chicest packaging – armani cosmetics November 29, 2006

When it comes to make up or skincare, I generally avoid product lines from clothes designers. After all, I don’t expect bobbi brown to start designing cocktail dresses, so why should Armani be a credible make-up line?

But after reading a review of Armani’s sheer cream  blush, I thought I’d give it a shot. The blush is hard to apply – it’s not really creamy at all. But once it’s on, it looks good – sheer like a powder but it stays put. Plus they have some really nice shades to choose from.

I was so carried away, I bought an eyeshadow and lipstick too. But the best part is by far the packaging. Matt black with a floral applique on the outside. Both the blush and eyeshadow have mirrors inside which is always a nice touch. Very modern and classy.

murad eye cream November 29, 2006

I never bothered trying Murad before. I confess it was probably the boring packaging that threw me. Their new, fresh look should generate some interest.

Essential Day Spa are great for throwing in samples, and in my last order they included a handful of Murad samples. I tried them all and the eye cream, in my opinion was the stand-out. I’m always looking for a new eye cream and this one has a nice texture, absorbs easily, minimises fine lines AND has an SPF (I never understood why more eyecreams don’t have SPF).

But getting Murad in Hong Kong presents another problem. No website will ship it here (due to licencing agreements, I suspect) and buying it from the salon brings a heavy mark-up. I went to the distributor who happens to be the PAUA group (who also runs Elemis and Frederique Spas). They refused to tell me who else sells Murad in Hong Kong, besides them, even though they are the sole distributor.

So what to do? At present I refuse to give in to the secretive PAUA group and buy Murad at a heavy mark-up, so I guess I’ll just stick with Strivectin for now.

in search of the perfect mascara November 27, 2006

All I want is a mascara that goes on smooth, makes my lashes look great and doesn’t clump. Does any of that sound beyond the limits of what a mascara is supposed to do?

My favourite mascara is “false eyelashes” from Prescriptives but that is not available in Hong Kong. So the search went on. I tried Bobbi Brown’s “lash glamour” in the silver tube, but that brush made nothing but clumps. Finally I bought Shu Uemura’s new Fibre Xtension which is fabulous. Big bushy brush gives lots of volume and coverage.

Highly recommended.

yonka gommage – unclog your skin November 27, 2006

I’m a big fan of Yonka products ever since they were used in my first facial 13 years ago. I use quite a few of the products and I swear by them.

Gommage is one of my favourites, especially since the pollution in Hong Kong has become worse. It is a clarifying gel, not a scrub, so it is gentle enough to use 2-3 times a week. You simply spread a thin layer on your face, wait a few minutes, then rub it off. It’s quick and easy.

There is a gommage 303 for sensitive skin which can even be used around the eyes and gommage 305 for oily skin.

You can buy Yonka in Hong Kong from Beauty Gallery (7th floor Oriental Commercial Bldg on Lyndhurst Terrace Central (across from the HSBC) or you can order it online from Essential Day Spa in Vancouver which ships internationally (if you order over a certain amount, the shipping is free! Highly recommended).

What’s your favourite product for battling the effects of pollution?