Celebrity Life

We speak to Jeremy Muijs from Grown Alchemist about the brand's uphill start, its DNA, and the sobering realities of the clean beauty scene.

Cast your eye on Grown Alchemist’s sleek, luxurious packaging and you’d never picture the struggles that went on behind the scenes.

Jeremy Muijs, co-founder and one half of the brand, likens the brand’s uphill start to a scene in the 1997 American dystopian film, Gattaca. The plot centres on a future society where potential children are conceived through genetic selection to ensure they possess their parents’ best hereditary traits.

Vincent Freeman, a character played by Ethan Hawke, is conceived outside of this eugenics programme but pretends otherwise to fulfil his dream of space travel. Vincent and his genetically engineered brother Anton grow up playing a game of ‘chicken’ in which they swim out to sea as far as they can; the first to return is the loser. A concluding scene of the movie sees the two competing once more. Anton is unable to keep up and almost drowns until his brother rescues him. Shocked, Anton asks, “How are you doing this, Vincent?”

“I never saved anything for the swim back,” replied Vincent in a now iconic line that resonates with Muijs.

“For Vincent, there was no safety net so he might as well keep swimming because he’s long past the point of being able to return. In business, you get to a point where you’re just so invested. We’d sold our homes and all our savings had gone into the business. We were sleeping in our office. Everything was down to zero. We were all in,” said Muijs.

Muijs and his brother Keston launched Grown Alchemist in 2002, after years of running Hatch, a creative product development company. He fills us in on his brand’s troubled beginnings, its DNA, and the realities of the clean beauty scene.

[caption id="attachment_211578" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Jeremy Muijs of Grown Alchemist.[/caption]

The post Jeremy Muijs of Grown Alchemist Gets Candid on its Rough Start and the Realities of Clean Beauty appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Patiently waiting for better weather, this is the time to indulge the body in a warm bath with high quality products. You don't have to spend long, looking for the best ones - I did it for you.

The post The best bath products appeared first on Suite Life.

Whether you're in the office, or out and about, hygiene is probably one of your biggest concerns right now. What with all the doorknobs and lift buttons you are likely to come across during your day. Of course, washing hands properly with soap and water will always be the better option when it comes to keeping germs at bay. But for times when running water is not available, a hand sanitiser (which contains at least 60% alcohol) is needed for on-the-go cleansing and can help you avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. Ahead, we've gathered our top five luxury hand sanitisers to keep your hands fresh when you're on the move.

Byredo Suede Rinse-Free Hand Wash

Not only are Byredo's rinse-free hand washes as aesthetically pleasing as their other products, but they're also made with a non-drying, non-sticky, alcohol-based formula that cleanses and hydrates. They all smell incredible too. One of the latest additions to their hand care line features Suede, a fresh, earthy scent with sweet pear nuanced by notes of lily and violet, tempered with soft musks of velvet plum and crisp amber.

30ml/HK$275 | www.byredo.com

Byredo is also available at Lane Crawford online, ifc Mall and Times Square

Aesop Resurrection Rinse-free Hand Wash

When it comes to luxury hand wash and cream, many of us will reach out for Aesop. In fact, you'll likely find it in the washrooms of high-end restaurants here too and the reason is very simple. The Australian brand's scientific and plant-based approach has resulted in skincare products that deliver on quality, but also leaves a fresh and lingering herbaceous scent. The Resurrection Rinse-free Hand Wash is no different and presents a non-drying, alcohol-based formulation with both purifying and hydrating properties to cleanse hands.

50ml/HK$70; 500ml/HK$315 | www.aesop.com

Various locations including: 2 Gough Street, Central; +852 2673 3468

Honest Hand Sanitzer Spray

Founded by actress Jessica Alba, The Honest Company is well known for their home cleaning, baby safe and ethical beauty products. Similarly, this plant-based hand sanitiser spray is both safe and effective -- killing 99.9% of germs and bacteria while being gentle on the skin. The hypoallergenic quick-drying spray has been tested by dermatologists and combines aloe with naturally-derived glycerin to help keep skin moisturised and soft, without any sticky residue. Plus the Grapefruit Grove scent will keep your mitts fresh and zesty.

60ml/HK$37 | www.honest.com
Available on www.evitamins.com/hk

Grown Alchemist Hydra-Hand Sanitiser

The Hydra-hand Sanitiser by organic skincare brand Grown Alchemist is an advanced antiseptic hand sanitiser. It's cleverly formulated with hyaluronan and antioxidants to both cleanse and increase hydration levels instantly, which in turn will also help reduce the chance of premature ageing. Its protective formula has 70% alcohol content extracted from natural cane sugars to help kill bacteria. Meanwhile, other ingredients such as coconut oil, fennel, cold pressed sweet orange oil, sweet almond oil and pot marigold provides all the good stuff that keeps the skin on your hands soothed and clean.

50ml/HK$105 | www.grownalchemist.com

Grown Alchemist is also available at 10/10 Hope in various locations including Admiralty LAB Concept Store B11, Lab Concept, Queensway Plaza; +852 5920-7079

Sabon Hand Santizer

Known for their luxury handmade soaps, you can be sure that Sabon knows all about cleansing. This pocket-sized antibacterial hand gel is infused with their signature Patchouli Lavender Vanilla fragrance too, so you can cleanse anytime, anywhere and smell great long after application. Thanks to its alcohol content, your hands are left disinfected while vitamin E also helps to maintain the skin's natural moisture level.

80ml/HK$85 | www.sabon.com.hk

Various locations including: Shop B211A, B2, Times Square, Causeway Bay; +852 2722 9917

The post 5 Luxury Sanitisers to Keep Hands Clean and Fresh appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.