Celebrity Life

A selection of multi-grape blends from single vintages -- all lending credence to every wine snob's favourite theory that Champagne is predisposed to "ageing gracefully".

For all the information that accompanies widespread internet access and the omnipresent, somewhat dogged spectre of social media, a huge chunk of drinkers remain oblivious to the decisive role lees ageing plays in the production of sparkling wine. Ditto whenever you pop a bottle of Champagne: that famously coveted regionality of bubbly, that benefits from anywhere between 2-3 years of ageing sur lie for even the most pedestrian of non-vintages.

In contrast to the EU's wider wine-producing industry (where the minimum statutory requirement is 90 days), in Champagne sufficient time spent on fermentation of flavour is deemed indispensable to the overall process. Away from the predations of light, in a CO²-rich environ that's deep underground, the wines of the Champenoise achieve a kind of miraculous metamorphosis: ageing, evolving, revealing complexities of character.

Of course, every Chef de Cave ('cellarmaster') has their own philosophy pertaining to the vicissitudes that accompany extended lees-ageing. Perhaps most controversially, Vincent Chaperon, Dom Pérignon's Chef de Cave, has long maintained that Champagne doesn't evolve linearly, but rather through a series of multi-year cycles he described as "windows of opportunity, or plenitudes". At DP, that hypothesis expresses itself in three distinct bottlings: the first comes 7-8 years after the wine has been sur lie (what most consumers will recognise as DP's signature, vintage-specific Champagne), the second requires 12-15 years, and the third when a vintage wine has matured on lees for at least two decades. Amongst the brand's devotees, the intermediate 'window' has always been popular, largely because of its association with the 'P2' label -- the most recent expression of which pivots around the famously "challenging" vintage of 2003.

Put plainly, in 2021, there are no shortage of serious Champagne houses releasing cuvées which bear the unmistakable mark of a long sleep in the cellar. In concert with grapes borne of excellent soil and weather, extended lees-ageing can bolster the cellaring potential of a given vintage 10, 20, occasionally even 30 years. At the very least? The process makes for bubbly that is delicious and eminently drinkable. Amidst the height of the Hong Kong summer, you'll find a few of my personal favourites below.

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When products alone are unable to fix our beauty concerns, non-invasive procedures, such as those offered by King Qualia, come into their own. We explore several popular treatments at the beauty centre.

There are times for real in-the-flesh therapists, such as when you need a lymphatic drainage massage to remove toxic build-up and improve circulation. And then there are the times when nothing but state-of-the-art beauty machines can do the trick. In search of an almost immediate transformation, we head to King Qualia in the heart of Central to discover what its treatments are all about.

“Everyone will notice but no one will know” is the motto of the beauty centre, which prides itself on its tailor-made treatments and specialised one-on-one services for an unparalleled skincare experience.

One of the centre’s beauty therapists is assigned to you on your first visit, who then looks after you on every subsequent appointment, no matter which treatment you’re looking for. Safety, comfort, privacy and reliability are key at King Qualia, with all machines and equipment used thoroughly researched, US FDA- approved and brought in by the owners themselves.

King Qualia offers a comprehensive range of treatments and non-invasive procedures that help decelerate the effects of ageing, and treat skin concerns the include wrinkles, hyperpigmentation and sagging jawlines. Treatments such as Picoway, Ultherapy, EMsculpt, Fotona 4D Pro, Thermage, Stellar M22, Exilis 360 help tighten and lift the skin, reduce lines and cellulite on the face and body, and increase collagen to retain a youthful look, and all are approved by the US FDA.

Fotona is a four-step procedure that’s great for mature skin, or for those looking for a quick “facelift” without the use of fillers. A synergistic, non-invasive laser treatment, Fotona 4D targets both the exterior facial and interior oral cavity, tightening the skin from inside out in just four steps.

The first step, SmoothLiftin begins inside the mouth, where laser energy is used to kick start the tightening process around the jawline and perioral region by reducing expression lines. The second step, FRAC3, targets deeper imperfections and pigments to restore a more uniform complexion. The third step, PIANO, is a brushing technique that applies heating rapidly to firm and tighten the skin. And the final step, SupErficial, is a light laser peel that addresses surface-level imperfections. The full session is quick, relatively painless and can be completed in around 60 minutes. The lifting effect is immediate, giving you an all-over glow the next day, with lasting effects that will continue to improve over a two to three-month period.

With the ability to reduce visible signs of ageing in a matter of minutes, Thermage FLX is another popular treatment at King Qualia that uses radio-frequency technology to deliver heat safely and uniformly into the skin layers and renew collagen. The heat separates water molecules from the collagen to result in an instant contracting and tightening effect on the skin and results in an immediately more well-defined contour on the face.

There are three major advances in using Thermage FLX. The heat is delivered into the collagen-rich layer of the skin to a depth of precisely 4.3mm, reducing treatment time by at least 25 percent compared to other therapies. The energy-pulse AccuREP technology can be adjusted and auto-tuned to deliver a customised pulse to the skin for a more personalised treatment. The machine also comes with multiple functions and can be used to target different areas of the face and body to increase comfort and effectiveness. Like most of the treatments available at King Qualia, Thermage claims to deliver lasting results with little to no downtime.

King Qualia is now offering Prestige readers a chance to experience their treatments. The first 10 readers to get in touch with them via the QR code below will get a free Fotona SmoothEye® treatment, while the next 10 readers will enjoy a trial offer for Fotona laser treatment (Steps 2 and 3) at HK$980. Learn more about King Qualia and to get in touch with their specialists to start your beauty journey below.

King Qualia, 22/F, International Medical Centre, One Chinachem Central, 22 Des Voeux Road, Central

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Words by Jacinta Andolini After a relentless year working from home and however many lockdowns later, back pain has become a common complaint of many, whether you have an ergonomically sound office chair or not. Staying in more and the stress of the pandemic has undoubtedly had a physiological impact and many have found that […]

Twenty thousand sit-ups in 30 minutes. Sounds impossible? Well, I did it, without breaking a sweat, then went straight to my next appointment. Thanks to Emsculpt, an award-winning non-invasive body-contouring treatment that not only burns fat, but also reportedly strengthens deep core muscles for more defined abs. The machine harnesses high-intensity focused electromagnetic field (HIFEM) energy at high frequency to trigger supramaximal muscle contractions – wherein all the targeted muscle fibres are activated at once – which cannot be achieved through voluntary muscle action. This forces the muscle tissue to adapt to the extreme condition, resulting in body sculpting.
Hollywood star Drew Barrymore, who is Emsculpt’s ambassador, claims to have lost 11kg successfully and safely. Celebrity endorsement aside, it’s heartening to know that the FDA-approved machine treatment has been peer reviewed and professionally tested for efficacy and safety.

There was no need for a change of clothes or a post-treatment shower. Neither was there redness or swelling, and I didn’t need to factor in time for recovery. All I did was lie on the bed while a trained practitioner belted me in, before tucking two paddles on my tummy under the body strap.

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The contractions on my tummy felt like an intense vibration, with an upward pull and a zapping sensation that reached deep into my core. Next, the machine produced a series of tapping motions, reportedly to flush out toxins and lactic acid that were released by my taxed muscles. Then, the wave of vibrations returned to start a new cycle. At a point, my back began to ache slightly, as if I was actually doing crunches. The next day, I felt soreness in my abdominals whenever I laughed or sneezed.

The “workout” was too intensive for me to have held a conversation or truly relax, but I found that focusing on deep breathing made the 30-minute session bearable. At least four sessions, scheduled two or three days apart, are recommended. Emsculpt is also said to be the world’s first non-invasive buttock lifting procedure. Dr Chan Kok Weng adds that paddles for arms and thighs will be out soon, to zero in on other jiggly bits.

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In recent years, Seoul has become the synonym for K-pop, makeup, unattainable beauty standards and plastic surgery. In fact, South Korea’s capital is all about beauty and the perfect look, even if obtaining it means getting a nip and a tuck. Dermatology and plastic surgery tourism is bringing thousands of affluent tourists into a country […]

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Deeply rooted in France, premier skin care brand Biologique Recherche is a celebrity secret that has become part of the jet-setting trend for those in search of luxury skin care. Available through a handful of top locations across the US, these high-end spas offer Biologique Recherche facial and body treatments you can’t find anywhere else in the country. Whether […]

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Fanty Soenardy kicks it with Muay Thai and the occasional Cambridge Therapeutics treatment to give her face a healthy glow.

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A session with Pamela Ardana on why her love for Cambridge Therapeutics is irresistible.

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