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Lots of exciting things have been happening on the beauty scene in Hong Kong recently – so here’s a quick recap for any of my fellow make-up junkies…
NEAL’S YARD REMEDIES OPENS IN HK
Much-loved UK skincare brand Neal’s Yard Remedies has finally opened a standalone store on Hollywood Road in Central.
Their products were previously available at the Eslite bookstore in Hysan Place (slightly random) but now you can get your mitts on near enough the full-range in their lovely, chilled out and actually rather spacious boutique. All of Neal’s Yards products are handmade with sustainably sourced natural and organic ingredients that are both environmentally friendly and 100% vegan… and they all smell absolutely delicious to boot! The store also sells their Herbal Tinctures, which you can dilute with water as a drink to reap all kinds of medical benefits, plus product ranges specifically for men and babies.
On my shopping list – their signature Frankincense range of moisturising lotions and potions, their super-sized bottles of yummy smelling shower gels and their Remedies To Roll set of essential oils that you can rub on your pulse points or pillow (uber relaxing Lavender for me please!). They also had some beautiful candles and gift sets that would make for great presents.
Prices aren’t too far off the UK originals (and bear in mind Neal’s Yard Remedies is definitely more on the premium skincare side of things, as opposed to stuff from your local chemist!), coming in at around $200-270 for cleansers, scrubs and hand cream, $400 for moisturisers, masks and facial oils and around $450-500 for candles and gift sets. They also have a HK specific online store, but so far it seems to be Chinese only. More goodies to add to my birthday wish list!
Neal’s Yard Remedies, 65 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong, 2155 0508
INNISFREE OPENS IN HK TOO!
More new openings… more serious damage to my wallet!
Hot on the heels of fellow Korean beauty brand Etude House, Innisfree has just opened their first stores in Hong Kong in Causeway Bay and Mong Kok. I nipped into the Causeway Bay store (right next to Forever 21) the other day, and whilst it’s more postage-stamp sized than I would like, they had a great range of quirky and fun cosmetics and skincare.
Innisfree is Korea’s “first natural beauty brand”, with an emphasis on pure ingredients found in the volcanic island of Jeju (a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site doncha’know), such as green tea, volcanic spring water and Jeju tangerines. Their packaging is also eco-friendly, using recycled materials and even tangerine skin labels!
Innisfree’s bestsellers include their olive, green tea, soybean and Jeju volcanic pore ranges – many of which come in handy little starter kits for around $200-400, whilst individual items are around the $100-200 mark. As usual, I was most taken by the nail polish – a huge range of colours, including some absolutely covetable glitters (I’m a total magpie), and only $35 a bottle! The pick n’ mix range of sheet masks and “sleeping mask” capsules (for around $25) also proved too cute to resist.
After my purchase, I was also given a membership card, including a packet full of samples – gotta love some freebies, right! Just make sure you time your visit right as so far, there have been queues round the shop to get in at both evenings and weekends.
Innisfree, Shop A, G/F, 54 Yun Ping Road, Causeway Bay; Shop G07, G/F Ginza Plaza, 2A Sai Yeung Choi Street South, Mong Kok, Hong Kong
COLLECTION COSMETICS NOW AVAILABLE IN HK
New to the HK make up scene is the UK brand, Collection Cosmetics (if you’re old like me, you might remember it as Collection 2000!). This super affordable brand makes indulging in beauty an accessible treat, as most items are under $100 (some are even around the $30 mark!).
My favourite products were the metallic cream eye shadows, which are easy to apply with just a pat of your finger and stay on all day. I have even taken on them on a beach trip and they stand up to the heat wonderfully! Try the gold shades for blue eyes and the green hue for brown eyes to really perk up your peepers! For a night on the town, swipe on a line of the glitter eyeliner just on the corner of your eyes for an instant party worthy look.
With mascaras, lip glosses, foundations, blushes, eye shadow palettes and other make-up staples all available at extremely wallet friendly prices (the Cream Puff matte lip creams are a beauty blogger fave), you can load up with zero guilt!
Available in selected Maple and Watsons stores
