Celebrity Life
Our Favourite Brightening and Hydrating Eye Creams
With surgical masks being compulsory for the foreseeable future, it’s time to really put some graft in to make sure our eyes — basically the only visible portion of our faces — continue to shine.
Eye creams are one of those finicky products that we tend to gloss over in our teens and twenties. So unnecessary; we’ve probably never experienced a wrinkle or crease in our lives. Suddenly, at the turn of the next decade, it’s all we can talk about. Does this eye cream contain retinol? Is it hydrating? It is de-puffing? Throw in the excessive straining of eyes at screens all day and — help! — a hint of crow’s feet has been detected.
Well, it’s time to accept fate and pay a bit more care to the most delicate part of our faces. Here are some of our favourites.
Hero image courtesy of Ani Kolleshi via Unsplash.
For a brand touted as producing the “Greatest Skincare of All Time”, we definitely sat up a little straighter when news of their new eye cream was announced. Lightweight and fast absorbing, this science-backed cream also comes encased in a gorgeous ceramic carrier which can be repurposed for whatever beauty or non-beauty related uses that may suit.
Launched earlier this year, Caudalie’s Premier Cru line is an anti-ageing formulation a decade in the making. Vegan, fragrance-free and made of 97% natural-origin ingredients, this little tube packs a real punch with a cooling applicator for instant, brighter looking eyes.
For a brand that launches consistent hard hitters with their cosmetics, so it’s no surprise that NARS’ skincare line also delivers. This new gel formula treats both eyes and lashes to revitalize and refresh, locking in up to 60 hours of moisture and glow.
As with other Drunk Elephant products, one is able to mix a dollop of this smooth serum with a combination of their other products. Pro tip: For a cooling effect, leave the bottle in the fridge before use.
Laura Mercier’s new Skin Essentials collection introduces ten products for an effortlessly flawless face; the perfect canvas for make-up, or just leaving the house bare-skinned — whatever suits you best. The Illuminating Eye Cream is a serum comprised of gentle yet efficacious ingredients, including light reflecting violet pearls and caffeine-rich green coffee seed oil.
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The Best At-Home Beauty Products to Get You Through Another Lockdown
Evelyn Choi — actress, model and influencer — shares fashion and beauty tips.
Evelyn Choi’s familiar face stares out from numerous advertising campaigns, magazine pages and social media posts. After first coming to prominence 14 years ago in the film Echoes of the Rainbow, alongside Simon Yam and Sandra Ng, she’s appeared in many TV shows and nearly a dozen films.
Her social media posts are peppered with makeup trends and tips, nods to designer brands, accessories, colourful dresses, jeans and frilly tops. She’s also known for mixing up designer gear with street chic, so we had to ask Evelyn Choi about all things fashionable – and the trendy young star obliged by doling out helpful advice, and her notions of fashion dos and don’ts.
Evelyn Choi, Actress-Model and Influencer
How has your fashion journey evolved?
I read a lot of fashion magazines and I check up on runway shows, but the most important part of my fashion journey has been the experience. My advice to others is simple: know yourself well and then you’ll know what kind of style suits your personality and shows the best of you.
Your Instagram feed is studded with tags for brands such as Gucci, Sacai, Miu Miu, Tods, Loewe and Giorgio Armani. Which are your favourites?
I don’t have a favourite brand or designer per se, as I think different brands have distinct features that make them unique. I enjoy and appreciate every individual designer.
Tell us about your accessories journey.
I like to wear the same accessories often, but style them differently each time. How do I choose a bag? Well, it’s quite funny: I use my wallet as a yardstick. Of course, I also see whether the bag goes with my jeans, as well as my little black dress. Quite a lot of people might opt for a signature look of a high-end brand, or a classic design. Somehow, I always end up liking new designs that encapsulate the brand spirit.
Would you be influenced by a model or celeb because they endorse a particular brand?
I usually decide for myself. A particular look or accessory might look good on a particular model, but not on me. That’s why they’re models. I believe different people have their own styles and qualities. Choose a style that matches you, not others.
Knowing you influence young women, does it make you more conscious about what you wear and post on social media?
For sure. That’s why I always share my #ootd (Outfit of the Day), not just because I want to share my fashion but, more importantly, because I want to give girls tips on finding their own style.
Who are your favourite Asian designers and style icons?
Three people spring to mind: designers Jason Wu and Vera Wang, and model and influencer Kiwi Lee.
What’s a fashion oops you had – and what did you learn from it?
I must say, hip-hop style really isn’t my cup of tea. I tried wearing very oversized tops and low-rise wide jeans and ended up looking very short and with no shape. But I wouldn’t say this style is an “oops I made a mistake”, it’s just not for me. I just can’t pull it off like others can.
Are there shows you watch just for the fashion?
I must confess I really like reality shows that help and encourage new and upcoming designers, like Project Runway and Next in Fashion. It’s always good to see how they fight for their dreams – and you as a viewer can also learn how to view fashion from different perspectives. From fabric construction to window dressing, the journey of an outfit from the designer’s first sketch to the end product is fascinating.
If you were to go to the MET Ball, who would you wear?
Wow – I really don’t know what I’d wear. I guess I need to see what the theme was first – it really starts from there, as the theme sets the tone. What I’d wear for Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination would be very different from China: Through the Looking Glass.
How collaborative are you with stylists?
To be honest, I don’t usually work with stylists, as I like to choose outfits myself – though sometimes I’ll work with a stylist on commercials or magazine shoots. I respect all the stylists in Hong Kong – I think they’re very professional.
What do you always have in your makeup bag?
Lip balm.
Beauty trends have been leaning away from glamour and towards skincare and wellness. What are your skincare tips?
My tips for readers are easy: less is always more. Don’t try to put lots of stuff and product on your face if you’re worried about your skin. I always remind myself that my body needs water. Good skin comes from within, not externally, so for glowing and smooth skin, drink water.
What’s your fashion advice for young girls – or boys?
You’re under no obligation to follow a trend. Maybe you can create your own instead.
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Augustinus Bader: The Best Skincare of All Time? (A Christmas Giveaway)
With less than a couple of weeks to go until the most wonderful time of the year, it’s time for the annual Prestige Christmas Giveaway. From December 13th to 24th, we’re offering Prestige Online readers the chance to win amazing prizes each and every day on Instagram, as we count down the 12 days of Christmas.
Whether you’re stuck on your gift list, sick of shopping, or just in need of a treat, here’s just a little something from us to you, to thank you for being our loyal readers.
Giveaway Day 7: The Cream of Augustinus Bader
The jury's out. Augustinus Bader is the best skincare of all time, according to WWD Beauty Inc, who put together the definitive list of top skincare products by harnessing the voices of authority in the beauty world – experts such as founders, retailers, influencers, editors, analysts and artists in the field.
If the word of the "industry bible" of beauty is anything to go by, you're now looking at the Number 1 product – Augustins Bader's heroes The Cream and The Rich Cream occupy the top spot on the list. According to the beauty panel, it's "the combination of the right product launched at the right time in the right way. It does what it says it's going to do."
And what it says it'll do is this: The Cream, inspired by 30 years of research and innovation, is an ultra-lightweight and instantly hydrating cream that promises even out the skin's tone and texture, restoring vibrancy, health and radiance back to tired-looking skin.
The Outcome from the 30-year Research
Developed by Professor Augustinus Bader, a leading scientist in the stem cell biology field, The Cream is the outcome of his 30-year exploration of perfecting the skin healing and reawakening process.
Bader used natural ingredients to create an optimal environment for the body's repair and renewal. The brand's proprietary Trigger Factor Complex (TCF8), combines natural amino acids, high-grade vitamins and synthesized molecules in a unique formula that helps transform the complexion and replenish moisture. It's the key to transformative properties in Augustinus Bader's skincare.
Winter weather tends to dry and dull out our skin. The Cream can ensure your skin maintains its glossy glow for the holiday season.
How to Enter
At Prestige, we will be giving five 50ml The Cream of Augustinus Bader to five winners separately. To enter, head to our Instagram page @PrestigeHK and follow the instructions.
Terms & Conditions:
By entering this Prestige giveaway, you will be bound by these terms and conditions and acknowledge that you satisfy all eligibility requirements.
This giveaway is open to Hong Kong residents only and entrants must be over the age of eighteen (18).
Entrants must follow our Instagram page and set their profile to public in order for their entry to be valid.
The giveaway prize is live for five (5) days only.
Entries will be accepted within the five (5) days of posting the feature. Thereafter the giveaway for that prize will close and the winner will be announced.
Winners will be contacted and asked to provide their full name and contact details via Instagram within 48 hours.
Winners will be instructed on how to claim their prize by email.
Winners must respond to redeem the prize within seven (7) days of the prize announcement, otherwise the prize will be forfeited.
Prizes cannot be exchanged for cash, credit and are non-transferrable to third parties.
Prestige reserves the right to cancel, re-draw or otherwise modify this giveaway at any time with immediate effect and without giving prior notice.
Photos are for reference only.
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Gender-Neutral Products Taking the Beauty World by Storm
The Carlyle hotel-inspired bolthole -- slated to open on the uppermost floors of Rosewood Hong Kong later this year -- will offer a blueprint for the eponymous group's vision of "a new kind of international members' club". We venture north of the harbour to discover just what that entails...
Hitherto, the Hong Kong ecosystem of private members' clubs has been split broadly between two camps: at one end, you have venerable institutions catered to the needs of the city's professionals (the FCC) and those who surround them (the KCC); at the other, a burgeoning array of social haunts meant to profit from the growing number of Silicon Valley types -- hawkers of crypto, CBD cafes, and other speculative investment opportunities -- who reside here.
Call me Debbie Downer, but neither feels like an especially glam place to visit. After all, such clubs justify their patronage by way of mostly pragmatic considerations: a convenient location; access to business networking opportunities; affordable gym membership; and so forth. This, as Rosewood Hotels CEO Sonia Cheng well knows is where Carlyle & Co. can break the mould -- by conjuring a little glamour into Hong Kong's mostly comatose members' club scene.
Best thought of as a kind of pied-à-terre to the Rosewood Hong Kong (spanning the 54th-56th floor of the hotel) Carlyle & Co. is, in effect, Cheng's answer to the boutique members' clubs that have dominated pop culture these last 20 years. In Hong Kong -- where bureaucratic red tape is frequent; and decent-sized real estate scant -- her hotel group's latest venture feels especially impressive -- if for no other reason than the sheer audacity of it all.
In recent weeks, the first details of the club's leviathan 25,000 sq. ft. premises have begun to emerge, inspired in broad strokes by the "intriguing, inimitable and ultimately indefinable" style of The Carlyle in New York (incidentally also a brand owned by Rosewood Hotels). To orchestrate this vision of Hong Kong-via-Manhattan, Rosewood turned to British designer Ilse Crawford, whose approach has imbued the club's many rooms with a light, playful sensibility -- affording each a healthy dose of individual personality.
For fusty decadents like yours truly, the gentlemen's spaces -- including a barber, shoeshine, and capsule store by an award-winning haberdasher -- hold immense charm -- even though they espouse just one of many eclectic visual styles members will enjoy each time they navigate the club. The aforementioned differ significantly from spaces like the Cabaret Bar and Sitting Room, both of which employ the medium of painting (by artists Jean-Philippe Delhomme and Christina Zimpel respectively) to celebrate The Carlyle hotel's legendary Bemelmans murals.
Supper & Supping
In the spirit of its progenitor, the various dining venues at Carlyle & Co. seem to be accompanied by an august sense of occasion. The crux of the action happens at the brasserie, which (like any decent club restaurant in Hong Kong) serves a medley of Western, Chinese, and all-day delicacies. Here, the focus is on simply cooking the freshest produce the club can source -- various of the small plates are smoked, cured, or otherwise preserved in-house -- yet it's hardly the most theatrical outlet. That honour belongs to Café Carlyle, an intimate supper club intended as the local chapter of the eponymous tippling destination in New York. Members can expect this to be the repository of the club's live musical programming, which (consistent with the historic acts that have taken to the stage at the Carlyle hotel) will include an assortment of uniquely American artforms like jazz, funk, and blues.
Members craving a dose of sunshine can also take a selection of food and drink on the club's 55th-floor terrace, which (much like the Rosewood property at large) enjoys the sort of view that's conducive to sonnet writing or spontaneous tears of joy. Flanking one end of that terrace, you'll find the local chapter of Bemelmans Bar. Like its namesake, the menu here is split roughly equally between fine wines, punchbowls and classic cocktails; though, at the weekend, you can expect a certain frenetic atmosphere to take hold, as the space merges with the terrace for live DJ performances against the backdrop of Victoria Harbour.
Cosy quarters, brimming with personality
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The 'Tommy' suite, inspired by legendary Bemelmans barman Tommy Rowles. -
Draped in sumptuous tones of red and onyx, the 'Kitt' suite is a paean to singer-actress Eartha Kitt, a mainstay of the original Café Carlyle until her passing in 2008.
Though Carlyle & Co. members can easily book themselves into one of the 400-plus rooms at the surrounding Rosewood property, the entire 54th floor of the club is given over to eight themed suites -- all of which celebrate the history of The Carlyle hotel. More or less equal in size, each offers an inviting and distinctive interior personality. If you're retiring following an evening spent drinking (one too many) Martinis for instance, the 'Tommy' seems an apt choice -- named for and inspired by the legendary Bemelmans bartender Mr. Tommy Rowles. Other known personalities include Dorothy Draper, the original 'modern Baroque' decorator of The Carlyle's interiors; and Eartha Kitt, the renowned actress and Broadway musician. For dedicated students of café society, a stay in every single suite would seem like money well-spent.
A variety of membership packages are available at Carlyle & Co., with or without health club membership. To learn more about rates (or inquire about eligibility) visit Carlyle & Co. online.
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New In: 10 Beauty Products to Try Out this September
Fifty metres underground — this is the depth that local winemakers chose when they decided to store 10,000 wine bottles in the Aven d'Orgnac caves, an underground tourist attraction located at the southern end of the limestone plateau of the Gorges de l'Ardèche.
The experiment began in March 2018, when a new storage facility was specially created in a disused access tunnel to allow wine to mature in what amounts to a highly stable and peaceful environment.
A living product that ages best in undisturbed darkness, the wine will have benefited from ideal conditions: A constant temperature of around 12°C and an all-year-long rate of humidity of over 95%.
On December 12, 1,000 bottles of Côtes du Vivarais "Grand Aven 2017" from this treasure trove will be passed from hand to hand by a chain of human volunteers who will bring them back to the surface after two years underground. Thereafter, they will go under the hammer with a range of other local vintages in an auction with modest reserve prices.
Lots on offer will include 150 magnums of Terra Helvorum 2017 starting at 30 euros, 350 bottles of 2015 Terra Helvorum for as little as 15 euros and 350 bottles of Grand Aven 2016 from just 10 euros.
On land and sea
These days, experiments to store wine deep underground are very much in vogue in France. On June 3 of this year, 500 bottles were placed in racks at a depth of 103 metres in caves in Padirac under the watchful eye of Serge Dubs, the Best Sommelier of the World in 1989.
The first of these to return to the surface will be brought up for an initial tasting in the spring of 2021. And let's not forget that this experiment is focused on a very particular wine: A Clos Triguedina Cahors, christened Cuvée Probus, which has been produced to honour the 130-year anniversary of the Padirac Chasm.
Surprisingly enough, this new approach to maturing wine was initially inspired by a find at sea. In 2010, divers in the Baltic discovered a wreck containing what turned out to be a cargo of champagne, which was probably on its way to 1840s Russia.
The wave of experimentation that is now ongoing began when the bubbly, which was made by such houses as Veuve Clicquot, Heidsieck and the now defunct Juglar, was discovered to still be delicious after some 170 years under water.
In Saint-Jean-de-Luz in the French Basque country, winemaker Emmanuel Poirmeur has registered a patent for a process that involves vinifying wine in special vats at a depth of 15 metres under water. For its part, Leclerc-Briant set a record when it vinified one of its champagnes at a depth of 60 meters under the Atlantic in 2012, not surprisingly the vintage was christened "Abyss."
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Beauty & Wellness Awards 2020: New Kids on the Block
After months of reviewing close to 300 beauty products and wellness facilities, and tallying, here are the best skincare products of this year, and lest we forget, your top pick! And so without further ado, here are the Beauty & Wellness Awards winners.
As technology continues to advance and discoveries are made each day, we do our part in dipping our toe in the proverbial pool of beauty to explore the latest and greatest. Embracing the new is part of our job as investigative beauty aficionados, and as we dig through the recent debuts, we’ve found some newbies that have found a permanent spot on our top shelf that we highly recommend checking out.
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Professor Augustinus Baders’s Secret to Reawakening Skin Cells
Hong Kong's ever-changing dining scene is constantly evolving.
So much so, that it can get a little difficult to keep track of it all, let alone remember to book and try the new restaurants that have caught your eye. From brand new concepts to fresh venues and additional locations, here is our guide to seven of Hong Kong's most promising new restaurants to try right now.
Well, what are you waiting for...
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The Beauty Products We Loved This Year
We reveal our favourite beauty discoveries of the past year -- find out what our go-to skincare brands are, make-up we never leave home without, where you'll find us when we're in need of a luxurious spa treatment, and what 2020 launches we're excited about.
Favourite Treatment
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Chantecaille's Rose de Mai Signature Facial is a big drink of goodness to quench your skin's thirst. Every visit is an opportunity to catch up on zzzs and I wake up to plumped, glowy skin. Plus, the delicate scent is reason itself to love this treatment.
Favourite Make-up Brand
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Walking into Charlotte Tilbury makes me feel like a kid at a candy shop. The legendary makeup artist is the queen of colour. Her glamorous eyeshadow palettes are highly pigmented and easily blendable and buildable. To top it all, all her products are so beautiful in her signature modern-boudoir packaging.
Make-up item I can't live without...
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Having gone under the knife earlier this year (and by that, I mean microblading), I was ready to shake my brow make-up dependency.But shu uemura hard formula pencil (a combination of powder, wax and semi-solid oil; HK$200) will always have a spot on my top shelf. I still use it when I want extra definition.
Beauty product I'm always hoarding
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Masks. Be they sheet, mud, gel, peel-off or sleep. Following any masking routine, my skin feels fresh and renewed. My top-shelf products I use on rotation include WEI's Lotus Blossom Thirst Relief Sheet Mask (HK$430/6 sheets), Apivita's Prickly Pear Moisturising & Soothing Mask (HK$245) and Fresh's Umbrian Clay Purifying Mask (HK$490).
Favourite beauty hack I learned
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I've started to exfoliate once or twice a week after workouts. Sweat opens your pores so you can get a deeper cleanse and rid all impurities this way. I can control the cleanse with Tatcha's The Rice Polish Calming (HK$600) and add more or less water depending on the exfoliation I need.
Favourite overall beauty discovery
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So much has launched in 2019. But my favourite find has to be the Valmont Teint Majestuex Satin Glow Foundation (HK$1,650). What I love most about it is that it's a hybrid between make-up and skincare offering a glowy satin-like finish without drying out the skin. It also works great with the Poudre de Teint Précieuse compact powder (HK$1,380) when I need to touch up on too much shine.
Brand I'll always be loyal to
When it comes to Canvas, I can find no fault. All its products are at least 90 percent natural and organic, so I can rest easy knowing they won't irritate my very sensitive skin. I'm especially fond of the Rose Otto collection.
Favourite skincare product
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Depending on when you ask me this, my answer will probably change. But I'm currently obsessing over Sunday Riley's Luna Sleeping Night Oil (HK$450). A winning combo of retinol and blue tansy, the oil works through the night to reduce fine lines, the appearance of pores and redness. I also like that the formula is grease-proof and absorbs into your skin (rather than your pillowcase).
Favourite haircare product
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I'll be the first to admit that I'm guilty of negligence when it comes to my hair. I find a good quality hairdryer is more than half the battle. The ghd Air Hairdryer is fast-drying, controls frizz and ives my fine lifeless hair a boost of volume.
Favourite beauty personality I met this year
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Meeting Angela Caglia during her visit for her brand's launch at Lane Crawford in Hong Kong was rather memorable. She's made a name for herself by creating such beautiful, easy-to-use and effective tools. I've been hearing about her for some time now, so finally meeting her face-to-face and trying out her line was a real treat.
Favourite beauty device
Face massages helps to stimulate collagen production, plus it's relaxing when you're just sitting in front of the TV or computer. Frame Cosmetics has a Thermal Vibration Face Massaging Device (HK$4,680), which has a heating and cooling effect on top of a pulsating function that's said to help penetrate serums into deeper layers of the skin. All it takes is about 10 minutes and you've got yourself a mini at-home facial.
Favourite beauty-related social media to follow
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@gelcream posts the most beautiful product shots and honest reviews about new products. The only downside is that it will guarantee Instaenvy. Everything you find here will somehow make its way on to your wish list.
Favourite Fragrance
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I've always been a sucker or oral fragrances and my current favourite is Gucci Bloom Acqua Di Fiori (HK$1,040). The white-floral bouquet scent reminds me of fresh cut flowers without the overpowering sweetness, thanks to its earthy undertones.
Favourite Bodycare Product
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I would recommend the Aesop body range to anyone regardless of their skin type. The cleansers are gentle on the skin thanks to the nourishing botanical ingredients and are suitable year-round. Its Geranium Leaf Body Cleanser (HK$325) and Body Scrub (HK$260) are my top choices -- the fresh pine-needle and sage scent really wakes me up.
The next product I can't wait to get my hands on
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It would be impossible for me to list them all as there are so many products on my wish list! But I will say that I've been eyeing the 111Skin Rose Gold Radiance Booster (HK$895) and any of its masks for some time now. If it's good enough for Margot Robbie, Kim Kardashian and Priyanka Chopra, I can live with it. I've also heard some great things about the Dr Barbara Sturm Calming Serum (HK$1,930) and Victoria Beckham by Augustinus Bader (HK$2,100) that I wouldn't mind trying out too.
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