If you have noticed some rather hairy faced, hirsute men wondering the streets and bars of Hong Kong this month, don’t worry, it’s not a new fandangled fashion, its all in the name of charity. Every November men round the world are growing their moustaches to raise money for prostrate cancer, hence renaming November – Movember!

The men sporting moustaches, known as Mo Bros, and their supporting and understanding ladies (known as Mo Sisters), will all be at Kila on Saturday night from 7pm competing to win the highly coverted prizes of the year. BBHK are an extremely proud sponsor, and have rallied around the beauty world of Hong Kong for some incredible prizes!

Various awards to be bestowed tomorrow night include Man of Movember, for the most money raised, Miss Movember, for the most supportive Mo Sister, Lame Mo, for the guy who just should bother growing a tash and a few more funny ones to be revealed…

So far Beauty Buzz Hong Kong partners have very kindly donated the following prizes:

The Retreat – Retreat for a Queen ($1,760) for Miss Movember category.

The most indulgent of treatments. Starting with the Chocolate Decadence body treatment and Exotic Moisture Dew Facial to infuse richness into your day. Finishing with a simultaneous manicure and pedicure to complete your day fit for a queen.

The Retreat - Retreat for a King ($1,860) for Man of Movember

This signature treatment combines everything a king requires to look and feel the best. A Deep Tissue Treatment to increase circulation and soothe aching muscles followed by our Skin IQ Facial to relax and repair.

Philip George Salon – A mens haircut ($450)

Hypoxi – 6 super fat burning mens vacunaut sessions ($3994) – for the Mo awards

When fat accumulates around the stomach area there are more than just aesthetic reasons to get back into shape. An accumulation of abdominal fat can lead to serious health problems, such as heart disease. A stomach diameter of over 88cm in women and over 100cm in men can pose a significant health risk. Training conducted in combination with a compression and vacuum therapy has been shown to eliminate stubborn fat deposits. The Vacunaut does exactly this – it attacks fat in the abdominal and hip region.

Hypoxi - 6 Hypoxi Dermology cellilite busting sessions ($1664) – for the Mo sister Awards

Beautiful, firm skin is a symbol of health and youth. What would you give to turn back the clock and eliminate the signs of aging or careless years? Just as the body needs to be trained in order to stay in top condition, so does your skin. HYPOXI-Dermology is a highly effective method for skin training. This patented technology combines vacuum cupping and compression massage to eliminate the signs of aging. The skin becomes firmer, stronger and simply looks younger.

Kettle One – Very kindly donated a bottle of their top Vodka for a prize.

Please come down and show your support to this amazing event for a great cause. It is fancy dress, and there will be prizes on the night for the best (or worst) dressed too!

When friends told me a revolution in waxing was about to land on my Hong Kong door step I simply had to give it a try.  The words ‘pain free’ and ‘chocolate wax’ were music to my ears so I promptly booked myself an appointment at the uber cool ‘Strip’ salon on Lyndhurst Terrace.  Until I stepped foot in the door I had no idea that Strip was a global waxing phenomenon with outlets in Singapore, London and New York to name a few.  I immediately felt robbed, us Hong Kong gals have clearly been missing out…..

The salon itself looks more like a shop than a beauty parlor, I actually walked right past it and had to call for directions (clearly a blonde moment!)  The interior is slick and modern giving the salon a trendy and creative edge.  On arrival I was invited to peruse a selection of after wax products ranging from ‘Ice Cream’ to ‘X’ed Out’ all aimed at preventing the inevitable in-grown hair or after wax skin irritation.  All quite gimmicky but why not make waxing light hearted and fun.

I was promptly whisked downstairs by a friendly and enthusiastic waxing technician.  I chuckled as I lay down on the bed and there above me shining in all its glory was a strip light!  Super bright and cleverly positioned to ensure that hairs could be efficiently removed from every nook and cranny!

The wax itself smelt delish, a combination of berries and chocolate…yummy.  The therapist quickly got to work by applying warm chocolate wax to my skin, after the wax set she swiftly stripped it off and to my delight the pain was minimal.  Now ladies, I am no stranger to a Brazilian, for the last 10 years therapists from all over the world have been creatively plucking and preening this delicate area and I can honestly say this was one of the least painful waxing experiences of my life.

So book yourself in and go see for yourself but make sure you set aside a good 40 minutes as the perfect landing strip cannot be rushed – it is an art.  Go on, indulge me and give Strip a try…..Victoria Beckham has!

Where
17 Lyndhurst Terrace,
Central,
tel +852 2845 0838
www.strip.com.hk

How much?
Check out the Strip menu here.

Brazilian waxing ladies – $380HKD
Boyzilian waxing men -   $500HKD

SPECIAL OFFER.  Strip is offering 50% off to first a-la-carte waxing and IPL treatments for BBHK customers until the end of August 2010

Set back in a discrete leafy lane, a few hops from Star Street lies Wanchai’s best hidden secret.  A new boutique beauty spa and nail salon set over two floors, offering fabulous OPI centric treatments and spa treatments including massages, facials and waxing Iyara Wanchai, sister to the Central escalator branch, is the new kid on the ever-growing Wanchai block, set in a surprisingly serene and relaxing location, up a cobbled stepped street, overlooking trees and greenery.

Decorated in aqua and chocolate hues, the welcoming parlour is a complete pleasure and surprise to walk into, and a definite must for lunchtime escapes  for Wanchai workers.  There cant be a better place in the area to spend a lunch break.  Bring in  a sarnie, have a pedi and feel a million miles away from the hussle and bussle of the city below.

Upstairs, the treatment rooms offer all manner of spa services such as really reasonably priced massages, slimming treatments, and waxing, and if they are anything like their mani-pedis, they should be fantastic.

I treated myself to their signature ‘spa manicure and pedicure’ which comprises of a really good exfoliating scrub and foot massage, and finished off with a splash of my favourite OPI ‘a good Man-dar-in darling is hard to find’ nail polish..  The expert staff snipped, clipped and filed my talons to perfection, buffed my tired skin with their fantastic ‘milk and honey’ Cuccio scrub, and massaged all the tension I had left away with a great foot massage.

By the time it was over, my tootsies looked and felt divine enough to step onto Cloud 9.

Cost?
Spa Pedicure $330 Spa Manicure $190

Where?
Iyara Wanchai
(Inbetween Star Street and Hopewell Centre off Queen Road East)
Wanchai
Hong Kong

Telephone: +852 2545 8637 / +852 2545 8663
Email: iyara1@biznetvigator.com
Web: www.iyarabeauty.com

Put the umbrellas away, the rainy season is over!  The hot warnings are being issued and its time to hit the beach.  Ladies get ready to unveil your non-hirsute better selves, no excuses now, put those pesky razors away, and get waxed!

With so many places to choose from, its hard to know where to go for a good wax in HK.  Asking for recommendations is always tough, because once a lady has opened her legs, and contorted herself into some rather inappropriate semi-naked positions, whist having a therapist stretch and pluck her nether regions, she seldom goes elsewhere to tryout another… There are only so many people that are SUPPOSED to be down there after all!

Personally I have the most wonderful Brazilian therapist, Renata, in London, who for the past ten years has preened and perfected the bikini lines (and dare i say ‘Backs, Sacks and Cracks) of the elite and society of the town.  She is Brazilian, and she knows how to do one better than anyone else in London.  For the past four years I have been trying to find someone comparable in HK.  The wax needs to be fast, as pain-free as possible, and efficient, two pulls at the most, with all the hairs being removed.  The stay-hard hairs should be then plucked, and the remaining ‘landing strip’ should them be trimmed to perfection.  It really shouldn’t be that hard, yet it is.

For years I have been hearing about Betty at the Mandarin, and I was lucky enough to get an appointment, as she is often booked up weeks in advance.  Betty has been a beauty therapist at the Mandarin for eighteen years, and she absolutely loves her job.  ‘I hate having a day off, I miss my clients, they are my family now… I have clients that have been coming to me for three generations, Grandmother, Mother and now Daughter,’ Betty proudly said.  She does all kinds of treatments, but she is best known for her waxing.   She can do any shape you like, with hearts, triangles and landing strips being the most popular.  She was everything I was hoping her to be.  Incredibly comforting, friendly, and professional.  At no point did I feel uncomfortable or any pain and It was all over before I knew It had began.  Perfect!

I would strongly recommend going to Betty, if you are lucky enough to get an appointment!

The Place
The Mandarin Salon
24/F Mandarin Oriental
5 Connaught Road
Central
2825 – 4800
The Treatment
Brazilian Wax by Betty
The Cost
$440