A Hirsute Return

March 31, 2017 / by China Daily

The world is celebrating a resurgence – of facial hair. On Glamour’s 100 Sexiest Men 2017 list, eight of the top ten guys are at various stages of bearded-ness. Though the smouldering billionaire Christian Grey in the movie Fifty Shades of Grey and its recent sequel Fifty Shades Darker is clean-shaven on screen, the real-life Jamie Dornan, who topped this year’s list, has a healthy set of whiskers. Of course, there are various styling considerations when it comes to growing a beard. Check out a few of the sexy gentlemen from the top of the list – and the popular styles they’ve been sporting:

Images: John Phillips/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images/AFP (James McAvoy, Jamie Dornan); Frederick M Brown/Getty Images North America/AFP (Aidan Turner); Captain Fawcett Limited; Tom Ford; freepik.com (illustrations)

Cat Got Your Eye?

March 31, 2017 / by Charlotte Ligiée

Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe, Maria Callas and Amy Winehouse all made the cat eye part of their signature look. From street style to the runway, there’s no such thing as mere eyeliner when it comes to seducing at first sight. 

Kim Bourhila, a Paris-based make-up artist for Shu Uemura, raises the eyeliner level to the art of calligraphy. “I love to do cat-eye make-up because it dramatically transforms one’s eye expression,” he says. “Eyeliner is something you can endlessly play with to create all kinds of looks: natural, dramatic, graphic, artistic… Once you master it, the sky’s the limit.”

“It’s true that applying eyeliner can be challenging at the beginning, but mastery comes with practice, “says Bourhila. “No need to sit for hours on the make-up chair to get a lovely cat eye.” He adds, with a knowing smile: “And don’t aim for perfect symmetrical lines, or you may go crazy and run the risk of ruining everything.” 

About Kim Bourhila

A make-up artist for Shu Uemura for more than 15 years, he is the only French “Shu Ari” (Shu Uemura artistic make-up master). In 2006, he won a worldwide Shu Uemura beauty competition with his make-up creation Bird of Paradise. Bourhila has also worked backstage at numerous fashion shows for brands such as Hanae Mori, Sonia Rykiel, Cacharel and Chantal Thomass. One of the fondest memories of his career was doing the make-up for his favourite star: Madonna. 

Get inspired by these dazzling, timeless looks, including five Kim Bourhila favourites that he’s drawn for us here. 

Beach Beauty

June 24, 2016 / by Bei Li

This summer, the fresh-faced, glowing beach-babe look is key. From UV protection sprays to barely-there liquid blusher, it’s never been easier to get the perfect look while saving your skin.

Perricone MD offers an array of beach-ready products. The No Bronzer Bronzer and No Foundation Foundation offer top coverage, perfect when combined with the brand’s No Mascara Mascara and No Lipgloss Lipgloss. 

Supergoop presents the Shine-On Lip Screen, with a soft-shine top coat and SPF50 protection. The CC Cream has mineral UV protection, evens the complexion and prevents clogging, while the Setting Mist ensures your make-up lasts all day. 

Origins Mega-Defense SPF45 Daily UV Defender is the brand’s first 100% chemical-free sunscreen, while the Mega-Defense Barrier Boosting Essence ups the skin’s moisture barrier. After the beach, try the Original Skin Retexturizing Mask or the Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask. 

Dior cosmetics are always a treat and the Diorskin Nude Air range is designed with a subtle, lightweight look in mind. For an eye-catching gaze this summer, try Dior Addict It-Lash mascara and eyeliner in striking pink, blue, purple or black. 

Make Up For Ever is renowned for its bold, bright colourways. The brand’s Aqua XL long-lasting waterproof eyeliner comes in hues from iridescent pop purple to matte pastel blue, while the Artist Acrylip in fuchsia is a bold choice. 

Up-and-comer Kohl Kreatives offers a range of matte liquid lipsticks. From Beijing Bliss in nude and Shanghai Scene in coral to Hong Kong Heat in deep red and Macao Mania in dark purple, all lipsticks in the China Silks Collection contain silk protein. 

The MAC Tendertalk lip balm collection ranges from baby pink to purple, while the compact has SPF50 protection and can be applied using the brand’s sleek fibre square brush. 

The latest Watercolour highlighting products by Daniel Sandler come in golden glow and rose glow. They’re blendable and water-resistant, so if you want a wash of colour on your cheeks or a gleam on your eyelids, these shades will have you looking good all day long. 

Images: Dior; Daniel Sandler; R+Co; Sachajuan; MAC; Origins; Make Up For Ever; Perricone MD; Sulwhasoo; Supergoop; Versace

Easy Breezy

May 27, 2016 / by Bei Li

Aplethora of men’s grooming products are currently on offer for the stylish, well-kept gent around town. From enticing, sleek scents to a variety of rejuvenating and hydrating skincare products, you’re sure to be covered for summer.

Let your cologne do the talking with a selection of the season’s key men’s scents. Drawing on the world of British motoring for inspiration, Dunhill’s Icon is a perfect choice for the sophisticated urban gent, with its take on classic masculine values. The scent includes ingredients sourced from all over the globe, perfect for the jet-setting man of the world. 

For those looking for a scent evoking the great outdoors, look no further than Dior Sauvage. Fresh and vibrant, the cologne bursts with natural ingredients; top notes include the extremely fresh Reggio di Calabria bergamot. Meanwhile, Chanel Allure Homme Sport is a highly sophisticated, fail-safe cologne – and you can take the scent into the bath with the line’s Allure Homme Sport Shower Gel, which is invigorating, refreshing and perfewct for freshening up after the gym.

A thorough skincare routine is essential for the dapper gent, and the Kiehl’s line of male products address every facial and shaving need. The Facial Fuel Energizing Face Wash removes impurities and gives skin a much-needed fresher and healthier look. Building on the popularity of the brand’s Facial Fuel Energizing Moisture Treatment – its first treatment specifically for men – the Facial Fuel Anti-Wrinkle Cream helps reduce fine lines and improve facial firmness, combatting signs of ageing or tired skin; it’s a great choice to use at night after cleaning your face. 

Another anti-ageing skincare option that’s specifically for gents is Profile. The brand offers a full range of toxin-free products including the Recharge Age Combating Serum, Lift Anti-Gravity Moisturizer, Revive Under Eye Rescue and Action Rehydrating Cleanser. Profile was launched by the perpetually young-looking 52-year-old actor Rob Lowe, who has also unveiled the brand’s inaugural fragrance, 18 Amber Wood. 

Perricone MD takes a holistic approach to skincare by promoting an anti-inflammatory diet with nutritional supplements and advanced skincare. Some of the brand’s signature products include the Re:Firm skin-smoothing face treatment and the OVM serum, a dermatologist-grade anti-ageing compound. Products come in old-fashioned glass apothecary bottles and are a welcome addition to any bathroom counter.

Try something different with your haircare regimen and give perennial salon favourite Bed Head by Tigi a shot. The brand’s men’s line features bath products including the Charge Up Thickening Shampoo and Conditioner, as well as a range of styling pomades such as Slick Trick and Power Play. 

Images: Profile; Chanel; Dior; Dunhill

Good Enough to Eat

December 22, 2015 / by Bei Li

An innovative new breed of skincare is making waves in the mainstream beauty world. Natural and organic beauty products may have been on the lips and faces of those in the know for a while now, but this new concept shows that beauty has never been so healthy. 

The products from Australian skincare brand Edible Beauty are literally good enough to eat. Edible Beauty takes an innovative approach to ingredients rather than relying on chemicals found in traditional skincare; fermented radish root is used as a preservative instead of alcohol, while rice is used as an exfoliator instead of extremely harmful plastic microbeads. The brand’s Core Four range includes a milk cleanser, a fig and bilberry hydrating mist toner, a kakadu and Davidson’s plum anti-ageing serum, and a vanilla silk hydrating lotion.

Lhamour is a new skincare label from Mongolia, whose beautifully designed packaging hides a wealth of rich and healthy ingredients inside. The brand uses local ingredients and includes oils such as sea buckthorn oil, which is made from dried sea buckthorn fruit and is a great anti-ageing option. Goat’s and yak’s milk feature in a range of handmade soaps and bath bombs, while goat’s tail is perfect for extremely dry skin due to its moisturising benefits. 

New Zealand is renowned for its wealth of locally sourced natural ingredients, which skincare brand Oxygen draws on for its full skincare range aimed at women and teens alike. Organic extracts such as aloe, avocado oil, kiwi fruit and raspberry water offer alternatives to chemicals, while manuka honey forms the base of Oxygen’s purifying facial masque, which also uses botanical actives, natural aromas and organic hops to restore suppleness, moisture and radiance for all skin types. 

US brand Intelligent Nutrients offers organic skin, body and haircare options packed with food-grade ingredients. The new OneBody range features products for the whole body, such as the Fruit Bioactive Science OneBody Refiner, which uses fruit bioactive enzymes and willow bark to rejuvenate skin, while coffee extract opens pores to receive optimum nourishment. The PureServe range is the world’s first organic colour-saving shampoo, conditioner and hair shield; it uses brown algae, tilia and quinoa plant bioactives. 

Parents can also pamper their babies with organic choices, thanks to British brand Little Butterfly London. Britain’s first organic-certified luxury skincare range for babies, the label also offers a range of skincare options for mothers. Products are full of healthy oils; the revitalising day cream and body lotion is infused with mandarin and orange pure essential oils, as well as moisturising cucumber seed oil, papaya, peach and apricot kernel oil.

Images courtesy of Edible Beauty, Intelligent Nutrients, Lhamour, Little Butterfly London, Oxygen Skincare

Makes Scents

October 30, 2015 / by China Daily

How would you characterise the olfactory world of Prada?

Prada fragrances aren’t driven by consumer testing, so the emphasis is on exploring fragrances that suit the unique identity of the brand. Working at Prada is definitely an environment that favours invention and creativity – and there is a culture of free-spirited innovation that extends to all its fragrances. 

What was your initial idea for the Les Infusions de Prada collection?

The idea was to further explore fragrances that evoke the customs of luxurious, old-world perfumeries and question our memory of the past, all while juxtaposing this with a new, unexpected and forward-looking world view of Prada. 

Could you talk about Prada’s interpretation of infusion?

The key word in the question is “interpretation”. Traditionally, infusions were a process to dissolve the principal elements of raw material in alcohol over a period of several months. In creating the Les Infusions de Prada collection, we took the idea – and the word – “infusion” as a starting point to inspire us to explore entirely new concepts in perfumery. We developed a perfume formula that would give the impression that a flower had been infused in water. 

From a chemical perspective, how did you go about creating space and lightness between the stronger notes in each of the fragrances?

All the fragrances in the collections have something in common: I made a common base, which I call the “spirit of infusion”. It’s the perfect temperature of water in which to put the refined formula of the ingredients. By putting the formula in this watery surrounding, it allows the fragrance to come and go – to develop this sense of subtle airiness. And, of course, the notion of the spirit of infusion acts as the ideal metaphor for being infused in the spirit of Prada.

Why did Prada choose to expand on an existing collection, rather than start a new one?

It made sense to further explore and reinterpret Les Infusions because they represent something unique in the world of contemporary fragrance. As a range of six different olfactory propositions, it makes the whole collection more coherent, more diverse and more of an ensemble that can be added to in the future.

What makes Les Infusions different from other fragrances?

Because of the way they’re created, you’re aware of an impression of the ingredients; you’re not overwhelmingly fragranced and there’s something very subtle, yet obviously present. You smell these infusions in a very airy way – it’s not overpowering – and there’s a connection between the person smelling it and the person wearing it. It’s fragrant, yet you can still smell the person’s skin. That’s a different way of presenting freshness in perfumery: it’s not like a cologne, which is sparkling and then gone. This collection evokes a watercolour that stays on the skin and evolves around you like a tender veil. 

Are the fragrances blended to be used one at a time or to be mixed?

Each fragrance stands apart. They are not meant to be mixed.

Bling Beauty 

August 28, 2015 / by Bei Li

Diamonds are no longer just a girl's best friend because they look good. They, along with other exquisite jewels and precious metals such as pearls and platinum, are increasingly also valued for their beauty-enhancing qualities when applied directly to the skin, with the emergence of a new generation of creams, lotions and elixirs.

Skincare brand Trésor Rare, for instance, is renowned for its unique range created with only the most exclusive luxury ingredients, such as diamonds, pearls, sapphires and gold. The brand offers an extensive product range targeting anti-ageing and hydration, including the Express Tightening Lifting Mask (HK$10,880), which combines plant extracts, gold, diamonds and pearls; and the BX-Skin Relaxor Thermal Mask (HK$14,900), which boasts an equally impressive list of ingredients including 24-karat gold, diamonds, pearls, sapphires and rare plant extractions such as plant stem cells and myrtle. 

The key ingredient in Chantecaille’s Nano Gold Energising Cream (HK$3,255) is 24-karat gold particles; they boost collagen production and skin-cell regeneration for youthful skin. Paris based anti-ageing expert Orlane also turns to 24-karat gold for its signature Crème Royale line. Orlane’s exclusive Royal Jelly treatment includes the Elixir Royal (HK$5,000), which detoxifies and energises the skin while preventing it from slackening.

Cult Swiss skincare brand La Prairie has used platinum, one of the world’s most precious metals, to create its eponymous collection. The Cellular Cream Platinum Rare (HK$9,294) rejuvenates and boasts anti-ageing benefits such as line and wrinkle reduction.

No elite skincare routine would be complete without matching luscious lashes. Krē•āt beauty’s artisan hand-foiled false eyelashes come in 24-karat gold (HK$2,286) or a combination of 0.2-karat diamonds set on 18-karat gold lashes (HK$10,436).

Beauty Update

May 29, 2015 / by Scarlett Thomas

above image: Burberry Prorsum Womenswear SS15 - 50 shades of red

Au Naturel

A “less is more” philosophy is central to this aesthetic.  Think minimal and natural makeup for a leading runway look - perfect for humid climates.  Clear, clean skin is king here and aims for high-shine rather than a matte powdered look.  Marc Jacobs celebrated bare-faced beauty, and at Proenza Schouler a mere swipe of concealer and the models were runway-ready. 

Bright Eyes

Bold and bright eyes are statement-makers this season. Dramatic eyeshadows and vibrant eyeliners are the go-to products for this look.  Pair this with a nude, clear lip to make sure all eyes are on you. Whether a heavily smudged rock star look à la Tom Ford, or the glitter a go-go look seen at Ashish, this season it’s definitely all about the eyes.

50 Shades of Red

The classic red lip is never too long out of the fashion spotlight and this season it comes in a plethora of shades of red. Models at Burberry Prorsum were striking in scarlet, while Dolce & Gabbana’s lipstick look embraced deeper and more romantic berry hues.

Hidden Treasure

This season sees all sorts of precious items nestled in hair or adorning hairstyles. Models at Valentino decorated their loose waves with delicate golden seashells; while Céline’s circular barette hair clips were simply sublime. 

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