the Cleanse + Awaken Shower Gel, perfect for washing away another busy day. These are products designed to be shared – which is what we discovered when sampling the Shower Gel at home; the whole family – parents and teenage kids alike – loved the fresh apple fragrance!
In other Crabtree & Evelyn news, the Evelyn Rose Hydrating Glow Face Moisturiser launched here in May; described as being like a “luscious pudding”, it has a blend of active ingredients that enhance skin tone and reduce fine lines.
For a Sun-kissed Glow
Fenty’s Body Sauce is a lightweight body tint that provides a subtle shimmer for a healthy looking glow. The innovative formula applies evenly and instantly blends to enhance your skin tone; it has a light, silky texture and is smooth to the touch. Seven shades are available, catering to all skin tones, with buildable coverage that evens out blemishes and imperfections. Plus, the humidity- and sweatresistant gel-cream is formulated with babassu oil and vitamin E to nourish the skin all day or night. Apply it to clean, dry skin and blend with the Face & Body Kabuki Brush 160 (we love this brush!). The Body Sauce Body Luminizing Tint is $428 from Sephora and Harvey Nichols.
Restore & Replenish
The Tatcha skincare line is a celebration of classical Japanese beauty culture – in fact, it’s said to be based on the beauty rituals of geishas. Newly available is The Dewy Serum, a smoothing, hydrating and plumping serum that gives skin new life.
As we write this, one of the EL team has been using it for a week; “I really like it; I find it absorbs easily and is perfect as a base layer before foundation – and, yes, it does make my skin look a bit ‘dewy’!” The Dewy Serum is HK$770 at Lane Crawford.
Beauty Brands Galore
Opened in May 2021, Beauty Botanica is a beauty and wellness destination located on the third floor of the Landmark Atrium. Designed to look like a country garden, the boutique is a permanent space created to celebrate everything luxury, niche and natural. It will feature 27 beauty and wellness brands, from famed Erno Lazslo and Aromatherapy Associates, to more boutique offerings from the likes of Wildheart Organics, Melyon, Monastery and EiR NYC. 15 Queen’s Road Central.
Mix your own
Pibu Pibu was first released in Korea in 2018, and its iconic shampoo and body wash went on to become a big hit. The unique concept lets you mix and match two bio-active ampoules made from a wide range of natural ingredients into the base product to create a personalised product just for you. Pibu Pibu is now available in Hong Kong, so you can try this brand-new skincare experience. We’ve had a go ourselves; we loved the shampoo with the “Jack” and “Oz” ampoules added in, and the body wash with “Cindy” and “Brick”!
www.pibupibu.com.hk | instagram.com/pibupibu_hk
Online Organics
With the aim of bringing affordable yet quality organic skincare products from Europe to Hong Kong, 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.
See more our in our Style & Beauty section:
Beauty news is featured in every issue of Expat Living magazine. Subscribe now so you never miss an issue.
