The Shopping List: What to Buy at the New Sephora Hong Kong

Ever since Sephora closed the doors of its Mong Kok location in 2010, Hong Kong’s biggest beauty fanatics have been desperately holding their breath for the French cosmetics chain to reopen here. Finally, the wait is over, as Sephora Hong Kong debuts its 4,200-square-foot flagship at ifc mall this week.

Even for creatures of habit with their default beauty regimen and favourite skincare brands, who could resist the urge to pop in to see the new store and sample some new products? Especially considering that Sephora Hong Kong will stock over 60 brands, of which more than 25 are exclusive or making their Hong Kong debut.

But with an overwhelming amount of choices, what should make it onto your product shelf? We’ve done the hard work for you, rounding up 10 tried-and-tested products to create our ultimate Sephora shopping list. Read on to discover 10 products that are worth a try and a buy. (An * indicates the brand is exclusive to Sephora.)

Fenty Beauty

Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation

The reason Rihanna’s foundation has reached holy grail status is that this single bottle has everything a girl could want in a liquid foundation: It’s got medium-to-full coverage that’s buildable (without being cakey), enhanced wearability, the ability to blur pores and fine lines, and a matte finish to keep unwanted shine at bay. It also comes in 40 shades, so there’s no question that you’ll find a perfect match for your skin tone.

Supergoop!*

Unseen Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 40

For those still sceptical about sunscreen being easy and comfortable to wear, you’ll soon be convinced with the only brand dedicated to sun care alone. Long gone are the days of falling time and time again for promises of protection. Free of sticky grease and chalky mess, this sunscreen is designed for everyday wear and goes well under your makeup without any slippage, so everything stays in place from day to night.

Anastasia Beverly Hills

Lip Primer

Ever find yourself wondering why you need a lip primer and what it actually does? It wasn’t until we discovered ABH that we finally found priming to have a real use. It works to prep your lips to lock in moisture so they’re soft and supple and ready for even the driest of matte lipsticks. The holding power makes sure that colour wont budge for hours, so you won’t have to worry about colour bleeds or setting powder that doesn’t mix well with your gloss game.

Tarte*

Tarteist™ Double Take Eyeliner

This 2-in-1 eyeliner takes care of both upper and lower lash lines, making it one of our must-haves. You can define and contour with the pencil liner end, while the opposite liquid liner end has a precision tip that gives you a perfectly defined dramatic wing. Thanks to the Amazonian clay in the formula, it’s bold and hyper pigmented so that you won’t need to trace back and double up on coats.

Drunk Elephant*

Slaai Makeup-Melting Butter Cleanser

Just the name itself is a dream, but this luxurious buttery balm will help melt off what’s left of your makeup on your face. It’s gentle enough for even the most sensitive of skin, but tough enough on makeup, oil and pollutants. The fruit salad blend is a mix of soothing extracts like blueberry, kiwi and strawberry; and replenishing extracts like cranberry, açai oil and watermelon seed that are nice to the skin — and it smells deliciously sweet. Happily, this product will make makeup removal a step in your regime that’s actually feel-good instead of must-do.

Olaplex*

Hair Perfector No. 3

If you’ve been sceptical about putting oil in your hair, we’re with you but trust us: Once you try Olaplex, you’ll be converted into a true believer. Ironically non-greasy, the No. 7 Bonding Oil instantly gives your locks a lustrous shine and softness, not to mention a punch of vibrancy for those of us who have had a colour job.

First Aid Beauty

Coconut Water Cream

A continuously trending ingredient for beauty brands (and for all the good health reasons, too) with super-hydrating, antioxidant, anti-ageing properties — the list of benefits goes on. At FAB, they’ve taken this thirst-quenching elixir and formulated a lightweight, hydrating, water-based cream to keep skin supple all day long.

Farmacy*

Honey Drop Lightweight Moisturizer

Farmacy is the farm-to-face skincare range that uses cutting-edge science and natural ingredients and is huge on sustainability. Their Honey Drop Lightweight Moisturizer has made it on our list of new favourites because it’s packed with antioxidant-rich honey, hyaluronic acid and golden cupuaçu butter beads. That good feeling should extends beyond the surface of your skin, knowing that all ingredients are farmed locally and the packaging is made from renewable raw materials.

Nudestix*

Nudies All Over Face Colour Bronze + Glow

As the name implies, Nudestix is the way to go for a nude look, but better. The crayon-style formula makes it impossibly easy to apply: One end of the stick is the balmy formula, while on the other end is a brush applicator for blending. It’s sheer, it’s buildable, it’s long-lasting and can triple as a blush, contour or highlight.

Huda Beauty

Rose Gold Remastered Palette (HK$550)

We all know Huda from YouTube, or at least from her custom false lashes that catapulted her into one of the leading brands in the beauty industry. Since her first launch in 2013, she’s come a long way, and not only are her lashes constantly out of stock, but so is our favourite eye palette, Rose Gold Remastered. The 2.0 version of the original palette consists of 18 shades (mattes, metallics and pressed pearls) that can work alone or harmoniously together creating any subtle or dramatic, day or night look. The high pigmentation means that it’s easy to pick up and blend out, too.