We reveal our favourite beauty discoveries of the past year — find out what our go-to skincare brands are, make-up we never leave home without, where you’ll find us when we’re in need of a luxurious spa treatment, and what 2020 launches we’re excited about.
Favourite treatment
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This one is a toss-up between a two-part treatment at W Hotel’s Bliss Spa – it included one of the best facials I’ve ever had, using Carol Joy London products, and a Saltability body massage using warm Himalayan salt stones – and the Bastien Pedicure at The Oriental Spa, which left my soles and toenails looking better than ever. If I could combine them all into one, it would be my dream treatment.
Favourite make-up brand
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While most people can’t get enough of its award-winning Concealer, I’m a loyal fan of Clé de Peau Beauté for its powders, highlighters and always-on-point lipstick shades. The best is its limited-edition holiday collection, which this year includes my favourite radiance enhancing Refining Pressed Powder (HK$800) and a special Lipstick Cashmere (HK$480) in the bold shade of Red Passion.
Make-up item I can’t live without
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I’m all about “less is more” when it comes to make-up, so I rarely apply a full face of foundation, powder, blush and so on. I prefer some strategically placed concealer, and this year my favourite was the new-to-Hong Kong brand Too Faced’s Born This Way Super Coverage Concealer (HK$225). A little bit goes a long way, and the buildable formula blends seamlessly.
The one beauty product I’m always hoarding
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I can never seem to have enough lip balms, eyelash curlers and hand creams. I’m not loyal to any lip balms in particular but have been liking Drunk Elephant’s Lippe Balm (HK$145) since the brand arrived along with Sephora. Eyelash curlers are always the classic shu uemura (HK$150) or the travel ones from Sephora. And for my mitts, Sisley’s newly launched Restorative Hand Cream (HK$860) is my current fave for its rich-but-not-greasy texture.
Favourite beauty hack I learned
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I think I was late to the game on this one, but I have Tata Harper to thank for introducing me to multi-masking. It makes perfect sense using dierent masks – at the same time – for dierent areas of the face. Now I use a clay mask on my T-zone, a hydrating mask on my cheeks and sheet masks under my eyes. Three masks in one, and I’m done in 15 minutes.
Favourite overall beauty discovery
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I’m not sure if it was the fact that I stumbled upon it unexpectedly or that it ended up being so simple yet so good, but my favourite discovery this year was Royal Fern. Founder Dr Tim Golueke’s visit to Hong Kong popped up in my Instagram feed and a few hours later I was introduced to one of the hottest – but still under-the-radar – skincare brands from Germany. Even now I use the cream and ampoules on a regular basis.
The brand I’ll always be loyal to
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I can always count on La Prairie to come out with effective and divinely luxurious products season after season. Its in caviar was one of the first luxury skincare collections I really fell in love with and this year it introduced the Skin Caviar Eye Lift (HK$3,990). Even the loose powder (HK$1,800) and make-up brushes (HK$1,080) it recently released are among my must-haves.
Favourite skincare product
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It’s so hard to choose just one, but at least with The Ordinary’s Niacinamide 10% Zinc 1% (HK$80) I know I’m in good company. I was told the brand sells one of these serums every 30 seconds, thanks to its ability to balance sebum, fight blemishes and brighten skin tone. Add to that the quickly absorbed formula and affordable price point, and I’m sold.
Favourite haircare product
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This is another one that was introduced by a brand representative during their visit to Hong Kong. Oribe makes ultra-luxurious beauty and haircare products and devices. Its Gold Lust collection — comprising a shampoo, conditioner, hair mask and hair oil — not only smells divine but hydrate and smooth like no other.
Favourite beauty personality I met this year
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So many amazing people visited Hong Kong this year – including Tata Harper, Priscilla Ono, Peter Philips and Barbara Sturm – but my favourite was Isamaya Ffrench. The London-based “beauty exec” made her debut as Christian Louboutin’s first-ever global make-up artist here in Hong Kong, and it was the first time I saw anyone use mascara in red, no less as eye shadow and fishnet stockings to apply make-up. No wonder she started out face painting at children’s parties.
Favourite beauty device
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Give me a gua sha and I’ll happily massage the day away. It can be rose quartz or jade, smooth or ridged, as long as it helps with lymphatic drainage. When I have time, I also love the Cha Ling Ba Guan (HK$320). The at-home cupping device is perfect for tackling stubborn fat and cellulite.
Favourite beauty-related social media to follow
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I think I’ve cycled through just about every make-up artist, #skincareaddict and wellness guru that’s out there. I’ll always be loyal to @intothegloss for its BFF approach, but lately I’m enjoying the somehow hypnotic nail art by Allure editor-in-chief @heymichellelee. I’ll probably never have the patience for nail art, so looking at her feed is the next best thing to getting a manicure myself.
Favourite Fragrance
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There seemed to be a new fragrance released every week, if not every day, this year. A number of brands also opened stores in the Fragrant Harbour, particularly at K11 MUSEA, including Miller Harris. After trying out its fragrance profiling, I settled on the Lost in the City (HK$1,440) and have been enjoying wearing it ever since. I also have to give a shout-out to Louis Vuitton, which had a few winners this year too — my favourite being the California-inspired Cactus Garden (HK$2,050).
Favourite Bodycare Product
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Bamford burst on to the Hong Kong beauty scene late in the year, and was an instant hit with its all-natural, wellness-focused approach. Its B Silent Organic Body Oil (HK$400) is my favourite of the entire line thanks to its relaxing scent (from chamomile, lavender and vetiver root oils) and healing properties.
The next product I can’t wait to get my hands on
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Angela Caglia, of Rose Quartz Facial Goddess fame, recently released an Anti-Pollution Cleansing Oil (which she teased during her visit in September). I love her less-is-more approach and can see this becoming a favourite alongside her Detox Serum (HK$625) and Soufflé Moisturizer (HK$547) – not to mention the Vibrating Rose Quartz Sculpting Roller (HK$1,530) I use with them. I might have to throw in a few of her sheet masks too (HK$455).
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