Celebrity Life

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.

The post The Best At-Home Beauty Products to Get You Through Another Lockdown appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

’Tis the season to reflect on the past, mull over the present and hope for the future, as we find out how four local personalities will be spending the holidays...

4 Hong Kong Personalities on the Festive Season

Jessica Jann, Actress

What’s your Christmas family tradition?

Lots of time together. I always used to go back home to California and be with my parents. We’d have a lot of meals together, spend time together, watch holiday movies and just be with each other.

What’s your favourite Christmas memory?

Years ago, when I was home for the holidays, I remember having a lovely family meal out with everyone. Then my cousins, my sister and I went to Downtown Disney in Anaheim. We ordered hot chocolate, sat by a fireplace, chatted nonstop and then got doughnuts afterwards. This year will be the third Christmas holiday when I won’t be back home.

Which moment from past holidays still makes you laugh?

Once my sister got us all, the entire family, these ugly, ugly Christmas sweaters but we absolutely loved wearing them! We laughed and took so many pictures!

What’s your Christmas wish?

I’m so lucky because my grandma (Abu) is in Hong Kong with all of us. I miss my parents, sister and nephew, but I’ll definitely be calling them. This year, I might still be in the hospital as my due date is really close to Christmas Day. My husband, Kenneth, and I are so excited, anxious and nervous. Christmas has always been my favourite holiday and I really can’t wait to hold my baby girl for the first time. I just wish she’s happy, healthy and I can’t wait to meet her.

Richard Ekkebus, Chef

Which Christmas tradition from your youth do you remember most fondly?

Back home in the Netherlands, my mum put a lot of effort into decorating the house and it was a true collective family effort – dad did the lights and fixed the tree, and my sisters and I would decorate the tree with garlands and hang Christmas baubles. But the most important part was the family reunion – grandparents, uncles and cousins all meeting. Large dinner tables and extended meals. We were allowed to sip our dad’s glass of wine to get a taste. The laughter, the happiness and, of course, the festive decorations and gifts.

What was your most memorable Christmas gift?

When I was 10, I got a concave skateboard to learn to ride in half-pipes. I was super into skateboarding but my skateboard wasn’t great, so my mum ordered one from a skate shop in Amsterdam – the real McCoy.

What’s your Christmas wish and hope this year?

Christmas is always a little awkward for me. I’m super-stressed, as it’s an important day for my guests. So we’re the family that unwraps gifts very early in the morning before I head off to work, to look after other families. With the pandemic, it will be a challenge this year, just as it was last year. We’d normally have our kids in Hong Kong but this year there’s an empty nest and – that’s somewhat sad. I want to make sure they all have a great Christmas, and my wife and I have organised parcels to be sent early so they reach them in time. We’ll probably do a thing on Zoom on Christmas Day.

Nick Buckley Wood, Art Connoisseur

What’s a favourite Christmas memory?

I don’t have many favourite Christmas memories in Hong Kong. I grew up in the city till I was 13 and then was in the UK. We don’t really celebrate Christmas that much in the Wood family. We all get together, and I suppose that’s the best memory – everyone being under the same roof. Otherwise, everyone’s scattered around the globe. I do like tropical Christmases more than snow-capped ones, probably because I’ve had more Christmases in Singapore and Hong Kong than elsewhere. So, sandcastle over snowman any day.

So a favourite Christmas meal for you would be?

Hainan chicken rice – with a giant chicken. And all the trimmings.

What’s the best Christmas present you ever received?

A puppy when I was a boy. A puppy really is the greatest present ever, at any age. I named him Tiffin.

Money no object, if you could bid for any artwork as a Christmas present for yourself, what would it be?

Maybe a Caravaggio. What’s a good Christmas-y painting? Maybe a giant pumpkin by Yayoi Kusama. What’s your end-of-the-year plan? I’ll be in Cambodia this year for Christmas. I bought an apartment and spent most of the year there, I was basically exiled – there’s no Covid where I stayed and I worked remotely. I’m also working on a non-profit project there. So this year I’ll be working on my apartment and the charity.

Elly Lam, Influencer

What’s your Christmas family tradition?

I have a big family, lots of brothers and sisters, and we all sit and watch old Christmas movies while sipping on homemade mulled wine.

What’s your favourite Christmas memory?

Cooking Christmas dinners together with loved ones every year is always a favourite. Oh, and I love Secret Santa!

Which moment from past holidays still makes you laugh?

Serving salty eggnog! It was ridiculous because it’s so easy to make. I was frantically trying to finish making Christmas dinner and, in the rush, I used salt instead of sugar in the mix! My helper served it thinking that’s how it’s supposed to taste. It was slightly embarrassing for me to serve failed eggnog – we still laugh about it.

For 2021, what’s your Christmas wish?

To be able to travel somewhere cold and snowy for Christmas this … well, I guess next year. I miss having a White Christmas.

The post Editor’s Picks: Our Fashion Writer Shares His Holiday Wishlist 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.