Celebrity Life

Listen to your doctor! Here's our review of some of our favourite skincare product from Dr. Barbara Sturm.

There's been a recent rise in skincare brands founded by medical professionals, and we're all here for it.  

Dr. Barbara Sturm began her career as an orthopaedic surgeon where she then pioneered a treatment for joint ageing. Having always been fascinated by aesthetic medicines and treatment, her product lines focus on anti-ageing, skin rejuvenation and barrier protection.  

With the unveiling of her first ever solo-counter in Lane Crawford IFC, we decided to take a peek at her best-sellers and bring home a few lotions and potions to test. 

Header image courtesy of Dr. Barbara Sturm.

The post Review: Dr. Barbara Sturm’s Anti-Ageing Skincare Products appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Signs of ageing don’t necessarily mean a full-on facelift. As Dr Lisa Chan explains, there’s a more subtle and natural-looking alternative: a threadlift.

Given enough time and gravity, age begins to show on our faces in the form of loose skin, sagginess and loss of elasticity. Procedures such as skin resurfacing and filler injections can combat some of these issues early on, but sometimes a surgical facelift may be required to get the desired results. In between lies a relatively newer procedure: the threadlift. Instead of a full-on surgical approach where loose skin is removed and sutured for a tightening effect, patients who want more subtle and natural-looking results may opt for a threadlift. This procedure utilises absorbable medical-grade sutures to mechanically anchor and lift up sagging skin. As the threads dissolve over the next few months, they initiate a healing process within the body that increases the amount of collagen in the treated areas.

More collagen strengthens the skin, improving its elasticity and reducing wrinkle formation. Various types of sutures are available depending on the area being treated and the required degree of lifting: mono, screw and cog. Mono and screw sutures promote collagen formation and are usually placed in wrinkle-prone areas such as the forehead, around the eyes, upper cheeks, lip corners, and neck, while cog sutures tend to lift up the skin better and are inserted near the hairline to tighten sagging cheeks and jowls.

A typical threadlift procedure is done under local anaesthesia, and will last 30 minutes to an hour. In addition to an immediate tightening and structuring of the skin, gradual improvement in elasticity and hydration can be seen over the next few months. Since the sutures are relatively small, healing of the insertion sites usually only takes a few days. Most patients can go back to work straight after the procedure.

With any injection procedure, swelling and bruising as well as pain may occur. As there’s a risk of suture migration with excessive facial movement, patients are advised to sleep on their backs and not to rub the treated areas vigorously over the next few weeks. There’s also a risk of infection, and care must be taken to keep the treated areas clean. Signs of infection include redness, swelling and fever, and you should notify your doctor immediately.

The threadlift is suitable for patients who have mild to moderate skin laxity, which usually concurs with patients in their late thirties to fifties. Results are less dramatic than a surgical facelift, and can last from one to three years.

In patients who desire not just a lifting effect but also wish to improve volumisation, reduce wrinkles and smoothen out skin tone, other modalities such as injectable fillers, botulinum toxin and light-based therapies may be used to achieve the desired results.

The post Minimally Invasive Facelifting: Dr Lisa Chan on the Threadlift appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

There’s no doubt Alex Lam inherited his musical talent from his parents, his father being Cantopop legend George Lam Chi-Cheung, and his mother, Sally Yeh. Still, the singer-songwriter and actor hasn’t let privilege get to his head — he’s not afraid to explore other paths, from a stint in Los Angeles to discover yoga and becoming a yoga teacher, to dipping his toes in fashion.

Lam met Hiro Yoshikawa, founder and designer of Washi Jeans, a Japanese denim brand, a couple years back and was intrigued by the designer’s backstory. Now based in Hong Kong, Yoshikawa is the 18^th generation of a revered sake maker in Okayama, Japan, and the first to leave the family business to pursue his own passion in denim-making. By chance, Yoshikawa had found an old document that charted out his family’s history, written on washi paper. Inspired by this, he developed and patented the Washi No. 6 paper yarn, which he utilizes in his first solo collection launching this month.

Lam, who has always had an eye for detail, quickly became an ambassador and muse for Yoshikawa, and took it upon himself to bring the recognition Yoshikawa deserves by helping him stage his upcoming solo debut.

We sit down with Alex Lam and Hiro Yoshikawa at Washi Jean's studio to talk about style and the upcoming debut of Yoshikawa's solo collection Life on Earth.

Can you describe your style? What are your wardrobe essentials?

AL: My style has always been inspired by musicians. I grew up watching some of my favourite bands like The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, and today, I'm inspired by singers like Drake. For me, my summer essentials include a sleeveless vest, a good multi-functional blazer and a pair of high-quality designer jeans.

Have you always been passionate about fashion and did you want to work in fashion?

AL: I have always cared about how I look and my outfits since I was a kid. I remember there was one time when the collar of my t-shirt wasn't right and I wouldn’t wear it out until my parents fixed it for me. Having friends who are in the fashion industry allows me to execute and experiment my ideas during workshops, like the ‘marshmallow’ colourway of the t-shirt I’m wearing right now. 

How did the both of you meet?

AL: I met Hiro-san thought some of our mutual friends.

HY: have been making jeans for other brands for the past 30 years and it has always been my dream to have my own denim brand. I have always hung out with people from the fashion industry, and meeting Alex from the music and acting world has made my life more fun and exciting.

Can you tell us a bit about your project with Hiro-san?

AL: I was hanging out with a group of producers and we often talk about fashion shows, designer brands’ videos, installation art and music. Once we found out Hiro-san wanted to launch his own denim brand this year, we decided to catch this opportunity and put our ideas together. We are organising a VIP launch event with a fashion show on June 11, 2021.

What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome with this project?

AL: I think the rules of the game changed after Covid started last year. We looked at online fashion shows last year, without the tradition styles, and we knew our team needed to do it in a cleverer way. The restriction for event gathering is 30 persons at the moment, so we were not able to invite too many friends and make the event as big as before. Plus the campaign and fashion show video shoot all in one day, that’s the biggest challenge in this project.

HY:  We have been staying in our studio almost every day is the past few months, meeting different parties like our PR team, models, videographers and producers.

What else are you up to this year that you can share with us?

AL: I have released a new song and I just finished a music video for another song. I have also been working on my YouTube channel and created a few series, but it’s been slightly slowed down because I was focusing in this project.

Has the pandemic affected the way you work or changed your priorities?

AL: Before Covid, I was busy working with clients, who often prepared everything. With changes and restrictions during this period, I am able to organise and create more content by myself.

What are you currently inspired by?

AL: There are many indie musicians and young kids out there who are doing their music in their unique styles. I admire them a lot as they can release songs as long as they think it sounds good. I used think good music requires the best studio and recording equipment, but turned out a lot of indie musicians are producing high quality songs just by working at home.

You have a YouTube channel, you're into fashion, music as well as classic cars. How did you get into each of those passions and how do you balance it all?

AL: Project by project. I’m now focusing more on quantity over quality and I'll keep learning from the progress and mistakes.

Do you have a motto you live by?

Stay healthy. As I was a yoga teacher, I still practice yoga for two to three hours each day. It’s a good way to reflect on myself and find peace.

The post Walking Back the Clock: Dr Lisa Chan’s Secrets to Minimise the Effects of Ageing appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

There are many legends of queens and members of royalty that had the luxury to preserve their beauty and complexions in the past. Cleopatra was said to have bathed daily in milk. Queen Nefertiti was said to have treasured the benefits of black cumin oil. In Korea, there’s an ancient recipe, passed down through generations of the royal family called “Gong Jin Bi Dan”, based on oriental medicines that work wonders on specific skin problems and signs of skin ageing. But royal court secrets such as these cannot be exclusive to the realms of royalty anymore. The history of Whoo, launched in South Korea in 2003, made this royal secret accessible, enhancing the oriental medicinal formula with modern science to offer modern-day queens the luxury to feel beautiful also.

The history of Whoo’s anti-ageing secret

The brand’s most premium series, Whoo Hwanyu, launched in 2006 in a luxurious packaging design. The line of products is encased in rich purple and stately gold, the colours of royalty. One of the best-selling products in the premium anti-ageing series is the Hwanyu Imperial Youth Eye Cream, formulated with potent medicinal ingredients including cordyceps and wild ginseng, to fortify the skin around the eyes and defy signs of ageing.

The Hwanyu Imperial Youth Eye Cream is made with an extract derived from whole wild ginseng using an age-old method called Baekjung Gobeop, where the ginseng is boiled for 100 hours in a royal earthenware pot before it is combined with about 70 other herbal ingredients. The recipe for this miracle of youth is according to a traditional herbal principle that dates back more than a decade ago.

While it is common to use only the ginseng root, at The history of Whoo, the entire plant of the wild ginseng is used, from the leaves to the stems and roots. Only 10 percent of natural wild ginseng collected in May to September have leaves and stems, and once collected, the plant's life comes to an end in about one week, making this ingredient incredibly valuable and scarce.

But the effects of wild ginseng is totally worth the trouble. The premium eye cream, with the whole ginseng and high concentrations of ceramide, instantly moisturises and helps to rejuvenate the skin around the eyes, making your eyes look ten years younger.

To celebrate the new Lunar New Year, The history of Whoo is launching a jumbo-sized special edition of the Hwanyu Imperial Youth Eye Cream on February 8, packaged in a glorious, gleaming gold container and presented in an exquisite wooden gift box that is decorated with an auspicious motif of phoenixes and peony flowers.

This grand special edition set comes with the utmost luxurious royal secret to youthful skin, which includes Hwanyu Imperial Youth Eye Cream Special Edition 50ml, the new Hwanyu Imperial Youth First Serum 15ml, Hwanyu Signature Ampoule 7ml, Hwanyu Essence 7ml, Hwanyu Cream 4ml, Hwanyu Eye Cream 4ml along with Royal Privilege Cream 4ml. The Royal Privilege Cream is produced in very limited quantities every year due to the rare ingredients contained in the formula. One of the ingredients is so rare it can only be harvested three days out of a year, making this gift set truly available only to a select few.

A new royal boost to your skincare routine

Light in texture but extremely hydrating is the Hwanyu Imperial Youth First Serum. The serum is a new member in the premium line and should be used right after cleansing to prep skin for the next skincare step. The essence glides on effortlessly in a soothing manner and revives dull skin to its natural softness and glow. You could combine this with a good facial massage to help promote skin circulation and to ensure that the product is absorbed fully into the skin.

Following the serum, the Hwanyu Imperial Youth Eye Cream can be applied.

Where to get?

The Hwanyu Imperial Youth Eye Cream Special Edition set, Hwanyu Imperial Youth First Serum and other lunar New Year special sets are available to purchase through this link here.

The serum is currently out of stock in Hong Kong & Macau, but will be re-stocked by mid-February.

The post The history of Whoo: Royal Secrets to Eternal Youth appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

When it comes to decoding the ingredients in all the bottles and pots on our top shelf of beauty elixirs, even the help of a beauty glossary can leave us a little confused. But understanding the components in the products we religiously slather on our faces can’t hurt.

Thankfully, Guerlain has done most of the homework for us. As one of the oldest cosmetics and skincare houses in the world with almost 200 years of experience, they know a thing or two about ingredients and how to engineer them in a way to create solutions that make us look and feel our best.

Specifically, Guerlain has dedicated its last 15 years into the study of orchids. Beyond interior floral décor, the flower has been the brand’s key ingredient in its Orchidée Impériale Black collection. Native to the Peruvian Andes, the Black Orchid is rare for its ebony colour and blooms for three weeks only, unlike similar breeds of its kind which flowers for months. This rare variety of orchid is incredibly valued for its ability to adapt its metabolism through understanding its environment and optimising its fertilisation and fruition. Using Guerlain’s Blackimmune^TM Technology, the precise extraction of these precious black orchid qualities is made possible, and is said to be the closest thing to a drink from the fabled fountain of youth. 

[dual-images right-image-url="https://www.prestigeonline.com/hk/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/guerlain_ORIM19-353_CMYK.jpg" left-image-url="https://www.prestigeonline.com/hk/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/guerlain_ORIM19-357_CMYK.jpg" right-caption="Orchidée Impériale Black The Cream: HK$10,300; HK$7,880 refill" left-caption="Newest Orchidée Impériale Black Eye and Lip Contour Cream: HK$5,150; HK$3,500 refill"]

The fine balance between power and delicacy is the key to smoother, firmer and more radiant skin. That's why Guerlain’s skincare masterpiece, the Orchidée Impériale Black The Cream (HK$10,300/50ml), remains such an age-defying beauty staple. Impacting 95% of cells involved in the skin’s self-defence system, the skin becomes more resilient as it continuously combats the signs of ageing. Meanwhile, the delicate and smooth formula, which is rich in cupuaçu butter and jojoba wax, provides a soft and comforting touch while a light fragrance of orchid, rose, white musk and cedar wood adds to its sensory appeal.

What's more, anything and everything is enough to trigger an accelerated rate of ageing, from a simple crack of a smile or the slightest bat of the eyelids. So, to target the first visible signs that gives away our true age, Guerlain’s newest addition to the collection -- the Orchidée Impériale Black Eye and Lip Contour Cream (HK$5,150/15ml) tends to our most delicate features. Using the same technology, the multi-action skincare gives our skin cellular immunity and extra protection for the skin that’s too thin to defend itself against environmental aggressors and our facial expressions. Again, an expert formula of textured butters and spherical powders create a velvety cream which not only results in a blurred matte finish, but it also combines to lift and protect while allowing free movement for your eyes and lips. Used together with the Orchidée Impériale Black The Cream, alongside the massage and contour spatula for the rest of your face and neck, and you’ve got all bases covered.

So when do we see results? From first application to years down the road – that’s the kind of acclaim only Guerlain is capable of. Immediately, skin appears smoother, firmer and tighter; in a month, skin is brightened, appearance of fatigue reduced, fine lines softened and upper lids lifted.

[dual-images right-image-url="https://www.prestigeonline.com/hk/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/guerlain_ORIM19-352_CMYK.jpg" left-image-url="https://www.prestigeonline.com/hk/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/guerlain_ORIM19-354_CMYK.jpg"]

All the wonders of time travel can be found in one sumptuous jar. To match the potency of the exceptional Orchidée Impériale Black formulas, Guerlain has commissioned 100-year-old Bernardeau House to design and craft the most luxurious black lacquered porcelain jars to hold its incredible creams. Made according to the traditions of the family, the lacquered pots can be refilled, anchoring the brand’s commitment to sustainability.

For more information, visit guerlain.com.

The post The Black Orchid Is Nature’s Time Machine appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Angela Caglia – celebrity esthetician, skincare trailblazer and anti-aging pioneer is also the latest beauty export to arrive in Hong Kong. The skincare aficionado herself introduces how she brought Hollywood’s most talked about facials from her flagship Bel Air spa into the comfort of our homes.

We speak to Angela about how her skincare line (most known for her coveted La Vie en Rose quartz face roller) became a cult classic, her everyday skincare routine and a list of famous faces who swear by Angela Caglia skincare.

[caption id="attachment_169989" align="alignnone" width="4478"] Celebrity facialist, Angela Caglia.[/caption]

How did you come up with your best-selling La Vie en Rose face roller?

I've been giving facials for 25 years and we always use the gadgets. Women (and men) come in like clockwork every month for facials. But nowadays schedules are constantly full and people are not coming in as often as they should because of other obligations. I created [La Vie en Rose] so that they can have that facial experience in their own at home. You can get similar results at a fraction of the cost and it’s convenient too.

[caption id="attachment_169984" align="alignnone" width="2800"] Angela Caglia Vibrating Rose Quartz Sculpting Roller is available at Lane Crawford. HK$1,530.[/caption]

How does it work?

We started off with a traditional roller that works great. It’s designed to help with lymphatic drainage, puffiness and dark circles around the eyes. The cooling effect of the stone tightens the skin. Recently we’ve launched our vibrating rose quartz sculpting roller which delivers 6,000 sonic vibrations per minute. This helps sculpt and lift from the dermis and muscles, making it a more effective exercise.

The design is so beautiful! What’s your inspiration behind the design?

I’ve sold gadgets before but they required charging and looked really masculine. I needed something that women would actually want to use – it needed to be beautiful (almost like a piece of jewellery), effective and easy to use. I also wanted to give people that moment where it was just for them and not their husband or their kids; a personal moment where they can enjoy themselves and feel good, because no one else is probably giving them a massage or facial. I think a lot of people can appreciate that.

Of all the different types of crystals and their energies, why rose quartz?

The rose quartz is a love energy crystal and a self-esteem building crystal. I was the first to put the rose gold with the rose quartz together because I think pink on pink is just so beautiful!

What are the best products to use it with?

I love to use it with my detox serum. This is one of my popular serums. This is one of my most popular serums. It also has a treatment in it. I have a lot of clients that are acne-prone and this is the hyaluronic acid with chlorophyll which oxygenates the skin so it's actually a light green. I also have sage extract which purifies and also a little tea tee oil that kills bacteria. It goes right into the skin. It also has meadowfoam seed oil which is packed with antioxidants.

How do you use your roller and what’s your personal beauty routine?

I don’t wash my face in the morning and do my deep cleanse at night. I use my rose quartz roller with my new anti-pollution cleansing oil. After that, I apply my detox serum on my T zone. And then finish off my souffle moisturiser.

[caption id="attachment_169985" align="alignnone" width="5000"] The products Angela Caglia herself swears by. Facial in Mask 3-piece Set HK$455; La Vie en Rose Face Roller HK$510.[/caption]

Who are some of your famous fans?

Sting. Minnie Driver. Barbara Streisand. Chrissy Teigen. Helena Christiansen. Hillary Duff. Those are the only ones I’m allowed to say!

What’s next for Angela Caglia?

We really want a stronger presence in the Asian market. I foresee myself being in Hong Kong at least twice a year. I’ve also been busy building up the product line as I would like to introduce a wider range for different clients. At the moment, I have an anti-aging vitamin C serum that won’t oxidise in the works!

The post In Conversation with the Rose Quartz Facial Goddess, Angela Caglia appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Intensity, passion, emotion -- much is held in the simple act of the gaze, and that is exactly what La Prairie has sought to deconstruct in the years spent researching its latest eye product. What makes a gaze so powerful, and how, as an expert in science and beauty, could La Prairie support the windows of our souls?

[caption id="attachment_158268" align="alignnone" width="1681"] A veritable icon, the Skin Caviar Collection demonstrates La Prairie's epitome of audacity.[/caption]

After all, the eye area boasts some 22 muscles, which work in tandem to showcase our complex emotions -- blinking alone happens an average of 10,000 times a day, and that doesn’t count the ways in which our eyes work to exhibit joy or heartbreak, anger or excitement. But this delicate area is the first to show signs of ageing, from the havoc that gravity wrecks on the upper and lower lids to loss of elasticity, fine lines and more.

[caption id="attachment_158269" align="alignnone" width="2378"] Being the first beauty brand utilising the benefits of caviar, La Prairie always strives to offer exceptional lifting and firming action through cutting-edge science.[/caption]

La Prairie has long been known for its superlative eye products, and Skin Caviar Eye Lift is the latest to join the suite. This serum seeks to open the eye area, lifting but also firming through the use of two distinct and effective formulas, enriched with the latest caviar incarnation, Caviar Premier, and La Prairie’s Exclusive Cellular Complex. One pump activates both meads, one that is encapsulated in precious caviar beads, the other an emulsion, bringing them together in a blend that melts into the skin and tightens the area immediately. Over time, the eyes appear more open, the eye contour and brows appear redefined, while undereye circles, puffiness and even crow’s feet fade away. The eyes, no longer heavy with the effects of time, are free to shine bright with emotion.

It starts with a simple daily ritual: one pump of the Skin Caviar Eye Lift, dotted along the eyelid crease from the inner corner to the outer. Finish with Skin Caviar Luxe Eye Cream to end a ritual that will have your eyes transformed as the days go by. Skin Caviar Luxe Eye Cream and Skin Caviar Eye Lift work together synergistically to bring the lifting and firming benefits to a maximum, improving and correcting with use.

[caption id="attachment_158288" align="alignnone" width="2378"] By integrating Caviar Premier, the firming and lifting effects of new infused Skin Caviar Luxe Eye Cream has multiplied significantly.[/caption]

To celebrate the launch of the Skin Caviar innovation range, La Prairie had invited celebrated Michelin star chef Vicky Cheng of VEA Restaurant and Lounge to curate a dinner menu highlighting the key ingredient, caviar. Chef Vicky's creations mirrored the ethos of the brand's quest for innovation and premium quality ingredients. The launch event introduced La Prairie's latest release while exploring the new realms of caviar as both an ingredient in luxury skincare and fine dining dishes. Twenty of the brand's friends and city's most influential socialites, including the likes off Elly Lam, Feiping Chang, Josephine Chiu, Joanna Lai, Victoria Tang-Owen amongst others were the first to try out the Skin Caviar Eye Lift at the exclusive dinner.

[gallery ids="161711,161713,161714,161715,161716,161717"]

For more information, visit LaPrairie.com.

The post Here’s Looking at You with the Newest Eye Creation, Skin Caviar Eye Lift appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

‘When a woman is talking to you, listen to what she says with her eyes’, said Victor Hugo. My eyes say I’m tired. Along with learning…

The post My top eye creams for 2019 appeared first on The Expater.

‘When a woman is talking to you, listen to what she says with her eyes’, said Victor Hugo. My eyes say I’m tired. Along with learning…

The post My top eye creams for 2019 appeared first on The Expater.

From efficacious skincare to a 23.75-karat golden hair dryer, these gifts for the woman (or women) in your life will earn you points all year long.

The post Gift guide for the woman in your life appeared first on The Peak Magazine.

From efficacious skincare to a 23.75-karat golden hair dryer, these gifts for the woman (or women) in your life will earn you points all year long.

For more stories like this, visit www.thepeakmagazine.com.sg.

Disclaimer: As as personal customer of JK7®, I was gifted the new Golden Face Oil for me to try. There was, however, no agreement or obligation…

The post Better than botox – the new anti-aging facial oil set for a cult following appeared first on The Expater.