Celebrity Life

Have you ever tried switching to solid soap bars?

If not, then there's no time like the present, as solid formats are the shape of the future when it comes to beauty routines.

Which means it's out with shelves of bottles and endless ingredient lists, and in with new-gen shampoos, conditioners, toothpastes and soaps that are light on packaging — and preservatives — for a revamped, 100 percent responsible beauty routine that's good for your skin and for the planet.

Old-school soap is where it's at

[caption id="attachment_211231" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Good for the environment and for your skin, solid cosmetics are set to take over your bathroom cabinet. (Image: marekusz/ Shutterstock)[/caption]

The move towards more responsible and environmentally respectful consumer habits can sometimes -- in fact, often -- mean taking a step backwards. And cosmetics are no exception, with the solid bars of soap used by our parents, grandparents and great-grandparents slowly creeping back into bathrooms in recent years. And for good reason, since these soaps — suitable for face and body — don't need any plastic packaging and are kind to skin, so long as you stick to natural varieties.

In fact, solid soaps contain virtually no water — unlike liquid shower gels — which is good news for the environment and which also means that there's no need for preservatives or chemical additives. With soap, the endless lists of ingredients typically found in standard shower gel labels are largely simplified — and generally more transparent — with a majority of raw and natural ingredients that are less likely to damage your health.

Another plus point is that the standard solid format is, by definition, portable. That can help cut unnecessary consumption, because there's no need to buy special travel formats for trips away. Moreover, they're generally suitable for facial use with gentler formulations than body-specific versions.

Soap gets an update

[caption id="attachment_211233" align="alignnone" width="683"] Today, there's a slew of solid soap bars to choose from. (Image: Michelle Henderson/ Unsplash)[/caption]

Some of the oldest and best-known soaps are Aleppo soap and Marseille soap, which are mostly made from vegetable oils. Today, however, there's a slew of solid soaps to choose from, that are each more fun and original than the next. Forget your grandmother's dull old wash bars, as today's soaps come in all kinds of vibrant versions. And they don't have to rely on chemicals or potentially unhealthy ingredients to put the fun into bath-time -- just look at the endless options from Lush, a brand known for its colorful solid cosmetics that come in all kinds of wacky shapes.

While there are plenty of options from specialist or niche brands (Lano, Seaweed Bath Co, Nubian Heritage etc.), recent months have also seen a growing number of launches from mainstream brands like Garnier (solid shampoos), and Love Beauty and Planet (soaps and shampoos). There's now enough choice out there to ensure everyone can find their own accessible solid beauty routine.

And soaps aren't the only products using this "innovative" format, since nearly everything in your bathroom cabinet can now be switched to solid, from face wash to shampoo and conditioner, not to mention makeup remover, deodorant and toothpaste. It can even be easy — and cheap — to make solid cosmetics yourself thanks to the many online tutorials.

(Main and featured image: Annie Spratt/ Unsplash)

The post It’s Time to Switch to Using Solid Soap Bars in Your Beauty Routine appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

When it comes to decoding the ingredients in all the bottles and pots on our top shelf of beauty elixirs, even the help of a beauty glossary can leave us a little confused. But understanding the components in the products we religiously slather on our faces can’t hurt.

Thankfully, Guerlain has done most of the homework for us. As one of the oldest cosmetics and skincare houses in the world with almost 200 years of experience, they know a thing or two about ingredients and how to engineer them in a way to create solutions that make us look and feel our best.

Specifically, Guerlain has dedicated its last 15 years into the study of orchids. Beyond interior floral décor, the flower has been the brand’s key ingredient in its Orchidée Impériale Black collection. Native to the Peruvian Andes, the Black Orchid is rare for its ebony colour and blooms for three weeks only, unlike similar breeds of its kind which flowers for months. This rare variety of orchid is incredibly valued for its ability to adapt its metabolism through understanding its environment and optimising its fertilisation and fruition. Using Guerlain’s Blackimmune^TM Technology, the precise extraction of these precious black orchid qualities is made possible, and is said to be the closest thing to a drink from the fabled fountain of youth. 

[dual-images right-image-url="https://www.prestigeonline.com/hk/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/guerlain_ORIM19-353_CMYK.jpg" left-image-url="https://www.prestigeonline.com/hk/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/guerlain_ORIM19-357_CMYK.jpg" right-caption="Orchidée Impériale Black The Cream: HK$10,300; HK$7,880 refill" left-caption="Newest Orchidée Impériale Black Eye and Lip Contour Cream: HK$5,150; HK$3,500 refill"]

The fine balance between power and delicacy is the key to smoother, firmer and more radiant skin. That's why Guerlain’s skincare masterpiece, the Orchidée Impériale Black The Cream (HK$10,300/50ml), remains such an age-defying beauty staple. Impacting 95% of cells involved in the skin’s self-defence system, the skin becomes more resilient as it continuously combats the signs of ageing. Meanwhile, the delicate and smooth formula, which is rich in cupuaçu butter and jojoba wax, provides a soft and comforting touch while a light fragrance of orchid, rose, white musk and cedar wood adds to its sensory appeal.

What's more, anything and everything is enough to trigger an accelerated rate of ageing, from a simple crack of a smile or the slightest bat of the eyelids. So, to target the first visible signs that gives away our true age, Guerlain’s newest addition to the collection -- the Orchidée Impériale Black Eye and Lip Contour Cream (HK$5,150/15ml) tends to our most delicate features. Using the same technology, the multi-action skincare gives our skin cellular immunity and extra protection for the skin that’s too thin to defend itself against environmental aggressors and our facial expressions. Again, an expert formula of textured butters and spherical powders create a velvety cream which not only results in a blurred matte finish, but it also combines to lift and protect while allowing free movement for your eyes and lips. Used together with the Orchidée Impériale Black The Cream, alongside the massage and contour spatula for the rest of your face and neck, and you’ve got all bases covered.

So when do we see results? From first application to years down the road – that’s the kind of acclaim only Guerlain is capable of. Immediately, skin appears smoother, firmer and tighter; in a month, skin is brightened, appearance of fatigue reduced, fine lines softened and upper lids lifted.

[dual-images right-image-url="https://www.prestigeonline.com/hk/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/guerlain_ORIM19-352_CMYK.jpg" left-image-url="https://www.prestigeonline.com/hk/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/guerlain_ORIM19-354_CMYK.jpg"]

All the wonders of time travel can be found in one sumptuous jar. To match the potency of the exceptional Orchidée Impériale Black formulas, Guerlain has commissioned 100-year-old Bernardeau House to design and craft the most luxurious black lacquered porcelain jars to hold its incredible creams. Made according to the traditions of the family, the lacquered pots can be refilled, anchoring the brand’s commitment to sustainability.

For more information, visit guerlain.com.

The post The Black Orchid Is Nature’s Time Machine appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

It's estimated that the world throws away a total of one billion lipsticks each year. That's not only an inconceivable amount of lippy, but it's also tonnes upon tonnes of plastic waste added to the sobering crisis impacting our natural environment today. Not to mention that most lipsticks also contain microplastics in order to achieve a smooth glide on the lips. The truth is, the beauty industry has had a long-term love affair with plastic, and it's just too difficult to change that now. Or is it?

La Bouche Rouge is a luxurious, eco-friendly lipstick line from Paris that offers the perfect shade of red made from natural ingredients in sustainable packaging. The leather used for the monogrammable lipstick case comes from the same French tannery that brands such as Hermès work with, and it can be refilled infinitely. During their recent Hong Kong debut at Lane Crawford, we caught a moment with the president and co-creator of La Bouche Rouge to find out about his startup life and how he aims to bring forth a new era of luxury beauty, one powered by sustainability.

Name: Nicolas Gerlier

Profession: President of La Bouche Rouge

Industry: Beauty

Start up since: October 2017 

Tell us about your business. What do you do?

At La Bouche Rouge we create pure makeup formulas and clean refillable objects in France for the future of the planet. Our ambition is to reconcile luxury and sustainability.

[caption id="attachment_145086" align="alignnone" width="1091"] Nicolas Gerlier of La Bouche Rouge.[/caption]

What’s behind the name, La Bouche Rouge?

La Bouche Rouge means “red lips” in French, but it also stands for having a voice, sharing a message. It represents our revolutionary spirit.  A red voice!

Tell me about your best and worst days at work? 

The best days are when I see that we are creating meaningful projects that surpass beauty. When we invite artists to express themselves within our Maison, like [contemporary Swiss pop artist] Sylvie Fleury for instance. I believe creativity and design are the only way to create the desire to consume differently.

Also, I find motivation in our Positive Economy project: for each lipstick sold, we give 100 litres of safe water to Togo [in western Africa]. We recently visited the first well that we were able to drill with Eau Vive Internationale in a village called Hilou.

I don’t have bad days at work. As I always say: sometimes you win, sometimes you learn. I have learnt a lot from every difficulty we encountered, while developing the brand.

[caption id="attachment_145084" align="alignnone" width="2008"] La Bouche Rouge stands for the passion of colour but also for a revolutionary voice and spirit.[/caption]

What do you do when you’re not at work?

I am the father of three children, so mostly I enjoy family time and ride my bicycle.

Looking back now, what would you have done differently?

Nothing, I believe every step is part of the adventure.

What is a normal workday like for you?

My days are very dense. I arrive at the office early and begin meetings with my team, PR agencies, partners, development and production teams, until I run back home -- often late!

[caption id="attachment_144000" align="alignnone" width="1289"] Friends of La Bouche Rouge include bold women with self-assured desirability reflecting the brand’s values, such as actress Chloë Sevigny.[/caption]

What advice would you give to someone looking to start up?

Be passionate, because this is a 24/7 job!

What would you be doing if you weren’t doing what you do now?

I would be working in contemporary art. Possibly to serve a creative project, as this was always a passion of mine.

As a child, what did you aspire to be?

I wanted to be an archaeologist because I was passionate about ancient Egypt.

[gallery ids="145066,145065,145067"]

What has been your biggest hurdle and how did you overcome it?

Definitely the creation of a clean but efficient formula. We researched for two years.  To overcome it, I recruited the right person with the right know-how.

Why is Hong Kong such an important market for you?

Hong Kong is our gateway into Asia, which is a major market for us. It's a leading market in the world for cosmetics, but it's also a special place with ancient rituals and beauty traditions. I feel that it's imperative to share the values of reconciling luxury and sustainability with the people who are key in the environmental issues of tomorrow.  

If you were to invest in another start up, which would it be?

I would invest in my brother’s startup: Namatata, a meditation app. 

What are your goals for 2019? And in the near future?

My goals are to grow the Maison and remain a leader in our market. The objective is to continue to create the desire to consume differently all over the world and to invent new objects. In terms of where next in Asia? It will be Japan and Korea. We are also working on different products (which we are not ready to share just yet!) but it's a long process of research to achieve the perfect result. What is important to me now is to become the leader in luxury and sustainable beauty, create positive economy projects and share this with others. 

[caption id="attachment_145088" align="alignnone" width="3839"] The leather case can be personalised with your initials engraved if you wish.[/caption]

How hands-on are you?

I started this adventure by myself, so I had to do all steps of the creation.

How do you define success? Do you consider yourself successful?

No, but my team is successful! Success for me is being the first cosmetic brand to commit to reducing plastic from the beginning. And to lead a revolution in the makeup industry while being so small. One year ago, we were a team of three people. Now we are fifteen. So that's five times more committed to the cause. I am convinced we need to change our habits and very proud to say it can begin with a lipstick!

The post Startup Life: Nicolas Gerlier of La Bouche Rouge appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.