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.

With lockdowns turning us all into our own skincare experts, smart beauty gadgets are taking the world by storm. We sift through the offerings at JOYCE Beauty’s new Gadget Bar for the best devices for face, body and hair

Given the hectic nature of our daily lives - not to mention the extreme circumstances we’ve found ourselves in for more than a year - indulging in a visit to a beauty salon or spa hasn’t been easy. That's why the beauty industry’s current “tech-celeration” trend and the proliferation of gadgets in the beauty industry are both much-needed and very welcome. In fact, with so many new gizmos on the market, it’s never been easier to find the right one for you, whatever your requirements or concerns may be.

JOYCE Beauty, Hong Kong’s ultimate luxury beauty destination, offers a unique selection of devices, each promising professional-level treatments and results – all in the comfort of your own home. These smart beauty gadgets are guaranteed to transform your entire beauty regime, giving you not only complete control over your routine but also the best skin and hair ever.

This month, part of the JOYCE Beauty counter at Lane Crawford ifc will be transformed into the Gadget Bar – a repository of the most inventive and up-to-date devices for face, body and hair. Here’s our own pick of what’s on offer.

LYMA

Lyma is a beauty brand that combines science, nature and technology to help you look and feel your best. The ground-breaking beauty brand has introduced the world's most powerful, transformative, portable skin-renewal system that uses laser-based light therapy, which was formerly available only at a clinic. Now, you can have it at any time you like.

From active acne and scarring to sagging skin, unwanted texture, rosacea, wrinkles and cellulite, this laser delivers never-seen-before results.

After just 15 minutes of daily use, your skin won’t just improve but be transformed. Originally developed as a medical laser to heal injury, this at-home and completely safe light therapy eliminates surface bacteria, delivers deep cellular regeneration and hydration, and uses oxygen to improve the skin’s texture.

With zero damage to the skin and no need for goggles, a 500mW near-infrared laser such as this has never been so easily accessible; totally pain-free, it’s completely safe to use at home.

At HK$20,999, the Lyma System Starter Kit also includes a 30-day supply of LYMA Active Mist and a Lyma Priming Serum – a special three-step system to give you the best results. The laser is also compatible with any oil and serum products available at JOYCE Beauty.

CELLRETURN

With its own LED module patent, the CELLRETURN LED Mask series offers a high-tech solution for skin problems and can tackle everything from wrinkles to double chins.

It utilises LEDs of three wavelengths, with each mode providing a different combination of wavelengths and near-infrared rays. The Red Mode is effective in improving skin transparency, density, hydration, elasticity and pores; the Blue Mode is ideal for troubled skin, possibly due to external irritation or cold wind; and the Pink Mode combines RED and BLUE wavelengths for concentrated care.

We love the Iron Man-esque look of the Platinum masks, which are equipped with more than 1,000 multi-coloured LED lightbulbs to generate near-infrared rays that penetrate deep into the skin to stimulate collagen production, reduce inflammation, and eliminate blemish-causing bacteria.

At HK$16,600, the LED Mask Platinum comes in white and features wireless charging, a nine-minute fast mode and a dual cover.

So that you’re completely covered, whatever your concerns may be, there’s also the CELLRETURN Hair Alpha-Ray (HK$18,000) for the hair and scalp, as well as the Alpha Neckle Ray (HK$7,700) for the neck.

For best results, the LED Mask Platinum should be used 3-4 times a week. Hair Alpha-Ray should be used 3-4 times a week for 20 minutes every day. Neckle Ray should be used three times a week for a minimum of 5 minutes up to 20 minutes per session.

Pair the treatments with serums and hair masks available at JOYCE Beauty. For the face, we suggest Omorovicza's Blue Diamond Concentrate, whereas, for the scalp, a good recommendation is the MD's Scalp Essentials.

NuFACE

If you’re already au fait with beauty gadgets, NuFACE should be a familiar name. It promises a five-minute, at-home facial lift that improves your facial contours and skin tone while reducing fine lines and wrinkles. Choose from five levels of intensity up to 335 Micro Amps – its gentle microcurrent technology stimulates the face and neck. Plus, an app helps you keep your treatments on track.

For best results, it should be used for five minutes five times per week for about two months, and reduced to two to three times a week in the following months.

Both the NuFACE Trinity Facial Toning Device (HK$2,910) and Mini Facial Toning Device (HK$1,735) are available at JOYCE Beauty, as well as the pocket-sized NuFACE Fix Line Smoothing Device (HK$1,350), which is the world’s first pen-sized microcurrent device cleared by the US FDA for cosmetic use, and perfect for attacking fine lines and wrinkles.

PMD

For those with oily and blemish-prone skin, PMD’s Clean Pro is a must-have double-edged device. At 7,000 vibrations per minute, the ultra-hygienic silicone soft bristles help break down dirt and oil deep within the pores. On the backside, the gemstone facial massager is perfect for massaging in serums and moisturizers.

The Clean Pro (HK$1,400) is available in Blush with Rose Quartz and Black with Obsidian and comes with four customisable modes. For those whose blemish woes don’t stop at the face, the Clean Body (HK$1,240) can be used in other areas where the skin suffers from breakouts due to sweat, debris and ingrown hair.

Available in blush and navy, it includes three interchangeable/replaceable magnetic heads: a silver-infused loofah for gentle exfoliation; an aluminium oxide exfoliator to buff away rough, calloused skin; and a relaxing body massager to relieve everyday body aches.

Sarah Chapman

Sarah Chapman’s Pro Pore Refiner (HK$1,345) puts the sought-after skincare authority’s expertise right in your own hands. This three-step extraction device removes all the deep-set gunk in the pores, leaving the skin smooth and supple.

It features yellow-light thermo-therapy and ionic cleansing, which opens the pores and brings negatively charged dirt to the surface of the skin; blue-light thermo-therapy and ultrasonic vibrations, which massage over blocked areas and loosen them up; and white-light extraction with different intensity levels to remove all dirt and sebum.

Products are available now at the Gadget Bar by JOYCE Beauty at Lane Crawford ifc

The Gadget Bar by JOYCE Beauty, Lane Crawford, ifc mall, Central

The post The Gadget Bar By JOYCE Beauty: Professional-Level Results in Your Own Home appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

We hear from the experts about the proper application of sun protection, their tried-and-tested regimens for summer skincare, and alternative methods to get that summer glow.

We’ve all probably thought this at one point in our lifetime: “You can’t get sunburnt in the shade,” or, “There’s SPF in my make-up products, so I don’t need to put on extra sunscreen.”

These are two of the most common sun myths, according to Harriet Lee, chief strategic advisor at Joyce Beauty, and Newby Hands, global beauty director at Net-a-Porter. It all comes down to a lack of awareness of how sun damage works and how even when we think we do, more often than not we aren’t applying sufficient sunscreen for full-spectrum protection.

“It’s the UV radiation, not sunlight, that damages your skin,” says Lee. “UV rays can reflect off nearby surfaces and so you can still get sunburnt in the shade. Harmful UV rays are present year-round, no matter what season it is. Believe it or not, even when it’s cold or overcast, up to 80 percent of UV rays can pass through clouds. For these reasons, it’s important to ensure you wear sunscreen, even though we can’t see or feel the UV rays.”

Lee suggests that the correct amount of sunscreen to use would be about a quarter teaspoon for the face and neck. That comes down to five pumps of Clean Screen or Supreme Screen, and three pipettes of Queen Screen, all from Australian brand Ultra Violette, which she recommends.

On a typical day for Hands, an SPF 50 product is her pick; she applies a generous amount 20 to 30 minutes before she leaves the house and routinely reapplies it every two hours throughout the day. “A lot of make-up and skincare products, such as primers and moisturisers, offer SPF protection, which can add to your sun protection but can’t replace sunscreen entirely,” she warns. “Many products offer only low protection and may not be broad spectrum. If you care about your skin, then a broad-spectrum SPF 30 to 50 should always be the last step in your daily skincare regimen.”

A broad-spectrum SPF will protect your skin from both UVA and UVB rays, and many beauty products today come with beauty textures that feel more like face creams than greasy pastes. Zelen’s hydrating sunscreen is Hands’ personal pick, a hypoallergenic formula that uses micro-encapsulation technology to provide full protection without any irritation, and is also enriched with botanical antioxidants to reduce the formation of damaging free radicals and delay premature ageing.

If we do unfortunately get sunburnt, which is inevitable during Hong Kong’s popular junk season, applying more SPF isn’t the answer. “If you get a sunburn, then cover up and stay out of the sun,” says Hands. “You need to take the heat out of your skin with a cooling shower or compress. Using anti-inflammatory skincare on areas of sunburn is great, while good after-sun can really help, as it’s well formulated to treat sun damage. And do avoid any peels or exfoliators and keep skin nourished and hydrated.”

A good after-sun gel can help to soothe and hydrate irritated skin; Susanne Kaufmann After Sun Moisturizing Gel is enriched with calming aloe vera and anti-inflammatory Indian balloon plant extract that helps soothe the skin. We shouldn’t neglect our hair, either, which can become dry and extremely brittle under the sun’s powerful rays. Net-a-Porter also carries specific after-sun hair-styling products, such as a cream from Sachajuan that can condition the hair from the root to the tip without feeling greasy.

According to Lee, sun damage isn’t just about a single sunburn, so we shouldn’t apply sunscreen only on junk trips or at the beach. It can occur from cumulative unprotected daily exposure to sunlight. “Repeated exposure to the sun’s UV rays can cause changes to the skin, such as fine lines, wrinkles, uneven skin tone, pigmentation and redness,” says Lee. “Hence, routinely taking care of your skin day-in and day-out makes a huge difference.”

If your skin has been exposed to the sun more than usual, Lee recommends an everyday skincare regimen that incorporates a simple cleanser, antioxidants, nourishing moisturisers and SPF. “Ditch any product that contains possible irritants, such as exfoliants, essential oils, fragrances and acids. Hydration is key to sun-exposed skin and can help delay the ageing process.”

To cleanse, Lee recommends the nourishing Softening Cleanser from Tata Harper, which is dermatologically tested and designed to support the skin barrier without stripping it down. Follow up by hydrating the skin with Derm Institute’s Antioxidant Hydration Gel Masque, which is an intensive mask, then calm down redness in the skin with Dr Barbara Sturm’s Calming Serum, and finish with Omorovicza’s Queen of Hungary Mist to feel refreshed. Of course, the final step should always be SPF – RéVive’s Sensitif Renewal Cream comes with broad-spectrum SPF 30 and is also suitable for even the most sensitive skin.

At night, following a day out when a build-up of excess oils and make-up can cause skin congestion, both Lee and Hands recommend a double cleansing ritual.

There’s no need to deviate from your usual cleanser, according to Hands. If you don’t want to try double cleansing, you can use your preferred cleanser – but really massage it into your skin to wash off the dirt and grime.

But if you’d like to double cleanse, Lee recommends starting with an oil-based cleanser, such as Wildsmith Skin’s Active Repair Nourishing Cleansing Balm, which contains a blend of plant-based oils that breaks down natural and synthetic surface oils, pollutants and make- up. For the second cleanse, Augustinus Bader’s The Cream Cleansing Gel is a good choice. Coupled with TFC8 and a blend of soothing botanicals, the gel is light and refreshing, and leaves the skin feeling hydrated, nourished and primed to absorb the rest of your skincare products.

Although most of us want to have a healthy summer tan, instead of over-exposing yourself to the sun, self-tanning is a good alternative. “Today’s self-tans are brilliant and come in so many different textures, from water to oil, to excellent drops that you just add to your usual face and body care,” says Hands.

The key is finding a self-tanning product that suits your skin tone. Wonder Oil from Tan Luxe is formulated to adapt to your skin tone. For a more elaborate procedure that’s still beginner-friendly, Amanda Harrington’s Buff Bronze Face Set includes three simple steps that can be done at home and comes with a soft bristled face buffer brush to create a streak-free finish.

Before you begin, prepping your skin is also an essential step. Lee recommends an oil-free cleanser, such as Tata Harper’s Clarifying Cleanser. You can also exfoliate your skin with Wildsmith Skin’s latest Dual-Action Exfoliating Treatment, an amazing plant-based enzymatic exfoliant that will leave your skin smooth and refined for self- tanning.

The post Proper Sun Protection and Summer Skincare According to the Beauty Experts appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

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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Tata Harper loves a good face mask. Some might even say she introduced the world to -- or at least gladly spread the gospel of -- the concept of multi-masking, or treating different areas of the face with different masks. But once her stepfather was diagnosed with cancer, the skincare enthusiast, who credits her love of beauty to her grandmother and other cosmetics-obsessed relatives she grew up with in Colombia, wanted a mask -- and, of course, a cleanser and an essence and a moisturiser -- that not only provided amazing results but also eliminated the need for harsh, toxic chemicals. So, what did she do?

“I was like, how am I going to replace my super-high-tech Swiss skincare line that I’ve been using forever?“ Harper tells me when we meet at Joyce Beauty in early May. “I started Googling what these products are actually made of, beyond those two or three ingredients the salesperson talked to me about. Because they’re made from so much more than just the active ingredients. You need preservatives, you need emulsifiers, you need stabilisers, you need pH balancers, you need thickeners. That’s where all the shortcuts are made. Companies typically spend their resources on the one hero ingredient but then after that, it’s just a lot of cheap industrial chemicals.”

[caption id="attachment_149807" align="alignnone" width="4344"] Tata Harper on her farm in Vermont[/caption]

Harper started looking at options in the “natural” skincare market. “They show you all these things that have algaes, roses, honey and then you turn the box around and you’re like, wait, this is the same thing again. The parabens, the PEGs, the SLS’s, the glycols, all those antifreeze derivatives, all the petroleum...”

Eventually, Harper took matters into her own hands. “I had no idea if I could do better, honestly,” she says. “But I was like, I’m going to try. It took five years working with a lot of scientists, a lot of chemists, in different fields helping me and teaching me.”

In 2010, Tata Harper the brand launched from its namesake’s farm in the northeastern US state of Vermont and immediately captured the attention of consumers looking for non-toxic skincare that provided the same results they had come to expect from mainstream luxury brands.

“That’s what we stand for, really: it’s cutting-edge technology but without a single drop of synthetic chemicals or any shortcuts along the way, including the level of active ingredients,” Harper says. “Natural skincare was not a place where people were making high-tech formulations. But the most high-tech stuff right now is in naturals; they’re not mutually exclusive. It’s more about: do you want that technology to come from artificial chemicals, or do you want it to come from natural chemicals that grow in the earth?”

Tata Harper products, which include a full range of cleansers, masks, serums and more targeted treatments, are made from around 800 raw materials sourced from 68 countries -- including five herbs grown on Harper’s Vermont farm. And given the nature -- pun intended -- of the ingredients, everything is crafted with utmost care at the company’s dedicated facility.

[gallery ids="149813,149812,149811,149810,149809,149808"]

“Brands almost never make their own products. That was the biggest surprise, honestly. Especially with luxury skincare, where it’s almost an expectation because part of what makes a product luxury is the craftsmanship and the know-how that you bring to the equation,” Harper says. “So we were like, OK, we’re not really participating in that. We want to make our products. And that has also ended up guaranteeing to our customers freshness because then you don’t end up with eight months’ worth of inventory that in some cases doesn’t get to the client for up to a year.”

Harper and her team still manage the entire manufacturing process, ensuring that the time between when a product is made and when it’s sold is about two months. And while the signature green-and-gold Tata Harper packaging remains the same, the company is constantly tweaking formulas and incorporating new technologies.

The beauty entrepreneur’s eyes practically light up as she describes the breakthroughs happening in the natural skincare space. “They’re extremely powerful and they represent today the latest in science and skin, whether it’s algae technology or stem-cell technology or the neuropeptide technology we bring in from Israel, all the redensifying technology that’s coming out of Germany. Plus all the functionals, all the natural preservatives, emulsifiers, everything,” Harper says. “It’s a really exciting time to be doing what we’re doing.”

The post Tata Harper on Her All-Natural, Organic Skincare Range appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Welcome to Prestige’s third annual Beauty and Spa Awards, in which we round up the year’s top products.

The post Beauty and Spa Awards 2018 (Spa) appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Welcome to Prestige’s third annual Beauty and Spa Awards, in which we round up the year’s top products.

The post Beauty and Spa Awards 2018 (Make-up) appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Welcome to Prestige’s third annual Beauty and Spa Awards, in which we round up the year’s top products.

The post Beauty and Spa Awards 2018 (Skincare) appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Products from Yuni are perfect for sport lovers, travellers and anyone time-starved.

The post If you wear Lululemon, you’ll love this beauty brand for yogis appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.