SLIMMING: LPG CELLU M6 LIPO MASSAGE AT SENSE OF TOUCH. At Sense of Touch Spa in the heart of Lan Kwai Fong, in Central, this slimming treatment is performed using a special machine that tightens flabby skin and corrects body imperfections to help reduce cellulite. The science behind the treatment states that it helps eradicate body imperfections by attacking “problem areas”; any place that has a stubborn, seemingly immobile fat quota is smoothed out post-treatment. And, it genuinely feels like a machine that gently punches areas clogged with belligerent and relentless adipose. With visible results after the course, you’d be hard-pressed to find fault with the promises made by the therapy.
PEDICURE: BASTIEN PEDICURE AT THE ORIENTAL SPA. A medically certified podiatrist examines and treats your feet in this exceptional pedicure. Fascinated by the science behind feet following a serious ski injury, Bastien Gonzalez developed a tripartite approach to pedicure that focuses on skin treatment, nail beauty and re-foundation. No basins of hot water are needed here – corns, calluses and build-up are removed gently before the same immaculate attention is paid to nail issues whether it be ingrowns or fungal situations. After they are reshaped and buffed using tools unique to the Bastien method, your legs are treated to a focused massage to reinvigorate blood circulation, muscular flexibility and skin elasticity.
WAXING: FLAWLESS SPA. We have cryotherapy, painful slimming therapies and laser facials, but waxing still tops the list of most unpleasant beauty procedures, particularly because it’s such a necessary evil. Flawless therapists do their best to minimise the pain and keep the process as far from awkward as possible. A quick hand and high-quality wax also make a difference, but feel free to grab magazines from the waiting area if you need further distraction.
MANICURE: CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN MANICURE BY THE NAIL LIBRARY AT THE UPPER HOUSE. The Upper House has teamed up with Christian Louboutin Beauté on an exclusive room package for in-house guests. Those staying at The Upper House can experience this luxurious manicure by the friendly and professional technicians from top Hong Kong-based nail salon The Nail Library. The fabulous package, authorised by Christian Louboutin, allows guests to relax while they get their nails polished and painted in one of the hotel’s gorgeous rooms.
MEDICAL TREATMENT: SECOND SKIN AT SPA AT THE FOUR SEASONS HOTEL HONG KONG. The hotel spa’s most results-oriented line, Biologique Recherche, took a decade to perfect this treatment, which uses a 3D-printing hyaluronic acid electrospun machine to churn out medical-grade hyaluronic skin patches which integrate into your skin’s structure and boost its ability to rejuvenate and renew. Patrons are addicted to these patches, whose plumping and smoothing effects are akin to invasive filler injections, harnessing technology originally implemented to heal the skin of burn victims. At $6,300 for a two-hour treatment on weekdays, it ain’t cheap, but we don’t hear any complaints – only return bookings.
PRE-NATAL: BLISSFUL BEGINNINGS AT SENSE OF TOUCH, REPULSE BAY. This top-to-toe treatment aims to delight and pamper mums-to-be who want to relieve themselves of the strains and pains of carrying their bundle of joy-to-be. This two-hour session begins with a Hydrating Recovery Facial aimed to keep the expectant mother’s glow in tip-top shape using triple liposome technology. Once the skin is dewy and revitalised, a leg and foot massage follows to relieve muscle aches and joint pains. All this is topped with a quickie pedicure and tea so that mums can leave feeling beautiful inside and out.
COUPLE’S TREATMENT: ROMANCE AT THE ORIENTAL SPA. A jewel in the offerings of the Oriental Spa at Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong, the Romance is a couple’s treatment that melts away stress and allows couples to retreat into a 180-minute cocoon of intimate relaxation. Beginning with a foot ritual before immersing the body into a ginseng-, fenugreek- and ylang ylang-infused bath, the treatment ends with a tailored massage using rose quartz, often called the “love stone”. Don’t be surprised if, when you leave, you find that you’ve forgotten your partner.
BODY TREATMENT: UNWIND BOTH MIND AND BODY AT THE RITZ-CARLTON SPA. This two-part body treatment includes a full-body exfoliation and a deep-muscle massage, so your skin is smooth and body supple. The exfoliation process takes inspiration from Hong Kong’s nickname, Pearl of the Orient, using pearl powder juiced with antioxidants, while the massage targets knots effectively, ending with focused eye and scalp relaxation techniques. Eighty minutes will pass in a breeze.
ANTI-AGEING: 111 SKIN CELESTIAL BLACK DIAMOND FACIAL AT JOYCE BEAUTY. Possibly the closest thing to being Benjamin Button, 111 Skin’s Black Diamond line aims to plump and moisturise the epidermis of the dry, dull and dehydrated. Enriched with rare black diamond particles that offer an innovative delivery system, this massage-heavy treatment using the brand’s own Massage Ball Applicator and the skilled hands of the therapist helps ingredients penetrate the deeper dermal layer to revive and maintain youthful skin. Who’d have thought that 75 minutes could erase years from a face?
MASSAGE: ONNETSU THERAPY AT SPA AT FOUR SEASONS HOTEL HONG KONG. Onnetsu Therapy (infrared heat therapy) is a relaxing treatment that helps melt away tensions, treat old injuries and ease sore muscles and joint pain. After the initial, mild discomfort of the heat rays beaming down at your skin, you are left warm and relaxed as the machine “massages” the body using heat through physical stimulation. The therapy helps blood circulation as well, to improve health.
FACIAL: SUPERFOOD PRO-RADIANCE FACIAL AT MELO SPA. Spa monolith Elemis has a cult following numbering more than 6 million spa-goers every year, and with treatments available at the Hyatt Regency Hong Kong, Sha Tin’s Melo Spa, those wanting to experience first-hand the brand’s successful combination of powerful natural ingredients can now do so. The Superfood Pro-Radiance Facial is a 75-minute facial specialising in micro-circulatory massage, and is used alongside a two-phase amino-active mask, which works to smooth, firm, plump and restore moisture and radiance.
NAIL POLISH: CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN ROUGE LOUBOUTIN. You can’t beat a classic red manicure. For day or evening, a dash of rouge on your nails will bring a confident, pulled-together aura to any look. And beauty insiders have been getting their hit from the king of red, Christian Louboutin. This isn’t a nail lacquer for the faint hearted; bottled in a glass house with a spiked eight-inch top (inspired by the tallest heel Louboutin ever created), the glossy liquid is deeply intense and has the impact of 20 layers in one. And it’s made for women on the go, with a chip-resistant finish to keep your mani pristine.
CANDLE: JO MALONE LONDON POMEGRANATE NOIR CANDLE. In luxury homes and seriously stylish reception areas across the creative industries, Jo Malone London’s big, bigger and biggest candles have been decorating hallways and desk spaces of only the most sophisticated folk. Our star scent is the dark and fruity Pomegranate Noir, laden with pomegranate, plum and raspberry notes and laced with hints of pink pepper and spicy wood. The small sets make a chic hostess gift, but mostly we’re just hoarding them for ourselves. Candles have never been more stylish.
FRAGRANCE: CHRISTIAN DIOR MISS DIOR ABSOLUTELY BLOOMING. Swap severe scents for a brighter fragrance and snap up Miss Dior Absolutely Blooming from Christian Dior beauty. With its uplifting and tangy red-berry top notes you’ll be transported to a garden hiding strawberry, raspberry and blackcurrant plants within blooming rose bushes. A single spritz is enough to last all day, slowly shedding its big berry opening to relax into a sensual peony and white musk ending. As with all the Miss Dior fragrances, this is elegant yet playful, bursting with joy and created with love.
HAIR PRODUCT: KIEHL’S SMOOTHING OIL-INFUSED LEAVE-IN CONCENTRATE. Don’t let a bad-hair day ruin your plans. Smooth flyaways and add luscious vitality to your locks courtesy of Kiehl’s Smoothing Oil-Infused Leave-In Concentrate. There are so many reasons to love this little bottle of goodness; argan oil adds a healthy shine, babassu oil brings softness and total manageability, while the oh-so inviting scent is simply irresistible.
BODY WASH: PRISMOLOGIE FOAMING SHOWER CREAM WITH NEROLI AND DIAMOND. When we step out of the shower each morning, we love to be left with a refreshing scent to help us take on the day, so naturally we’re reaching for Prismologie’s Foaming Shower Cream with Neroli and Diamond. And the goodness doesn’t stop with the scent; chock-a-block with botanical and mineral extracts, it calms, hydrates and rejuvenates skin too. Plus, we love the packaging – it’s been specifically designed to lift your mood.
BODY SCRUB: CHA LING BODY SCRUB. If you’re looking for soft, supple and smooth skin then it’s time to get your scrub on. Cha Ling’s Body Scrub is the name to know; formulated with loose tea leaves – an essential ingredient throughout the brand’s product range – and invigorating sea salt, this scrub will slough away dead cells to reveal brighter, fresher skin beneath. You can adjust the intensity of exfoliation by adding more or less water – perfect for those with more delicate skin.
HAND CREAM: JURLIQUE ROSE HAND CREAM. Save your hands with a pea-sized amount of the classic Jurlique Rose Hand Cream. We love the non-greasy formula and instant hit of moisture that comes from this nature-inspired staple. Whether it’s from the heat or cold, pollution or hard water, there’s no need to suffer from dry or chapped digits any longer.
BODY LOTION: LAURA MERCIER GEL BODY MOISTURE TEA MENTHE CITRON. Keeping your skin hydrated all over is essential to fight premature ageing and irritation. That makes picking the right body lotion even more important. If you’re after an indulgent scented cream, look no further than Laura Mercier’s Gel Body Moisture Tea Menthe Citron. Touched with the scent of earthy tea leaves and refreshing mint, the gel-crème formula nourishes and moisturises while leaving behind a subtle fragrance to invigorate the senses.
BLUSH: HOURGLASS COSMETICS AMBIENT LIGHTING POWDER BLUSH. Swear off flat colours that dry and irritate you skin and switch to Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder Blush for a healthy glow. Showered with light-reflecting pigments and imbued with Photoluminescent Technology, each of the seven shades brings a different level of warmth and colour to your complexion. Choose peach or rose-tinted tones to flatter Asian skin tones.
LIP BALM: GIORGIO ARMANI HIM/HER LIPCARE. Win the war against a damaged pout with a restorative lip balm from beauty behemoth Giorgio Armani. We vote choosing the Him/Her Lipcare range, which works a treat for the boys and the girls. With six soft shades on offer, including a clear option, each one matches to a different skin tone for a smooth, natural effect.
LIP GLOSS: YSL BEAUTÉ VOLUPTÉ SHINE. Nothing puts us in a girly mood faster than a slick of lip gloss, and YSL Beauté’s Volupté Shine tops our list every time. The cult lippy comes in both subtle and daringly dramatic shades, with 30 colour options available, so you’re sure to find your new favourite. And you can rest easy knowing that the velvety glide-on formula is enriched with six sensorial oils designed to impart your lips with long-lasting moisture.
LIPSTICK: ROUGE DIOR. They say that lipstick sales never fall because it’s the ultimate feel-good purchase that doesn’t need to cost the earth. For every woman, there’s a lip colour that makes them weak at the knees and with the Rouge Dior collection there are more than enough to choose from. From matt through to satin, there’s a medley of beautiful shades; romantic pink, deep red, intense fuchsia, fresh coral and more. And they don’t just look good, they do good too; mango butter hydrates and nourishes from within to keep your pout in the best condition.
CONCEALER: BAREMINERALS BLEMISH REMEDY CONCEALER. Less is more when it comes to concealers. Over-application will leave you with more creases and a dried-out complexion, which is never a good look. Luckily, the brains at bareMinerals have brought us the Blemish Remedy Concealer, a lightweight, full-coverage pen that’s filled with skin-loving ingredients. Aspen bark, tea-tree oil and a hint of aloe work to regulate oil production, reduce shine and promote a clear, healthy visage. Tap it into your skin for expert coverage made easy, and watch as redness and imperfections melt away.
HIGHLIGHTER: YSL BEAUTÉ TOUCHE ÉCLAT. Touche Éclat by YSL Beauté needs no introduction. The original highlighter, it launched a generation of beauty products that aim to lighten and brighten rather than mask. If you haven’t already tried it, just click twice and lightly apply under the eyes to fight dark circles in a flash. It will leave you looking as luminous as the iconic gold pen.
Each year, the Prestige Hong Kong editorial team and a carefully selected panel of judges selflessly put themselves at the mercy of spa therapists and beauticians, simultaneously lathering themselves in creams and salves while layering on shadows and glosses. We invited three society mavens who know a thing or two about being beautiful to help judge the awards. This year, Jade Lui, Queenie Rosita Law and Belinda Koo were our guest judges.
