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Buying skincare products is like heading into chemistry class – acids of all sorts line the shelves, each one seemingly more dangerous than the next. But when used properly, they are among the best tools for fighting fine lines, pigmentation, acne scarring and other conditions. We take you through the most common types and how to use them.

Glycolic acid is a type of alpha- hydroxy acid (AHA) that’s derived from sugar cane. One of the most widely used AHAs, it’s most commonly employed as a chemical exfoliant in cleansers, toners and peels, often partnered with salicylic acid, another common substance used to exfoliate the skin and clear acne scars. Drunk Elephant’s T.L.C Framboos Glycolic Night Serum is one of the brand’s best-sellers and gentle enough to be used nightly. Remember to lather on the sunscreen in the morning though, as its use can increase your skin's sensitivity to sun.

Gluconolactone is a poly-hydroxy acid (PHA), which are perhaps less well-known than AHAs or beta-hydroxy ones (BHAs). Nonetheless, it’s still an effective skincare ingredient and as it’s gentler than other acids it’s a great choice for those with sensitive skin. Wildsmith’s Dual-Action Exfoliating Treatment contains this PHA, which penetrates the skin slowly and gently to aid the removal of dead skin cells while providing deep hydration.

Hyaluronic acid is absolutely an essential for dry skin types. Its powerful anti-ageing properties work for every skin type and it can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water, helping lock moisture in the skin to keep it hydrated and soft. Hyaluronic acid also has the ability to protect the skin from environmental damage and block out the sun’s UVB rays. French favourite Caudalíe’s Vinsource-Hydra SOS Thirst-Quenching Serum is a great choice, as is local clean-beauty brand Skin Need’s 100 percent Hyaluronic Acid + B5 Serum, with the added benefit of anti- inflammatory properties found in the pro-vitamin.

Ferulic acid is an ingredient that’s mostly used in conjunction with vitamins C and E in serums, and has antioxidant properties. Pixi’s Vitamin-C Remedy Mask helps brighten and tone the skin with its energising and hydrating blend of citrus, green tea, ferric acid and ginseng. When used with Vitamins C and E, it can also protect the skin from free radicals. It is a great product for more mature skin and for pigmentation problems.

Lactic acid is the second-best- researched AHA after glycolic acid and is a great option, again for sensitive skin. Teresa Tarmey’s Lactic Acid Treatment, available at Net-a-Porter, is a light exfoliating peel that leaves the skin more radiant. Because it’s more gentle, it’s suitable for all skin types.

Phytic acid is a milder AHA that can effectively help to improve skin tone when used alongside a glycolic acid. Made from plant extracts, it is more nourishing on the skin and is one of the ingredients in Augustinus Bader’s Essence (along with salicylic, gluconolacctone and hyaluronic acid) to mildly exfoliate surface skin cells and improve the skin’s ability to retain moisture.

The post Beauty Tips: Different Types of Acids and How to Use Them appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

From rejuvenating formulas, to hair treatments, make-up gems and mesmerising fragrances, here are eight must-have beauty products to add to your collection this month to face the first month of summer heat and humidity.

La Prairie

Since 1978, La Prairie has continuously drawn inspiration from the mighty snow-capped Swiss Alps to bring us rejuvenating formulas based on founder Dr Paul Niehans’ revolutionary cellular therapies. The new Pure Gold Collection, inspired by the golden hour on the Alps, helps bring a natural glow to our skin, a radiance that looks as if it’s lit from within. This new Pure Gold Diffusion System technology brings an instant glow-up due to the gold particles in the formula, and is jam-packed with active ingredients to further replenish and restore the skin.

Hourglass

The best thing about Hourglass cosmetics’ vanish blush sticks are that the creamy formula sets to a powder and is extremely buildable. Tailor your perfect shade of blush to your natural lips or the lip colour you’re wearing.

Laura Mercier

Say hello to your must-have product this summer for the ultimate shine-free, perfect skin. Laura Mercier, pioneer of the "flawless face," launched its beloved tinted moisturiser more than 20 years ago. This year, the brand has developed a new oil-free formula with SPF 20 to take this beauty icon to the next level.

Wildsmith

There are physical exfoliators, there are chemical exfoliators and then there’s Wildsmith’s Dual- Action Exfoliating Treatment, which combines both in an ultimate (yet still gentle!) formula that glides on to the skin. PHA gently removes dead skin cells while providing deep moisturisation, while the cherry stone micro-powder carefully polishes off the dead skin cells. Your skin has never felt so smooth.

Kérastase

If you’re suffering from an oily scalp and flat roots, the hot and humid weather is the likely culprit. Kérastase, a leading scalp-care expert since 1964, has released its new Specifique Divalent line to tackle these unwelcome symptoms. The Argile Equilibrante (pictured) is a detox clay that purifies the scalp and balances sebum levels, removing impurities to restore the hair’s natural bounce.

Estée Lauder

The new revitalizing supreme + bright power soft creme by Estée Lauder is powered by 511AA target technology, with powerful moringa extract and a collagen-boosting complex to reduce dark spots and refine skin textures for healthier, brighter looking skin.

Christian Dior

Christian Dior had many muses in the film world: Marlene Dietrich, Ingrid Bergman, Ava Gardner Marilyn Monroe . . . all the stars wore Dior on and off the screen. To pay tribute to the stars, Dior has launched a limited edition of its famous lipstick. The Rouge Dior Star Edition is available in five dazzling shades and comes with an haute couture style twist.

Maison Francis Kurkdjian

Maison Francis Kurkdjian welcomes the summer weather with three new gorgeous fragrances in the Cologne forte collection. The trio of scents are inspired by sunlight and freshness, underlined with the fundamental note of bergamot. The Aqua Celestia Cologne forte (pictured) brings to mind the blue hues of the sea and the sky, beckoning us towards our favourite
beachside activities this coming summer.

Atelier Cologne

Atelier Cologne’s major launch for the summer is Lemon Island, one of those must-have beauty products that instantly transports you to a sunkissed island paradise. For the scent, lemons from Rodrigues — a remote island lying far off in the Indian Ocean — is paired with notes of warm Jasmine from India and a soothing Vanilla Infusion from Madagascar. This is the first time lemons from Rodrigues are used in any perfume. A bright and savoury scent that’s an instant escape — and God knows, we all need one.

The post 9 Must-have Beauty Products to Buy This June 2021 appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

With summer just around the corner and outdoor socialising soon to be back on the cards, it’s time to put away the warm winter jumpers and scarves and make way for shorts, skirts, vests and all manner of other warm-weather attire – what better excuse for a whole new designer wardrobe to celebrate? But, if […]

Ever since it launched in 2004, the Synactif collection sits at the pinnacle of Clé de Peau Beauté as a holistic regime that is subliminally effective.

Inspired by detoxifying spa experiences and backed by extensive research, the Synactif collection targets skin’s natural processes of removing impurities and supports skin’s self-beautifying system for a regenerated, radiant and sculpted beauty.

Protecting the skin from impurities is vital for it to stay in optimal condition, and the newly reformulated Synactif regimen has been designed to work synergistically to achieve this. Beginning with the Synactif soap, each step that follows after enhances skin’s ability to regenerate its beauty. The enhanced, higher-density foam effectively washes off sebum and pore-clogging impurities, and the new formula includes an abundance of moisturising ingredients such as hyaluronic acid to help hydrate and create a feeling of softness and moisture after cleansing.

What’s special about this new line, however, is their new purifying beautifier, which is an innovative complex exclusive to Synactif. A potent blend of botanical ingredients, this complex helps to enhance skin’s self-beautifying system, improving the skin’s condition and appearance to become more youthful.

After the soap, follow with the Clé de Peau synactif lotion to replenish the skin with rich, dewy moisture. Newly formulated with rose extract to lock in moisture, the intensive brightening ingredients in the lotion also help to eliminate dullness and enhance the skin’s clarity. With continuous use, skin becomes plumper and more resilient over time. The Synactif line also has two moisturisers that are designed specifically with the skin’s daytime and night-time rhythms in mind, while their eye cream has an advanced formula that delivers the feeling of rapid, deep absorption with a lightweight texture specifically designed for the delicate eye area.

Last but not least, the Synactif cream powerfully revitalises the skin. Newly formulated with neem leaf extract, the upgraded cream helps to fortify skin’s firmness for well-defined contours. To top it off, the entire line is infused with an award-winning rose fragrance in order to relax and purify those who use it.

The post Clé de Peau’s Upgraded Synactif Series Will Revolutionise Your Skin appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

As the covid fourth wave surges and salons close indefinitely, we’re once again faced with the problem of keeping our skin in optimal condition — and all by ourselves with. We asked two beauty experts in Hong Kong about their favourite skincare products that can be used chez vous for the best home spa experiences.

Rare Skin Fuel founder Michelle Chen is no stranger to maintaining good skin within the confinement of her own home. Her obsession with anti-ageing culminated in her creation of a range of 100 percent Australian-made skincare products manufactured in strictly limited quantities with extensive certified organic and native Aussie ingredients. Made with a long and complex heat-free blending procedure, Rare Skin Fuel delivers a one-of-a-kind treatment for the skin.

With a heavy emphasis on only the finest botanical extracts and other natural nutrient-rich ingredients, Rare Skin Fuel’s products can just as easily be used at home as in a spa. With people having to stay indoors a lot more recently, constantly wearing face masks and going make-up-free, Rare Skin Fuel’s mission to “reveal, not conceal” true beauty rings strong. Its botanical ingredients are obtained via a new extraction technology that, unlike traditional methods which degrade the source material, works to preserve the plants as they exist in nature, so that they’re pure, stable and active for long periods. The two-step manufacturing process – the hot phase binds and blends the cream-based products’ ingredients, while the subsequent cold phase preserves the extracts’ minerals, vitamins and nutrients – ensures that the skin receives the benefits of the ingredients at their optimum quality and potency.

Eliminating the risk of contamination during transport, every product is manufactured, hand-blended and packed with Australian-grown ingredients at the same facility. Unlike many skincare companies that use hot and humid shipping containers, Rare Skin Fuel’s final-batch products are flown from Australia to an air-conditioned warehouse in Hong Kong, ensuring quality and effectiveness. Recently, it launched a home spa kit to help users create a spa-like experience. To achieve this, Chen suggests beginning with the Detoxifying Australian Clay Mask and Refreshing Activator, which deeply cleanses, refines and exfoliates pores and dead skin cells for clearer and smoother skin. Afterwards, to balance out the drying effect of the detoxifying clay, soothe and moisturise the skin with the Restoring Australian Clay Mask and Nourishing Activator.

Botanic Pretti5, another locally founded but Japanese- bred skincare brand, also has unique products and tools to achieve spa-grade results at home. Born out of a passion to create clean products inspired by nature, Botanic Pretti5 harnesses the power of Chinese medicine using cutting-edge Western technology. Its modern skincare solutions are designed to fortify the skin’s natural immunity to combat stress, pollution and premature ageing. The low-irritant, non-comedogenic [non-pore- blocking] formula works for everyone – especially those with sensitive skin and rosacea. In particular, the brand offers a De-Puff and Shine set that achieves the same results as a facial, providing three easy steps for deep hydration that can alleviate large pores, puffiness and dark eye circles.

The set includes an Antioxidant Hydrating Toning Essence, a Miracle Glow Facial Oil and a Rose Quartz Facial Roller. The brand’s award-winning Antioxidant Hydrating Toning Essence contains snow-mushroom extracts and Japanese Goldflower root extract to provide deep hydration and pore refinement. It’s pH-balanced and contains no alcohol, so as to avoid irritating sensitive skin, provide better oil control and reduce acne breakouts. Founder Dorothy Chau suggests moisturising the skin with this toning essence after showering, followed by applying one or two drops of the multi-purpose, 100 percent plant-based Miracle Glow Facial Oil, which has a non-greasy formula infused with squalene and jojoba oil. The ginger extract in the oil also helps improve blood circulation and reduces facial bloating and dark circles, is easy to absorb and can be applied to the eye area without causing milia. Follow up with a gentle face massage using the Rose Quartz Facial Roller, one of the best-known ancient Chinese beauty tools whose multiple benefits remain popular to this day. Using this roller helps to reduce puffiness, removes extra water retention and toxins in the skin, promotes collagen production and reduces the appearance of fine lines, while brightening the skin tone by improving blood circulation for healthy and nourished skin.

A properly drawn bath can work wonders as a home spa treatment

The dry winter weather makes hydration of utmost importance. Fortunately, NARS has also recently released a skincare collection, which contains algae extract from Brittany in France to help stimulate natural cellular renewal and help skin look smoother, brighter and more evenly toned. It also replenishes the skin with mineral seawater harvested from the lagoons of French Polynesia to deliver essential moisture and minerals – such as calcium, magnesium and sulphur – to the skin’s surface. For those worried about dull skin, this collection also contains uniquely shaped Light Active Micro-Prisms to diffuse external light, just as a prism would, to optimise light reflection and result in a more luminous and
radiant complexion.

If you’re looking for something more potent, Valmont has a Prime Renewing Pack that includes two exclusive anti-ageing and anti-wrinkle ingredients: Liposomed RNA and the Peptides+Cocktail, which can immediately smooth and repair skin so that the face glows with radiant youth. An anti-stress cellular mask, whose formula visibly smooths and relaxes the facial features, it also provides long-term anti-ageing benefits by stimulating the skin’s essential functions. Its moisturising line also provides effective, customised hydration and features a cream that also acts as a mask for optimal hydration, with just one application.

Aside from the face, body and hair-care spa treatments can also be undertaken at home with Augustinus Bader’s body collection and Laura Mercier’s bath products, as well as Aveda and Kérastase’s specialised hair masks. A game changer since it entered the market, Augustinus Bader recently launched a body lotion and oil. The body lotion contains a protective polysaccharide compound that boosts inter-cellular communication and the skin’s ability to retain water, while rejuvenating shea butter and soothing aloe vera also make it ideal for after-sun care. Informed and inspired by 30 years of research and innovation, the body oil is powered by Augustinus Bader’s proprietary TFC8 complex, which blends natural amino acids, high-grade vitamins and synthesised molecules to enhance the skin’s innate process of rejuvenation and repair. The lightweight compound meets a range of needs, due to a fast-absorbing formula that improves the skin at the deepest levels, promoting overall dermatological health and resilience. “Our new high- performance body oil works to nourish and protect the skin’s integrity while supporting its renewal process. The more you use it, the stronger and healthier your skin will look,” Professor Augustinus Bader says.

During these trying times, a properly drawn bath can work wonders as a spa treatment at home. Laura Mercier’s almond coconut milk scrub is a polishing scrub with sugar granules and exfoliating beads that gently sloughs skin as well as clarifies and tones it. The creamy texture removes dead cells from the surface, leaving the skin soft and silky. The macadamia nut and sweet almond oils containing vitamins A and E also help to moisturise, protect and soothe.

The highlight of Laura Mercier’s bath products, however, is the fragrance. The warm fragrance of this scrub captures the essences not only of almond and coconut milk, but also jasmine, rosewood, ylang-ylang, vanilla, tonka, heliotrope and musk. Or pamper yourself with its Ambre Vanillé honey bath whose thick and rich bubbles will leave your skin velvety smooth and senses calm and relaxed. The nourishing blend of shea butter, vanilla extracts, sweet almond proteins, hydrolysed rice, oat proteins and Vitamin B-5 moisturises, rebalances and protects the skin. The quiet sensuality of amber blended with the warmth of vanilla is enhanced with fresh notes of tangerine and tiger orchid, sweet notes of almond and brown sugar, as well as a final hint of musky sandalwood for a finish that’s soft, intimate and addictive.

Combat dull and lacklustre hair with Kérastase’s Masque Reconstituant, a rich, thick white cream which provides intense hydration and nourishment for hair fibres without weighing it down. It also helps fortify the hair to become smoother and softer. Likewise, Aveda has also recently launched its first nutrient-powered all-day moisturiser for dry hair. A blend of organic pomegranate oil, coconut oil and mango butter, this unique product intensely moisturises and replenishes dry and depleted hair.

“Coconut oil is known to penetrate the hair strands for nourishment, and the pomegranate oil and mango butter help smooth and nourish the surface of the hair,” said Christine Hall, Aveda’s vice president of research and development. “Pomegranate oil has powerful nutritional benefits for the hair; rich in omega-5 fatty acid, it helps revitalise dull and dry hair with hydration and protects it from depletion.”
With these products targeting face, hair and body, rest assured that they’ll keep you well taken care of from head to toe while access to spas and salons may not necessarily be guaranteed.

(Hero shot: Botanic Pretti5’s De-puff and Shine Collection)

The post Home Spa: Two Beauty Experts on The Best Products For Dry Winters appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Makeup artist, Awaka Ciera, has captured the attention of publications around the world including Glamour Mexico, Vogue Italy and GQ Mexico amongst others. Ms. Ciera’s tireless work ethic assisting other lead artists on major productions including Coca Cola and Pink by Victoria’s Secret to Tommy Hilfiger, and Victoria Beckham has paid off, affording her the […]

The post Awaka Ciera, An Exceptional Beauty & Celebrity Make-Up Artist appeared first on Upscale Living Magazine.

  Hello ladies! How was your weekend? I got a chance to go to Peak […]

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