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Here's our pick of the best Chinese New Year skincare collections and limited-edition releases for 2022.

Start the new lunar year with your best face forward — we've rounded up all the lotions and potions, creams, balms (well, the serums and essences and moisturisers!) to get your hands on for spring. All packed up in regal red and gold, these limited-edition Chinese New Year skincare releases will ensure good luck, and good skin.

The Best Chinese New Year Skincare Releases 2022

Chantecaille

The bestselling Bio Lifting Mask from Chantecaille is getting a little facelift of its own, with a supercharged new formula and festive red and gold packaging. The Bio Lifting Mask+ (note that plus sign!) is packed full of botanicals and peptides that reduce the look of fine lines and visibly contour the face, while a new lifting agent smoothens and moisturises. With this product, the brand continues to support the SUJÁN Tiger and Leopard Conservation Project in Rajasthan, India. And, complementing the mask, is a limited edition ruby red lipstick — the nourishing and super-emollient Lip Veil.

Chantecaille's Lunar New Year-edition Bio Lifting Mask+ and Lip Veil (Ruby) are available to purchase online.

Charlotte Tilbury

To celebrate Chinese New Year, Charlotte Tilbury has released its award-winning Magic Cream moisturiser in a limited-edition casing, a glorious red tiger print lid. Pick it up on its own, or in a duo (with a LNY lipstick of your choice) or in a makeup kit with a LNY lipstick of your choice and a limited-edition version of the Airbrush Flawless Finish pressed setting powder.

Charlotte Tilbury's limited-edition Lunar New Year Magic Cream is available to purchase online.

Clarins

This exclusive limited-edition of Clarins' bestselling Double Serum features the same potent formula in the same innovative bottle — with a stunning tiger illustration for the new lunar year. Delivering made-to-measure dosage with a rotating push button, the serum combines 21 effective anti-ageing water and oil-soluble ingredients for regeneration, nutrition, hydration, oxygenation and protection. A set includes the Double Serum (Tiger Limited Edition), an Extra-Firming Neck & Décolleté Care treatment, and an Extra-Firming Treatment Essence.

Clarins' Double Serum (Tiger Limited Edition) is available to purchase online.

Clinique

To celebrate the Year of Tiger, Clinique's bestselling powerful serum for dark spots and discolouration and cult-favourite dermatologist-developed face moisturiser now come in limited-edition red and gold packaging. We especially like the look of the lotion (that lucky tiger head lid!), and its silky, easy-to-absorb formula is a winner.

Clinique's Limited Edition Even Better Clinical™ Radical Dark Spot Corrector + Interrupter and Limited Edition Jumbo Dramatically Different™ Moisturizing Lotion+ are available to purchase online.

Fresh

Fresh is collaborating with Canto-pop artist Alfred Hui for a special Chinese New Year collection of skincare favourites. Choose from bestsellers like the powerhouse antioxidant Kombucha Facial Treatment Essence, and the black tea complex-packed Firming Peptides Serum, Firming Corset Cream and Instant Perfecting Mask — all designed to keep your skin moisturised, and luminous-looking.

The "Fresh x Alfred Hui CNY Edition" is available to purchase online.

LA MER

Celeb-favourite skincare brand La Mer has released this limited-edition Hydration Adventure Collection, so you start the new year fresh and rejuvenated. The five-piece set comes with The Concentrate, The Eye Concentrate, The Hydrating Infused Emulsion, bestselling Crème de la Mer, and this vibrant red and green tiger print pouch!

The La Mer Hydration Adventure Collection is available to purchase online.

L’Occitane

For a little bit of indulgence, look to French brand L’Occitane's Chinese New Year offerings — limited-edition versions of rich and moisturising products from its almond line: the sweet almond oil-enriched body wash and the nourishing almond milk concentrate body lotion.

L’Occitane's CNY Almond Shower Oil and Almond Milk Concentrate are available to purchase online.

LUSH

Lush's Year of the Tiger collection includes everything from bath bombs to bubble bars, face masks, foot scrubs, shampoo bars and even (cotton) gift wrapping — we love the super cute jasmine Lucky Cat Bubble Bar and the Lunar New Year Knot Wrap. Browse the whole collection online or in-store.

Lush's Lunar New Year 2022 collection is available to purchase online.

Origins

Origins' super-soothing water-like treatment lotion is getting dressed in red for the new lunar year. The Mega-Mushroom Soothing Treatment Lotion harnesses the power of nutrient-rich super foods used in traditional Chinese medicine, like reishi mushroom, sea buckthorn and fermented chaga, for supple, soft and healthier-looking skin.

The Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins™ Lunar New Year Mega-Mushroom Soothing Treatment Lotion is available to purchase online.

Shiseido

Perhaps the most stunning bottle on this list yet, Shiseido's Lunar New Year offering is not just limited-edition packaging but a reformulation. Its Ultimune Power Infusing Serum now has muGenerationRED Technology™, which is a very long way of saying you're getting a potent blend of everything you need for radiant-looking skin. Star ingredients include fermented roselle, heartleaf, reishi mushroom, and iris root.

The Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Serum is available to purchase online.

Sulwhasoo

We love Korean beauty brand Sulwhasoo at the office. For the new lunar year, three bestsellers are getting a little red-and-gold makeover — 'Lucky Knot' editions of the anti-aging serum-essence, and the ginseng-infused renewing cream and renewing serum.

The Sulwhasoo Lucky Knot Collection is available to purchase online.

Tatcha

Packed with Japanese superfood ingredients like Akita rice, Okinawa algae, and Uji green tea, The Essence from Tatcha is exactly what you'd need in that skincare transitioning stage between a harsh, cold winter to a (hopefully) gentler spring. The limited-edition bottle doesn’t hurt either. It's available to purchase at Lane Crawford.

(Hero image courtesy of Tatcha, featured image courtesy of Clinique)

The post The Best Chinese New Year Skincare Releases for the Year of the Tiger appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

There's no better way to mark the occasion than with good food — and lots of it. Here's our pick of the best Chinese New Year luxury puddings and treats.

With the start of the new lunar year just around the corner, stock up on the best desserts on offer. Turnip puddings (also called radish cakes) are traditional Chinese dim sum snacks, commonly served in Cantonese yum cha. Don't underestimate the small dish — in Cantonese, its name “leen goh” or “loh bak goh” is a homophone for “year higher”, ushering in new heights of prosperity for the coming year.

And we adore the Chinese New Year chuen hup, or traditional candy box, portion of the holiday. A bright red circular box set enticingly open upon coffee tables, filled with all kinds of sweet and savoury treats — it's a time-honoured custom, along with the coconut and turnip puddings. Each neat little segment houses a treat with an auspicious meaning of its own: lotus seeds are symbolic signs of improved fertility; lotus root, of love; tangerines and kumquats sound phonetically similar to "gold"; melon seeds to money and wealth. Chocolate coins, well, are coins.

To celebrate new beginnings and the new year, we've compiled the best Chinese New Year luxury puddings and treats for you and your loved ones to welcome the Year of the Tiger with.

The Best Chinese New Year Luxury Puddings and Treats

China Tang

China Tang's artisan Chinese New Year puddings are a modern take on the classic recipe, serving up two whole new flavours to welcome the Year of the Tiger: a turnip pudding with dried tiger prawn and local preserved meat and a handmade rice pudding with Taiwanese brown sugar and purple rice. Both are crafted by executive chef Menex Cheung and dim sum chef Mok Wing Kwai, and come in these stunning gift boxes decorated with China Tang’s signature Narcissus pattern — symbolizing grace and fortune. You can order the puddings and pick them up from the restaurant.

China Tang Landmark, Shop 411-413, 4/F, LANDMARK ATRIUM, 15 Queen’s Road Central, Central; +852 2522 2148

Duddell’s

Michelin-starred Duddell's selection of Chinese New Year puddings is a trio of classic favourite flavours: turnip (HK$348), taro (HK$348) and a "New Year" Pudding (HK$298). Pick up one, all three, or a gift set including the restaurant's signature X.O. Sauce. It's all packaged in a specially designed gift box created in collaboration with G.O.D. (Goods of Desire), with an ornate hand-drawn pattern typical of the embellishments found on Chinese teacups and soup bowls, a nod to its Hong Kong heritage. You can purchase at the restaurant or order online for delivery — find out more here.

We also love the look of the "Prosperous New Year Hamper", stocked with six traditional delicacies: a new year pudding; braised South African 5 head abalone with Duddell’s Abalone Sauce; a signature X.O. Sauce; homemade walnut cookies; Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin, Yellow Label Brut, Champagne; and Fook Ming Tong Fuding Jasmine Mao Feng Tea.

Duddell’s, 1 Duddell Street, Central; +852 2525 9191

Godiva

To no one's surprise, it's all about the chocolates at Godiva. The Belgian chocolatier has drawn up a new motif for the Year of the Tiger, auspicious red and gold packaging printed with swimming koi and a tiger portrait set amongst crackling fireworks as a symbolic image of wealth. For the chocolates, the bijou creations feature the same lucky tiger motif over the surface and are packed in three distinct flavours: Raspberry Orange White chocolate, Pecan Praliné Milk chocolate and 85% Dark Ganache chocolate. Order before 31 January to enjoy special offers including free gifts, including a complimentary box of chocolates, or 10% off any purchase of HK$688. Find out more and order here.

Godiva, various locations across Hong Kong

Little Bao

Little Bao is paying tribute to lucky colour red with a beetroot turnip cake, replacing turnip with fresh beetroot for a natural bold red cake. Ingredients include Sam Hing Lung rose wine sausages, Thai dried shrimp and natural seasoning for extra-healthy eating. You can also opt for the taro cake, made with Okinawan sweet potato and fresh taro for an extra soft and pillowy texture, and also to help boost the immune system. You can order them and more here.

Little Bao, 1-3 Shin Hing Street, Central; +852 6794 8414

Marco Polo Hongkong Hotel

Marco Polo Hongkong Hotel is celebrating the new lunar year with traditional Chinese recipes, serving up three classic puddings — a savoury Chinese Turnip Cake with Conpoy made from Chinese sausage and Jinhua ham; a sweet Coconut Pudding with Gold Leaf decorated with golden leaf glutinous rice and coconut milk; and a Water Chestnut Cake filled with crunchy water chestnut pieces. Bottles of homemade XO Chilli Sauce are also available to order. You can find out more here.

Marco Polo Hongkong Hotel, No. 3 Canton Road, Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon; +852 2118 7283

Ming Court

Located inside Cordis, Michelin-starred Ming Court is offering an array of festive treats to ring in the Lunar New Year. Executive Chef Li Yuet Faat has prepared three auspicious puddings: a coconut Chinese New Year Pudding; an abalone, conpoy, and air-dried preserved meat and turnip pudding; and a red date and coconut pudding. Go for the deluxe Chinese New Year hamper, with a coconut pudding, homemade XO sauce, South African premium 12 head abalone and more. You can order it here.

Ming Court, Level 6, 555 Shanghai Street, Cordis, Mong Kok, Kowloon; +852 3552 3301 

Rosewood Hong Kong

Rosewood Hong Kong is offering an array of Chinese New Year sets for gifting, featuring everything from traditional puddings to homemade XO sauce, festive candies, afternoon tea sets and more. Don't miss the well-wishes themed hampers: Harvest (HK$9,988), Fortune (HK$3,388), and Joy (HK$2,288) — for every CNY hamper purchased, Rosewood will donate 5% of the proceeds to support ImpactHK and their work to support those experiencing homelessness in Hong Kong. Find out more here.

We also love the clever Chinese New Year advent calendar from Rosewood — rather than counting down, you count on from the first day of the lunar calendar into the new Year of the Tiger. The whole set holds 15 special treats from the hotel, one for each day of the Chinese traditional holiday that lasts for two weeks. Tug open the jewel-toned drawers to discover a selection of delicious snacks from fortune cookies and egg rolls to XO sauce, palmiers, nougats, ginger candies and crunchy peanut bites. Much better than your usual melon seeds. You can order it here.

Rosewood Hong Kong, Victoria Dockside, 18 Salisbury Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong, +852 3891 8732

Paul Lafayet

No crème brulée from Paul Lafayet this Chinese New Year. What you can get, though, is the patisserie's Lucky Tiger Gift Box with French illustrator Emilie Sarnel's hand drawing of two dancing tigers. The gift box set pulls open to reveal three different tiers featuring a whole afternoon experience: “Cookirons" — a cookie-based iteration of the brand's famous macaron; jasmine and hojicha tea tins with pots of honey in the second and a special fine bone china porcelain dish at the base to hold it all. The plate is specially tailored to the Year of the Tiger, featuring a sketch of two smiling tigers amongst a flowery meadow filled with macarons. You can order it online here.

Paul Lafayet, various locations across Hong Kong

Saicho

So this might not fit into traditional Chinese candy boxes, but it will still sit very prettily amongst red-adorned decor around the home. For the Year of the Tiger, Saicho has launched a very special creation of only 900 bottles — Eight Immortals — featuring the special Dan Cong Oolong tea grown atop Phoenix Mountain's Tian Liao village in Guangdong. From harvest to roast and rolling, the Dan Cong Oolong leaves are looked after by a qualified tea master. The result is a fragrant blend that adheres to the leaves' distinct complexity: bright notes of ginger mango and tangerine that rounds into a bitterness, then herbal, the likes of anise, fennel and tarragon. With Eight Immortals' earthy savouriness, Saicho recommends pairing with traditional Chinese New Year dishes including Chinese steamed fish and tang yang (glutinous rice dumplings). You can shop Saicho's Chinese New Year selection here.

Smith & Sinclair

Candy box fillings will be extra exciting with the addition of Smith & Sinclair treats, they're made after your favourite tipples! The UK-based brand crafts vegan-friendly gummies — or "Edible Cocktails" — from anything, including classic Gin & Tonic to special concoctions like Passionfruit Mojito. For the Year of the Tiger, the brand has designed a special red, tiger-printed sleeve as a symbol of good luck and fortune. These can be fitted over any of Smith & Sinclair's nine signature sets, from spirit-based "Gin Obsessed" or "Tequila Time" to themed "Love Box" or "Night In". You can order and find out more here.

Sugarfina

Sugarfina's candy cubes are a delight, both to give and receive. For this Chinese New Year, the confectioner has crafted a series of Candy Bento Boxes for easy gifting (and enjoying!) — with anything from a single cube to a lucky set of eight, featuring the brand's sweet creations in fun, auspicious names. There's the Lotus Flowers flavoured with lychee, Tangerine Bears, berried-flavoured Royal Roses and Golden Pearls. If not for the sweets within, get this set for the beautifully artistic packaging: a hand-crafted shadow box of red and gold decor motifs of lanterns, flowers and a temple to mark new beginnings.

Sugarfina, various locations across Hong Kong

The Peninsula Boutique & Café

One of the traditional elements of the Year of the Tiger is the big cat's head, symbolising strength and good health. Inspired by traditional Chinese "tiger head shoes" worn by children, the Peninsula Boutique & Café is celebrating the new year with plenty of tiger head-decorated gift sets — you can hang the box up as a Chinese New Year decoration! Pick up the festive "Robust Tiger Gift Set" (with cookies, candies, chocolate, tea and more), and any of the Chinese New Year puddings. You can find out more here.

The Peninsula Boutique & Café, The Peninsula Arcade, Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon; +852 2696 6969

Venchi

You may be spoilt for choice with Venchi's range of Chinese New Year gift boxes, but one thing's for sure: the range of lucky red and gold packaging all feature the Italian brand's signature 140-years, Piedmont Master Chocolatiers-approved sweets. Pick up The Chinese New Year Double Layer Hexagon Gift Box, an extensive collection of the brand's favourite chocolates: Cremini, Chocoviar, Truffles, and Dubledoni. Or consider the Chinese New Year Round Hamper, which features Venchi's latest creation Gianduja N.3 with Hazelnut, and is a close replica of the traditional chuen hup with the rounded exterior and organised sections within.

Venchi, various locations across Hong Kong

Yat Tung Heen

Led by celebrated chef Tam Tung, Michelin-starred Yat Tung Heen is celebrating the new year by bringing back its highly sought-after turnip pudding, classic Chinese New Year pudding and the restaurant's signature gift box (which includes housemade premium XO sauce, candied walnuts and hand-selected Ginseng Oolong tea leaves). And to minimise the environmental impact of the gifting season, each pudding is thoughtfully packaged in a 100% recyclable eco-friendly paper box. You can find out more here.

Yat Tung Heen, Level B2, Eaton HK, 380 Nathan Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong, +852 2710 1093

Ying Jee Club

Two Michelin-starred Cantonese restaurant Ying Jee Club is serving the finest delectable pastry duo, a savoury turnip pudding with conpoy and air-dried meat and a sweet coconut milk pudding with red bean and Ceylon tea. Both are handcrafted daily by executive chef Siu Hin-Chi, who has amassed 20 Michelin stars over the past decade alone — rest assured, the preservative-free puddings epitomise the highest standard of Cantonese cuisine in both texture and flavour. You can order in-person at the restaurant, or by calling 2801 6882 or emailing reservation@yingjeeclub.hk — find out more here.

Ying Jee Club, Shop G05, 107 & 108, Nexxus Building, 41 Connaught Road Central; +852 2801 6882

(Hero image courtesy of Yat Tung Heen, featured image courtesy of Duddell's, image 1 courtesy of China Tang)

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Well, well, well, if it isn’t the Year of the Tiger scratching on the porch of my humble home. Hopefully, once this Lunar New Year brings all the fortune and prosperity that it so promises, the home that I speak of won’t be so humble anymore.

Wearing colourful, audacious pieces that put minimalism to shame this season is essential for attracting good luck and positivity – don’t let the pastel-enswathed children of the church of The Row tell you otherwise. Here is a brief gift guide that will help you – or your loved ones – embrace the water tiger.

Our Picks: Lunar New Year Gifts we Love

Prada

With its Action in the Year of Tiger campaign, Prada aims to bring awareness to the endangerment of the Amur tiger. Prada will donate part of the proceeds to the Walking with Tiger and Leopard Programme of China Green Foundation. The capsule features familiar streetwear staples reimagined to reflect the spirits of the Lunar New Year. The emblematic Cleo bag boasts a fluffy upgrade, while the leggings and tracksuits boast vibrant accents.  

Michael Kors

Michael Kors is no stranger to high-octane glamour, as most recently testified by its Lunar New Year campaign. This time, the House developed an exclusive backdrop in collaboration with Chinese illustrator Ji WeiRan. The heels from the collection embody the feline prowess of this year’s animal with their sequin-embellished MK motifs and pungent colours. 

Mugler

The Year of the Tiger is the perfect excuse to embrace sensuality. In fashion, no one does it quite like Mugler. With the delicate cut-out at the neck, this statement dress carves out an alluring silhouette, and, through the gathered execution of the fabric, it embraces tastefully erotic theatrics that promise to make any entrance an unforgettable one. 

Messika

Messika launched four exclusive pieces to celebrate the Year of the Tiger – two red strig bracelets, a signet ring and a pendant. Each accessory utilises the House’s emblematic dynamic charms encrusted with diamonds. Modern, timeless, with a nod to heritage – these creations, although created to celebrate the Lunar New Year festivities, will illuminate any jewellery collection for seasons to come. 

Roger Vivier

Glamour with a subtle ferocious tint is where Roger Vivier reigns supreme. The emblematic clasp of this bag features emerald and marquise-cut strass and, only fitting for the festive season, a striking crimson façade. 

Christopher Kane

Christopher Kane has long-convinced fashion aficionados everywhere of its mastery in detailing and, especially, embellishments. The British brand looks at something as simple as a cardigan through a glamorous prism by introducing symmetric cut-outs and crystal fringe to its hems. Updated with a red colour and utilising the practical, relaxed silhouette, this piece is a fine example of sophistication and utility existing in harmony.  

Fendi

Although Fendi’s interpretation of the Year of the Tiger is quite literal, it – still – creates magnetic results. The bold tiger stripe motifs that decorate hoodies, T-shirts and bags match perfectly with the understated Fendirama monogram. The collection includes cosy knitwear, tailoring staples, handbags and jewellery – a whole wardrobe that begs to be explored and worn throughout the festive season. 

Proenza Schouler

The further we, as a society, as a collective, move away from Christmas, the more sophisticated the sweaters get. Effortless elegance is distilled in this Proenza Schouler number in the form of psychedelic stripes. Cut in a slouchy silhouette with a tasteful turtleneck, this piece will take you from cosying up at home to conquering the concrete jungle.  

St. John

This Lunar New Year, St. John pays homage to its knitwear roots and reimagines its heritage with a festive touch. This tweed dress is a tasteful interpretation of the beloved classics, presented – naturally – in red and gold, with buttons in the shape of knots and a mini silhouette that carves a flattering frame – ideal for seasonal festivities.

VALENTINO

Leave it to Valentino’s Pierpaolo Piccioli to redefine the coveted 60s silhouette through a contemporary lens. The effortless fluidity of this dress is accentuated with feather trims at the hem and cuffs, while its unapologetic playfulness is brought by an elaborate floral print. 

The post 10 Fashion Gifts to Welcome the Year of the Tiger appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

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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Chinese New Year is just around the corner, and you know what that means! Family dinners, the memory of fireworks and parades (ah... maybe next year!), wall decorations, lion dances and the sounds of drums, and lai see!

You're bound to be familiar with the ornate red paper envelope filled with money by now. Known as lai see in Cantonese, hong bao in Mandarin and ang pao in Hokkien, this red packet is a gift given on important occasions: weddings, birthdays and, of course, during the start of the lunar new year.

Traditionally, envelopes are red (hong/ang means red, bao/pao means packet) with gold calligraphy, as the colours signify good fortune — ideal for a new year. And a tradition isn't a tradition without a few guidelines, so we've compiled everything you need to know to make sure you avoid any bad luck in your future, or worse, bad judgement right now.

How to give and receive lai see

What is lai see?

Besides myths and supernatural origins to the red packet ("The Legend of Sui" to be exact), ancient China has had a tradition of gifting coins to ward off evil spirits dating as far back as the Han Dynasty. In later years, the custom of giving money would involve threading coins with a red string or gifting them in a red colourful pouch. Newer coins would lose the hole that one could thread string through, leading to the rise of coins gifted in wrapped paper packets. And fast-forward to today, banknotes are readily available and packets, which are still red, are easy to purchase.

Who gives and who receives?

You can follow the simple "big to small" rule — that means "older to younger" and "senior to junior". Generally, lai see is given by those who are married and of higher authority, to those who are younger and single!

This includes children, unmarried loved ones and those younger than you. It also includes service providers. That's right! Your domestic helpers, your building's guards, even waitstaff — it's a way of showing gratitude to those around you.

You want to stick to even numbers. In Hong Kong, our banknotes mean you can just work in multiples of ten, making avoiding odd numbers very easy.

As we said, your amounts will vary but as a loose outline, you could go for:

• HK$20-$50 for someone you see frequently but don't know too well — such as a casual acquaintance or building staff
• HK$100 for someone you know and care about, or see very often — like your friends, family, loved ones and even someone you work above

Put different amounts in different envelopes so you can differentiate between them and make sure to stock up on red packets.

When and how do you give lai see?

You can start handing out lai see from the start of Chinese New Year, on 1 February this year, and you have all 15 days up to the Spring Lantern Festival, on 15 February.

Hold the red packet with two hands and exchange greetings — you could say kung hei fat choy or sun tai kin hong!

What if I’m receiving a red envelope?

Lucky you! Make sure to receive your lai see with both hands and express gratitude. And don't peek just yet — it's considered impolite to open a red packet in front of the person who's given it to you.

Kung hei fat choy!

(Hero image courtesy of RODNAE Productions via Pexels, featured image courtesy of Angela Roma via Pexels, image 1 courtesy of Angela Roma via Pexels, image 2 courtesy of Omid Armin via Unsplash, image 3 courtesy of Angela Roma via Pexels)

The post Chinese New Year: Your Lai See Etiquette Guide appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Here are some of the legends and traditions, and ancient history, associated with Chinese New Year in Hong Kong.

Hongkongers love a festival — this city observes everything from Easter to the Buddha’s Birthday. And Chinese New Year is arguably the festival with the most cultural significance in Hong Kong and in the Mainland.

Celebrating the start of the Chinese lunisolar calendar’s year, you may be familiar with the festival by its other names, including Lunar New Year and Spring Festival — as it marks the end of a cold, dark winter and welcomes spring. Traditionally, you can observe the new year from the night before all the way until the Spring Lantern Festival (not to be confused with the Mid-Autumn Lantern Festival).

In Hong Kong, we get three public holidays for Lunar New Year. In 2022, the first day of the lunisolar calendar will fall on Tuesday, 1 February and will welcome the Year of the Tiger — an animal known for being powerful, brave and tough in the face of adversity. Sounds exactly like what we’re in need of.

Chinese New Year in Hong Kong: Lunar legends, traditions and taboos

Origins and legends

Celebrating the start of the Lunar New Year is common in many Asian regions and countries, from Tibet and Taiwan to Korea and Vietnam, as well as for many Chinese-speaking populations like the ones in Singapore, Malaysia and so on.

The festival dates back thousands of years, when ancient Chinese people would gather and celebrate the end of the harvest — but the first record of a Chinese new year celebration is said to trace back to the Warring States period. Different dynasties would then see the cementing of different practices and rituals, such as a thorough clean of the house (Qin), worshipping of ancestors (Han), all-night eating and drinking (Jin), giving money to children (Song) and eating dumplings (Ming)… just to name a few.

With each practice came folk tales and ancient mythical origins. Here are four legends associated with Chinese New Year.

The Legend of Nian

According to ancient folklore, Chinese New Year starts with a monstrous beast. Called “Nian”, the beast’s head looked like that of a lion’s but with a sharp horn used for attacking prey. As the legend goes, Nian lived in ancient China, out in the wilderness, under the sea or, as some tales say, in the mountains, but on the last day of the lunar year, it would venture out in the middle of the night to eat villagers — especially children.

These villagers would hide away and flee before sundown to avoid the monster, but one year, an old man with silver hair came to them with promises of driving the beast away forever. As night fell, he dressed in red, lit candles and fired bamboo (an early form of firecrackers) — scaring the beast away. And so the villagers learnt of the secret weapons: the colour red, bright lights and loud noise.

After that, people did as the old man instructed every New Year's Eve, and the beast never showed up again.

The Great Zodiac Race

As we welcome a Year of the Tiger, you might recall the story of the great race — when the Jade Emperor decreed that the calendar years would be named after animals, only in the order they reached him.

As one version of the folk tale goes, many animals set off to cross a river to meet him. The Cat and the Rat hopped on the back of the Ox. As the Ox reached the other side of the river, the Rat pushed the Cat into the water and then jumped off the Ox and rushed to meet the Emperor — becoming the first animal of the zodiac calendar. The Ox had to settle for second. Then came the Tiger, strong but slowed down due to the current pushing him downstream. He became the third animal. The next animals were numbered as they arrived: the Rabbit, the Dragon, the Snake, the Horse, the Goat, the Monkey, the Rooster, the Dog and finally, the Pig.

Zào Jūn, the Kitchen God

Zao Jun is a household folk god who is said to reside in the stove or a similar area of a home, making him a god that interacts with humans the most. Known as the stove master, or stove god, Zao Jun watches over the home and family, and is in charge of their meals and livelihoods.

On the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month, he visits heaven to report on the status of families to the Jade Emperor. He then returns to Earth to bless or punish the families. So to avoid any punishments, on the "little new year", families will make malt candies that will sweeten his mouth so he’ll only praise the family, and stick his teeth together to stop him from saying anything bad.

The Legend of Sui (祟)

According to legend, there was an evil spirit or a demon who went by the name Sui (祟). It would appear on New Year’s Eve to come and terrify children — touching their heads three times as they slept, resulting in a fever and hallucinations. To protect their children, parents would light candles and stay besides them all night, guarding them.

On one lunar year's eve, one couple gave their child coins to play with to keep him awake. The child wrapped the coins in red paper, wrapping and unwrapping it all night. His parents placed the red paper packet with coins under his pillow. That night, when Sui came to touch the child's head, the coins flashed in the darkness and scared the demon away. And so, giving red envelopes became a way to keep children safe as well as bring good luck.

Traditions and taboos

The Lunar New year is traditionally a time to honour deities as well as ancestors. Generally, regional customs and traditions concerning the celebration of the Chinese New Year vary widely but in Hong Kong, you're likely to be familiar with:

• The annual family reunion dinner — a time to gather with your loved ones and feast, the perfect way to start the new year. Popular dishes include steamed fish, spring rolls (see: spring!), and dumplings. And desserts and snacks include rice cakes, radish cakes and pudding.
• A thorough clean of the house, a spring clean before the new year, to sweep away ill fortune and make space for incoming good luck!
• Decorations on doors and plenty of red paper — these include pictures of the Door Gods (guardians who come to protect homes), red decorations to ward off Nian and other beasts, and upside-down calligraphy and poetry couplets about good fortune, happiness, health and wealth.
• The lighting of firecrackers and lion dance shows, and giving money in red paper envelopes (lai see).

And it's important to observe traditions and stay away from certain taboos to ensure you receive good fortune in the year — so make sure to avoid:

• Swearing and words with negative connotations like "death", "sick", "ghost" and "kill".
• Breaking ceramics, dinnerware and glass — it'll break your connection with prosperity.
• Using a broom after the new year has begun and using scissors, knives or other sharp objects.

Kung hei fat choy!

(Hero image courtesy of sippakorn yamkasikorn via Unsplash, featured image and image 2 courtesy of RootOfAllLight via Wikimedia Commons, image 1 courtesy of The Palace Museum via Wikimedia Commons, image 3 courtesy of Edward Theodore Chalmers Werner & Project Gutenberg via Wikimedia Commons, image 4 courtesy of Easton Mok via Unsplash, image 5 courtesy of Laurentiu Morariu via Unsplash)

The post Chinese New Year: Legends, Traditions and Taboos appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

It’s Lunar New Year again, and with it comes the customary drop of special-edition luxury timepieces aimed at East Asian collectors. This time around they’re dedicated to the second zodiacal sign – that of the hard-working, dependable, determined, and somewhat conservative bovine, the Ox. So that horologically inspired oxen won’t find sifting through the seasonable offerings a burdensome task, we’ve done the work for them and come up with this propitious selection of ox-inspired watches.

Vacheron Constantin

The Swiss maison has created a pair of limited-edition Métier d’Art ox-inspired watches. One is in platinum with a blue dial, but it’s this magnificent specimen in pink gold with a brown dial that best captures the essence of the plodding beast of burden. Not only have the house’s engravers and enamellers replicated the traditional Chinese paper-cutting technique of jianzhi on the grand feu dial, but they also incorporated etched representations of grass and foliage, as well as the engraved image of the animal itself, which is rendered in pink gold. Powered by the Calibre 2460 G4, the watch displays the time via four apertures that show hours, minutes, days and dates, the first two dragged and the last jumping. Only 12 pieces of each model are available.

Blancpain

From the manufacture’s Villeret collection, Blancpain’s Calendrier Chinois Traditionnel comes in an edition of 50 pieces and eschews a large representation of the animal in favour of a tiny silhouette at 12 o’clock. As the name suggests, however, this highly complicated timepiece does feature a full traditional Chinese calendar, with double hour indication, signs of the zodiac, Chinese date and month, indication of the five elements, celestial stems, leap months, Gregorian calendar and moonphases. In a 45mm platinum case with grand feu dial, it’s powered by the Calibre 3638, whose oscillating weight is set with a Madagascan ruby and which provides up to 168 hours of power.

Breguet

From Breguet’s Lunar New Year offerings, we’ve chosen this ladies’ Reine de Naples 8955 Cammea Year of the Metal Ox, a limited edition of eight pieces that’s presented in a rose-gold case set with 2.8 carats of diamonds. Pride of place goes to the relief-carved cameo dial in white and brown, each made from a specially selected shell, whose engraving — by an Italian father-and-son team — takes some 20 days to complete. The watch is powered by a 537 automatic calibre with platinum rotor and hand guillochage; visible through a caseback sapphire, it provides a reserve of 45 hours. A signature and serial number are engraved in gold at the case base; the owner can also have her name similarly inscribed.

Chopard

One of two ox-inspired watches from Chopard, the L.U.C XP Urushi Spirit of ShÍ Chen comes in a limited edition of 88 pieces. It’s the first L.U.C watch to display the complete Chinese zodiac, which it does with a new complication that reveals the animals in a slow parade on a rotating Urushi-lacquer disc. The lacquer dial, which is produced by the century-old Japanese company Yamada Heiando, also incorporates the symbol of prosperity and the god Lu Xing. In a 40mm ethical rose-gold case, the watch is powered by the automatic L.U.C 96.29-L calibre, a variant of the manufacture’s existing 96 movement that incorporates the zodiac complication and measures just 3.97mm thick.

Harry Winston

The Lunar New Year offering from Harry Winston comes in the form of this ladies’ Premier Chinese New Year Ox Automatic 36mm, which displays the image of a jewelled bovine on a dial of bright red beaded mother-of-pearl and white mother-of-pearl, with waved decor, 105 brilliant-cut diamonds and a single emerald-cut diamond of 0.06 carats. In a jewel-set rose-gold case, the watch features a total of 174 brilliant-cut diamonds that weigh 2.74 carats. It displays hours and minutes in an offset dial at 12 o’clock, draws power from the HW2014 automatic calibre and is available in a limited edition of eight pieces.

Piaget

The annual Lunar New Year watch release from Piaget comes in the guise of this ultra-thin Altiplano Year of the Ox in a 38mm white-gold case, with 0.71 carats of brilliant-cut diamonds on the bezel and a grand feu cloisonné enamel dial by master enameller Anita Porchet. Using a technique dating back four millennia, Porchet created miniature gold partitions (cloisons) on the dial, into which she placed the enamel pigments; the dial was then fired and varnished. The watch is powered by the hand-wound 430P calibre, which measures just 2.1mm thick; it’s presented on a black leather strap.

Jaquet Droz

To mark the Lunar New Year of the Ox, Jaquet Droz has produced three ox-inspired watches in its Ateliers d'Art collection, each showcasing two artisanal techniques. Shown here is the Petite Heure Minute Relief Buffalo in a 41mm red-gold case, which is available in a limited-edition of just eight pieces. The dial depicts hand-engraved and hand-painted buffalo and tree relief appliqués in red gold, with 27 rubies adorning the latter. With hours and minutes displayed in a large off-centred dial at 12 o'clock, the timepiece is powered by a 2653 automatic movement with red-gold oscillating weight and a hand-painted buffalo appliqué in 22k red gold, which provides a reserve of 68 hours.

The post Herd Instinct: Ox-Inspired Watches for Chinese New Year appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Members of the exclusive ExotiCars Club (“ECC”) welcomed the Year of the Dog on 24 February. 88 members donned the vibrant colours of Lunar New Year at the JW Marriott Grand Ballroom. Celebrations were capped off by a customary lion dance performance – an auspicious ritual to invite good luck and drive away evil spirits. […]

The post ExotiCars Club welcomes the year of the dog with celebrations at JW Marriott appeared first on The Peak Magazine.

Members of the exclusive ExotiCars Club (“ECC”) welcomed the Year of the Dog on 24 February. 88 members donned the vibrant colours of Lunar New Year at the JW Marriott Grand Ballroom. Celebrations were capped off by a customary lion dance performance – an auspicious ritual to invite good luck and drive away evil spirits. […]

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