Bliss Out
Just because it’s a recession, that doesn’t mean you have to deny yourself a little luxury. Here are some springtime spa deals for a steal.
Glycolic Peel
The Danne Youthgul Glow facial ($980 for 90 minutes) is an intensive treatment that’s hardly comfortable, but results are dramatic. After a barrage of treatments, including a detoxifying mask, a fruit acid peel and a constricting face pack that’s said to lift sagging neck and facial muscles, the skin feels delicate and refined.
The Jasmine Room, 15/F, The Loop, 33 Wellington St., Central, 2522-8353
A few years ago, Botox was all the rage. Here was a new wonder drug, that with a few quick punctures to the forehead, froze wrinkles and shaved years off without having to undergo an invasive facelift. Soon, everyone from secretaries to housewives were trotting down to get it done during their lunch break.
Is Botox going out of fashion? Sarah Fung and Stephanie Gaynor explore the alternative methods of turning back the clock.
How does it feel?
Johannes Pong grits his teeth and gets a boyzillian.
Men: pay attention, because this is a very important distinction that you need to be aware of when getting a wax. A “bikini” is not just about the errant hairs that spill out of your Speedos when it comes to waxing for men. It’s a Brazilian. The Full Monty. I was sadly unaware of this fact when I booked myself in for a wax at Nude waxing boutique in Central.
Health news and reviews with Sarah Fung.
It’s a jungle out there. Not to the untrained eye, perhaps, but Hong Kong’s urban areas are surprisingly rich with animal and plant life, proof that nature can still thrive in a seemingly hostile urban environment. Some—such as the sulphur-crested cockatoo and the rhesus macaques—were introduced to our city by humans, and have been forced to survive in an unfamiliar environment. Others—such as the civet cat and the wild boar—were here first, and have had to adapt to our intrusions in order to live.
When times are tough, it’s helpful to remember that life in Hong Kong has a tendency to persist despite the odds. Take inspiration from these critters, who have been eking out a living in our urban jungle for centuries.
Of all the plant life that can be found in Hong Kong, the wall trees that grow on stone walls in areas such as Kennedy Town and Hollywood Road are by far the most striking. “Wall trees are mostly banyans, as their roots are very strong. No other trees are able to adhere to a wall like banyans do,” says C.Y. Jim, professor of Geography at Hong Kong University. He is the foremost authority on wall trees in Hong Kong and has been campaigning for their preservation for many years.
Wall tree expert CY Jim explains how our miraculous banyans manage to thrive on old retaining walls.
Object of Desire
Crowning Glory
Health news and reviews by Sarah Fung.
Estee Lauder Nutritious Vita-Mineral Makeup
Though Estee Lauder’s new range of mineral makeup comes in powder form, there’s also a liquid formulation for traditionalists. Both offer sheer coverage, are ideal for dry and greasy skin, and are enriched with vitamins and pomegranate extract. Both products stay put for up to eight hours and are especially suited to sensitive skin.
Liquid and powder, $280 each, from Estee Lauder, 1078, 1/F, IFC Mall, 8 Finance St., Central, 3188-9313
Makeup—in one form or another—has been around since the emergence of early man, and since that time, it has continued to evolve, underpinning the collective mood of each era. From the milky-white pallor of Elizabethan nobility to the neon-bright peacocking of the decadent 1980s, makeup says something about every society’s place in time.
With mineral makeup causing a stir thanks to its great coverage and skin-friendly formulations, it looks like the future of foundation is set in stone, writes Sarah Fung.
How Did It Feel?
Sarah Fung tries out the Eve Lom facial at the Mandarin Spa.
This week: New York’s hottest facial and the secret to a buffed bottom.
