Celebrity Life

After months of reviewing close to 300 beauty products and wellness facilities, and tallying, here are the best skincare products of this year, and lest we forget, your top pick! And so without further ado, here are the Beauty & Wellness Awards winners.

As technology continues to advance and discoveries are made each day, we do our part in dipping our toe in the proverbial pool of beauty to explore the latest and greatest. Embracing the new is part of our job as investigative beauty aficionados, and as we dig through the recent debuts, we’ve found some newbies that have found a permanent spot on our top shelf that we highly recommend checking out.

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We explore the power of nature through Wildsmith's botanical skincare range.

The new luxury skincare player Wildsmith has just made its debut in Hong Kong. Founded in 2018 in the idyllic countryside of Heckfield Place in Hampshire, UK, the brand has made quite a name for itself in just two years. Combining the nutrient-rich botanicals grown in the natural surrounds of Heckfield with a science-led skincare solution approach, Wildsmith has perpetuated the term “radical botany” and its lauded skincare collection reinforces the need for efficacious products that are concocted sustainably, respectfully and ethically.

The brand is named after William Walker Wildsmith, an 19th-century arborist who created an internationally renowned collection that’s now a large part of the Wildsmith heritage.

Set in the lush rurality of Heckfield, the estate has been lovingly restored from its classical origins, with its Georgian house transformed into a luxury hotel with an English boutique spa, The Bothy. The dramatic parkland on the property was also reimagined into a biodynamic farm and that’s where Wildsmith’s natural ingredients are grown.

Although intended originally strictly for the guests of the five-treatment-room spa, word spread about the healing properties of the Wildsmith brand. Soon the founders of Wildsmith took their products to market to realise the incredibly positive response. The team at Joyce Beauty recognised the potential success Wildsmith would have in Hong Kong and introduced it here.

“This is only the second retailer we’ve partnered with; the first being Harrod’s in London,” explains Katherine Pye, general manager of Wildsmith. “We see Hong Kong as a gateway to the Asia-Pacific and early indications show that the product formulations suit the climate and the clients.”

And so it seems, as the brand has garnered a pretty die-hard fan base in just over the month after its local launch. It sets itself apart from the uncountable alternative options there are on the shelves of department stores and beauty halls, based on “the fact that all the products have been put through rigorous clinical trials where the skin’s reaction to the highly potent plant-derived actives can be measured”.

Being green is part of the brand’s ethos and Wildsmith goes beyond the formulations to uphold its moral standards. Pye elaborates: “Sourcing packaging and the whole supply chain needs to be a key consideration for us all [including us at Wildsmith]. Our project to bring compostable mycelium packaging to the market is part of our ongoing commitment in this area.”

While the packaging underwent an eco-friendly makeover, maintaining the luxuriousness that comes with the brand still has to be considered. As all Wildsmith products are made in incredibly small batches in the countryside, the quantity of little botanical bottles is highy controlled. Often hand-filled, each bottle requires production partners to take on the role of trained chefs who treat botanical ingredients much as they would precious culinary ingredients: using extreme precision and caution to heat and cook the solutions to ensure optimal performance from the plants.

The results speak for themselves. If a private-label single original dedicated only for the use of an individual spa can raise international noise in the cruel and unforgiving beauty scene, it’s proof that it works. The efficacy of Wildsmith comes from the harnessing of the power of nature.

So far, Wildsmith’s modest collection consists of just seven products. One of the heroes is the Active Repair Nourishing Cleansing Balm - a blend of plant-based oils that break down natural and synthetic surface oils, pollutants and make-up. It combines rich butters to create an invisible protective layer of fatty acids to lock in moisture, and fused with a complex of Vitamins A, C and E for added antioxidant protection to prevent future cellular damage.

In Hong Kong, Wildsmith anticipates its Active Repair Platinum Booster for moisturising and repair will be a best-seller. A blend of physical exfoliants, including walnut-shell powder, helps to gently polish away dead skin, while rosehip and cranberry powders improve skin texture and tone - and also smells divine.

Pye recommends taking it slow when using Wildsmith. “Allow yourself enough time within your morning and evening routine to really experience the products fully by breathing deeply and experiencing them with all the senses.” The products come with small metal spoons to ensure just the perfect amount for ideal usage, and at the same time guards them from contamination.

Wildsmith may have started out small, but the initial impact has caused a widespread ripple effect that has crossed the oceans to this side of the world - a vision beyond the dreams and expectations of the founders. If there’s something that Wildsmith brought to us, it’s not only its miracle formulations but also the belief that it really is possible to achieve better results by going natural.

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This month, we’re introducing our favourite newly launched products to add to your beauty arsenal. From your holy grail must-haves to the industry’s latest and greatest, explore our roundup of everything you’ve wanted to try, and other things you never knew you needed… until now.

Hot summer days are properly setting in, and whether you love or loathe the heat, a beauty switch-up is in order. From swapping in breezier skincare to adding a gentle daily exfoliant in the shower, or experimenting with new colours for the season; here’s our definitive list of our top shelf products this June.

Wildsmith

New kid on the block in the beauty department is Wildsmith, the British skincare brand focused on delivering high performance products using clinically proven bioactive plant ingredients. Developed in England and making its Hong Kong debut now, Wildsmith is the first on the market that is all about radical botany and a targeted delivery system. A favourite back in its hometown, and now here, the Active Repair Platinum Booster encapsulates oxygen which is the key ingredient that helps with the metabolic process of collagen productivity and healing purposes. The platinum delivery system uses a powerful peptide that penetrates into the deeper layers of the skin which produces elastin too. This booster is great for days when feeling dehydrated or tired, as it pumps and plumps the skin with hydration for an instant surge of nutrients to the skin.
HK$1,720/30ml

Valmont Microbiome Series

Microbiome science is the biggest thing in skincare since hyaluronic acid. Valmont’s new Primary collection has been formulated around pre- and probiotics to promote the balance of the skin’s ecosystem. Using “friendly” skin-nurturing bacteria, the skin is fuelled with nutrients that promote cell development which leads to rejuvenated skin. The collection includes an Initial Prepping Mist, Targeted Blemish Treatment, Initial Anti-redness Repairing Serum, Initial Shooting Cream and a Rich Replenishing Balm. Our go-to is the Prepping Mist, a spray that is suitable for all skin types and can be used throughout the day (pre, during and post-makeup). The result is a feeling of instant refresh, thanks to its formulation which promotes balance in the hydrolipidic film on the skin and intercellular cement to trap hydration within the skin.
Primary Veil (Initial Prepping Mist) HK$880/150ml
Primary Solution (Targeted Blemish Treatment) HK$1,380/20ml
Primary Serum (Initial Anti-redness Repairing Serum) HK$1,540/30ml
Primary Cream (Initial Soothing Cream) HK$1,500/50ml
Primary Promade (Rich Replenishing Balm) HK$1,980/50ml

L'Occitane Shampoo & Conditioner

The worst hair season is upon us. Weighted down and clumped up by humidity, good hair days seem like a distant memory and are now months away. Though we are still on the lifelong quest to find that miracle product, L’Occitane’s Almond Shampoo and Conditioner doesn't do too badly. In fact, it is one of our most recent favourites. The scent is fresh, it cleanses the hair and scalp while leaving a sense of light and airy freshness, and most importantly, leaves the hair easy to comb either wet or dry. The almond oil component is a natural hair detangler, making fried and frizzled hair smoother and easier to manage.
Almond Shampoo HK$180/240ml
Almond Conditioner HK$190/240ml

La Prairie Concealer

Another product straight out of the Skin Caviar Complexion Lab Atelier (where all the caviar magic happens at La Prairie) is new Skin Caviar Perfect Concealer. Infused with caviar water and caviar extract for its lifting and firming properties, the serum-based formula nourishes the skin while offering the right amount of coverage. It comes with two interchangeable applicators – a cooling metal tip ring for a light massage to rid under-eye puffiness and a round-edge brush that can conceal by reaching all surfaces from any angle.
HK$1,470/6ml

Dior Hydra Life Matte Dew Hydration Sorbet Droplet Emulsion

To beat the summer heat, hydration is key. Dior’s answer is a concoction that combines three key actions for healthy, plump skin: hydration boost, mattifying finish and deep treatment. Using its Nobel-winning discovery of Aquaprins, Dior Science has extracted the essential proteins in Anjou to help play the role of “channels” in the skin, enabling water to circulate fluidly from one cell to another. Freshen up anytime of the day with velvety formula which not only delivers hydration, but absorbs excess sebum to keep oil and shine at bay.
HK$550/50ml

Clarins Everlasting Youth Fluid Foundation SPF15 / PA+++

Clarins’ best-selling Extra-Firming Cream has pretty much claimed top-shelf status since its launch two years back. Using the formula as a base, Clarins has developed a foundation to go with it, the Everlasting Youth Fluid Foundation SPF15/PA+++. Fortified with plant extracts such as chicory and red jania to tighten and lift, the foundation acts as part makeup and part skincare. The pink pear particles and soft-focus powders also help to create a luminous veil that is said to last all day even in the sun. Under extreme and unforgiving sunlight, dark spots and imperfections can also be concealed and blurred while the anti-pollution complex protects against environmental stressors.
HK$380/30ml

Benefit California Kissin' Colour Balm

We have been shielded behind our surgical masks for some time now, but with restrictions finally loosening up we can finally (or at least, begin to) revert back to the good old days. Fulfilling the need for hydration and colour this season, Benefit's new lip balm comes in a burst of 12 vibrant shades for summer fun. Extremely lightweight and hydrating thanks to loofah seed oil, the lips are nourished and hydrated for hours. One layer gives a natural-looking sheen, but when layered, can appear to be almost as pigmented as lipstick itself (without the drying effect). Personally, I’m enjoying the berry tone that adds a touch of colour while still appearing very natural and light.
HK$190/10g

Aveda Cherry Almond Body Scrub

There’s no getting around sweat and grime in the peak of summer and with that, exfoliation needs to be thorough and frequent. Aveda’s new Cherry Almond Body Scrub is the shower essential for these long, hot days. It does its job by removing dead skin cells while conditioning, smoothing and softening the skin. A mixture of fruity and floral sweetness, the playful aroma is a bright and fresh scent that’s very season-appropriate. What’s more, it uses 38 pure flower and plant essences and is cruelty-free, so you’re doing something good for the environment and your own wellbeing all at the same time.
HK$$340/200ml

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