On average we are supposed to drink two liters of water per day, but in that mix add Hong Kong humidity, and the ludicrous amount of buckets of sweat that we need to replace, piled on top of yoga, gym sessions (or hangovers..), and we are talking a unsavory amount of vile Bonaqua.  I remember the day as a newbie expat, when I had my first sip of Bonaqua,  after which I proceeded to shudder and wretch (this was probably due to the copious amount of Cosmos the night before, but let’s be honest, it is truly bitter and disgusting).  I was told I would get used to it.  Negative.  I still loathe it, try to avoid it, but thankfully I no longer chunder at the sight of it.
Of course you can buy Evian, but wouldn’t it be nice to have good old fashioned tap water.  I can hear my Father now… ,”Tap water doesn’t harm anyone…”…  Er actually Dad, it does.
With many types of bacteria and chemicals found in tap water, its best not to drink it, so we don’t have a choice here in Hong Kong not to drink bottled on the go.  But with most of the plastic bottles ending up in landfills, or the ocean the environmental effect from the plastics is quite devastating.

Then along came Bobble.  Oh Beautiful Bobble…Where have you been all my life?  Not only do you look good, but you do good too!  This super stylish water bottle filters straight from the bottle as you drink.  Brainchild of renowned industrial designer Karim Rashid, Bobble features an inbuilt carbon filter, which absorbs nasty chemicals and negative ions.  Genius.  The resulting filtered water tastes smooth and infinitely better than Bonaqua, and meets international water standards.

Each filter lasts 300 bottles, which is about 2 months, after that you just change the filter, fill up with tap water, and you are good-to-go!.  At HK$99, its obviously not a cheap as running into Seven Eleven, but in the long run, it works out the be more cost effective, convenient and environmentally friendly, not to mention stylish.

What not to do to Bobble.

Being lazy, I decided to pop my plastic Bobble bottle in the dishwasher.  It came out as flat as a pancake, so in a moment of panic I poured boiling water from the kettle into it, thinking it would puff back out, but poor little Bobble shrank!  Before my eyes Bobble became half the Bobble he was before.  Remarkably the filter still fit, however not much water fitted in the bottle, so he went to Bobble heaven.  Yellow Bobble is sadly missed, but has been replaced by Blue Bobble who is lovingly hand-washed daily, and is sitting happily by my side as I write.

So remember kids, take care of your Bobble and your Bobble will take care of you…

Bobbles costs HK$99, comes in 6 colours and are sold in various outlets around town including Bookazine, CitySuper, GOD and online at www.waterbobble.com

I’m naturally small framed, but I’m known as “skinny fat”  Which to you and me means that I have zero muscle on my body, and the numbers on the scale are a result of fat and skin, and a few bones. In clothes I look reasonably svelte, but come bikini season, my lithe body is revealed to be rather squishy and lumpy.  To add to this I am extremely exercise shy, and have a physical aversion to gyms, well sweating in general to be honest.  Gym clothes are horrific unless you look fabulous, which in my opinion you’re not when you embark on a gym journey.  Needless to say I have never been to a gym long enough to gain an ounce of muscle or look good in a gym kit.  In fact whenever I do go, I tend to gain weight (definitely fat, not muscle as my gym bunny friends try to persuade me it is), as I think I deserve the bottle of wine and risotto balls across the road after.

Then came Hypoxi.  I received an email asking if I would like to trial this new exercise/fat loss machine from Harrods, now in Central.  Skimming the release mentioned the words Cheryl Cole (Ugh! – but so skinny), Robbie Williams (chubby, but he does yo-yo), and Madonna (well it must be good, right?).  A little more research suggested that this machine requires minimal effort on the exercisers behalf (hurrah!), and will guarantee circumference loss, and combat fat and cellulite.  I’m a massive sceptic when it comes to anything exercise related, but anything that had Harrods, Madonna and fat loss in one sentence sparked my interest, so I decided to give it a go.
In a word, it was phenomenal.  I am now skinny, not “skinny fat” proper Cheryl Cole (Ugh!) skinny!  It worked!  In the space of a month, I lost 2.2 kilo, but more importantly 23.7cm of fat from my entire body, I even lost 1.3 cm from my extremely knobby knees!  I went from a big size 10 to a very tiny size 8, and more importantly two months later I have not re-gained it.  I’m ecstatic, even The Boy, who never comments on my weight keeps telling me how hot I am (humph, he always said I looked good, but he obviously prefers me skinny..lier!).  I just went on a beach holiday, and If I may say so myself I looked bloody fantastic!

So what is hypoxi, and how does it work?
Hypoxi is the brainchild of Austrian Dr Eggers, when, in 1998 he discovered that if he is increased blood flow circulation to a certain area, he could accelerate the rate at which the fatty acids were metabolised in that region.  One way of measuring blood flow is by testing the body temperature before and after exercise.  The better the blood flow, the better the bodies ability to burn fat in that area.  Unfortunately for us ladies, no matter how much we work out, in general our bodies find it harder to heat up in the lower part of our bodies (ie stomach, thigh and buttocks), hence some ladies doing countless sit-ups but can never get rid of the paunch.  Men’s bodies on the other hand heat up in different areas, hence them generally not having trouble losing weight on hips and thighs.  So in a quick explanation, Hypoxi works by increasing blood flow to targeted areas, which then gain temperature, and result in targeted fat loss.
What is more interesting is the background of Hypoxi Hong Kong Managing Director, Julia Lohmann.  Coming from an extremely successful background as area manager for Euler Hermes Credit Insurance, she heard about Hypoxi in her personal quest for weight-loss.  After trying the machines back in her native Germany, she was so shocked by the results that she contacted Hypoxi to bring the machines to Hong Kong.  After literally begging the company to let her be the licensee, she gave up her job, and along with her boyfriend invested their life savings into setting up Hypoxi Hong Kong. Being German therefore extremely logical, and from such an intellectual background in my mind adds more gravitas to what Hypoxi is about.  I very much doubt that someone of Julia’s caliber would have sacrificed so much for something that wasn’t amazing.  I was ready to take the plunge.

What do you have to do?

The full Hypoxi package comes in two parts.  The first part being the Hypoxi Dermology-Detox machine, which is by far the strangest thing I have ever done in my life.  You are basically vacuum packed!  You lie down on your back, whilst wearing a suit which resembles a wetsuit, with various pipes attached to your stomach.  Inside the suit there are hundreds of golf ball sized bubble chambers around your fatty areas.  The pipes suck all the air out of the suit, which strangely feels very much like being 15 feet under water in a dive suit, as you feel a gentle pressure on your entire body.  Then the ‘bubbles’ expand and contract, which as Lohmann describes as “a million Octopus giving you little kisses”.  Well I have never been kissed by one Octopus (unless you count one rather large lipped snog when I was 19), but I suppose that is a good of an explanation as any!  In 20 minutes, this skin-exercising machine is supposed to detox your blood, improve your lymphatic system and your circulation.  It is also supposed to work side-by-side with the second machine, as more circulation equals better fat loss.  Once I got over my giggle fit, (you do look extremely silly), it is rather relaxing and the light massage and pressure is extremely pleasurable.
The second part is the hard part – well not really, but after being vacuum packed, you get out of your ‘wet suit’ and move over to one of the two trainer machines. Again a rather strange experience, as over your gym kit you wear a latex skirt with a hula hoop at the bottom of it.  You then sit on an exercise bike, that is encased in a large white egg, and the hula hoop part of the skirt slots into the machine just below your bust to create an air tight compression chamber around the bike, up to your bust, (see pic above if this sounds like nonsense). The Hypoxi technician then sets the pressure depending on your weight and goals, and while you cycle, the machine gently sucks out and inflates the air in the chamber.

The Catch
So there is a small one, there had to be.  First of all, you cannot do any other exercise on Hypoxi days.  This is because all the energy has to go to the fat loss created by the machine, not by muscle building, however on the other 4 days of the week you can pump and run to your hearts content. The second catch is the recommended eating plan.  As carbohydrates burn faster than fat, you are requested to eat a high carb meal 2-4 hours before your session, to give you energy, but you are not allowed to eat carbs after, this includes alcohol.  So basically three days a week, you cant have any booze, or carbs after the session, which in my case was 2pm in the afternoon.

Verdict
So the question is, would I have lost all that fat and weight if I had not done Hypoxi and just stuck to the eating plan?  Possibly, but I if I did, it doubt it would have lasted.  I have adopted various diets over the years, and I regularly go on detox fasts, which obviously results in a bit of weight loss, but inevitably the weight always creeps back, and regardless of a few kilo here and there my body shape does not change.  However in the case of Hypoxi two months later I have not gained any more weight, not even over boozy Christmas, and I have a visibly smaller waist, stomach and bottom.

I have never felt or looked so good, and I actually feel like running down the street naked with a mega-phone screaming the delights of Hypoxi.  Don’t wont, but I would look good if I did!

How Much? SPECIAL BBHK DISCOUNT! Take 10% off these prices!

First Trial Session FREE
7.988 for 12 sessions, 7190HKD
7.438 for 24 sessions (per month) 6695HKD
6.888 HKD for 36 sessions (per month) 6200HKD

N.B Hypoxi Hong Kong reserve the right to revert or change this offer at any time.  Please mention Beauty Buzz when booking.

Where?
HYPOXI Hong Kong
8/F, EuBank Plaza
T : +852 2537 6637
F : +852 2537 6638

hypoxi@thebodybuddies.com

How much is beauty worth to you?  With most beauty products that promise amazing results costing thousands of dollars, we cant help but wonder if its worth it, or if its all a big marketing and packaging campaign?  BBHK have hunted down and tested the five best affordable beauty products in Hong Kong that will help you achieve the results you want, and leave you with enough money in your wallet for a whole night of cosmos! Hurrah!

1)  Redskin Caviar Eyemasks – approx $5-$10 per mask (you may have to order them girls, so print out this picture to take along to the store) – Sasa

BBHK recently discovered these magic Korean gems in Sasa, and we can’t get enough of them.  Depending on the quantity or any promotions, they are super cheap, but better still they are super fab. The little packet opens to reveal two cotton caviar serum infused eyemasks that sit perfectly under each eye to reduce puffiness and increase moisture to dry tired eyebags. We then rub the rest of the lotion over our neck and face.  Most of the jargon is written in Korean, so we don’t know whats in them, but as they are always sold out and have to order we are sure the locals cottoned on to this little secret a long time ago!  We place them under our eyes after cleansing and toning in the morning, then gets ourselves fashionably ready for the day, perfect our hair, peel of the eyemasks and voila our bags are gone, and our eyes are bright for the day ahead and no one knew about the eight cosmos and the few cheeky glasses of Champagne the night before!

TOP TIP:  Always keep a few sachets in the fridge for a extra chilled and turbo charged depuff!

2) Hada Labo Super Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizing Essence -HK$98 -  Mannings 

So often BBHK trawls through the local section of Watsons and Mannings to find out what beauty products the local gals are using, however with most of them being written in Chinese, we haven’t a clue what they do.  Their questionable before and after shots don’t seem to appease the untrusting BBHK eye, so we were delighted to discover this Japanese product from a Malaysian beauty blog which was singing its praises.  Apparently they sell one every 4 seconds in Japan, so we couldn’t wait to try it out, and we were really pleasantly surprised!  Hyaluronic acid is one of the active ingredients that is in many of the most expensive beauty products on the market. In a nutshell Hyaluronic acid is a moisture absorber that attracts moisture to the layers of skin that need it the most, to maintain young, plump skin.  Its one of the buzz components of uber expensive skin-care products than make beauty experts go dizzy with excitement, so imagine our surprise when we discovered for under $100HKD we could find it on our shelves here in Hong Kong!  By placing a dollar size blob on your hand and patting it for a few seconds over the face, the paste-like liquid turns rather sticky, then after a few more pats it absorbs into the skin.  Finish off with your moisturiser.  If applied before bed, the lotion will continue to nourish the skin throughout the night.  BBHK tried if for a month, and was really happy with the results.

3) Nanoblur HK$175 /30ml – Mannings
This is one of those so called miracle products that just seem too good to be true.  This little tube of lotion claims to ‘Take 10 years off your appearance in 40 seconds or less’.  The before and after shots are so extreme that they seem quite unbelievable, however the stuff is quite fabulous and more importantly, it’s cheap!  Originally developed to cover up the imperfections in the skin of Hollywood celebrities for their new worst enemy, high-definition TV (which shows every lump, bump, wrinkle and open pore in complete large clarity for the whole world to see), this elixir of youth literally plasters in all the fine lines and pores to show the illusion of perfect, poreless youthful skin.  Used either under or over your foundation, the secret to this ‘finisher’ (not a primer) is in the millions of ‘microprisms’ that reflect and ‘blur’ over your natural imperfections.  Better still its safe, contains those magic peptides and amino acids, and is free of chemicals – Parabens, sodium Laurym and Suplhate.  Interestingly the company claims that it works 4x better on Asian skin, so we are sure our local sisters will be slapping this on their faces in no time!  Too good to be true? Well BBHK doesn’t think so, but at only HKD$175, its cheap enough for you to try for yourself!

4)Snoxin Serum HK$295 /30ml Mannings
In recent years practically every skin-care brand has launched their version of a face serum, but what is a serum and why are they so expensive?  In summary a serum is the product in a skin-care range that contains the active ingredients that are supposed to be actually making a difference to your skin.  While the cleanser cleans your skin, the toner closes your pores and puts back in lost moisture from astringents in your cleansers, and the moisturiser acts as a final step to keep your skin topped up from being dry all day, a serum is then the missing link that in recent years scientists  have managed to develop to drive the active working ingredients into your skin.  Because the serums contain these pricey active ingredients such as peptides, nano-peptides, hyrolonic acid (see above) and amino acids, paired with the research and development to make these products possible, unfortunately makes them the most expensive part of your daily routine, however possibly the most important.  Until now…  According to Indeed Laboratories, makers of Snoxin serum, their potion is 4 times more effective than 10 leading department store serums which cost almost their weight in gold. Now BBHK cant verify their own tests, but by looking at the list of ingredients they do contain all the magic ingredients that are supposed to make the high-end serums do what they say on the tin.  By combining six of the most effective anti-aging peptides in their highest allowable non-prescription concentration, there is no reason why Synoxin is not as good, if not better than is more expensive counterparts.  To make your Mastercard (and the Husband) even happier, the makers suggest you use Synoxin instead of a moisturiser, saving you even more pennies.  They also claim that it works best on areas with the thinnest skin, i.e. the eyes, which is where we need it the most.  If their before/after shots are to be believed, the results are staggering.  BBHK are about to start their own 56 day trial (which is their recommended significant improvement time period), but for only HK$298, we think its worth the same risk that the uber expensive brands have to offer, but with more left in your Prada wallet!

5) NATS. Restore Cleanser HK$199 – Philip George Salon / Watsons
Now if you girls are as lazy as me, I tend to wipe my makeup off with Nivea facewipes that I keep by the bed.  Recently I was traveling through Heathrow airport when I was spot-searched and to my horror a red beacon started flashing above my head accompanied by a sobering fog horn.  Within seconds I was surrounded by a number of security personnel.  Having watched Bangkok Hilton many years ago, and numerous episodes of the harrowing Banged Up Abroad, my toes started to curl in my Jimmy Choos and I started to freak out about the true contents of the various packets of tea and After Eight mints I had smuggled into my luggage by my so-called friends.  I thought I was going to spend the rest of my life in a cockroach infested prison cell chained to a prostitute called Porn.  “Are you aware Madam that you have traces of TNT explosives on your person?” said the burly immigration officer.  “WHAT?! No!”  As my life flashed before my eyes they pulled the Nivea face wipes out of my bag and said, “Ah! These often show up as TNT on the machine, the chemical compound of the wipes mimic explosives.”  I was packed up with a smile and sent on my merry way back to Hong Kong, and needless to say I have never used those wretched wipes on my face ever again!

Finding a great affordable cleanser has always been a concern of mine, they are either super expensive or really drying on the skin, and make my eyes sting.  This new-to-Hong-Kong cleanser from NAT, does the job perfectly!  It removes all traces of make up, including stubborn mascara as well as cleaning the skin without causing any harm.   Concocted from various  pure pressed plants, flowers and herbs from plants that have known healing benefits, the NAT range is using aromatherapy at its best, with a really reasonable price.  Three Cheers!

Guerlain’s latest offering – launched exclusively at Harvey Nicks – is the latest must-have for any self-respecting dandy.

The French perfumier tell us it’s inspired by Arsène Lupin, France’s fictional gentleman thief and a favourite of Jean-Paul Guerlain, the last of the company’s family perfumers.

There are two scents on offer – Dandy, and Voyou, (scoundrel), each tailored to represent Lupin’s deceptive and contrasting character. The BBHK crew were keen to get their hands on sample, so when a suspiciously cryptic blank package arrived on the BBHK doorstep last week, it could mean only one thing… a special package from Arsène!

We sampled the Dandy variant, and it has become an instant hit among the team in the office.

Firstly, it looks sexy as hell. The 100ml bottle is presented within a thin ebony frame. The beautifully understated bottle design smacks of the reassurance only a quality perfumier the stature of Guerlain can attest.

The scent itself is equally bold and impressive. Chic and powerful. Quite unlike anything we’ve smelt for a long time. It’s a rich, dark blend of smoky leather and powdery violet. It’s peppery with a very definite bitter orange overtone. Perhaps most importantly, it really lingers. You’ll need no more than two or three sprays first thing in the morning and it will last you all day.

Lupin’s roguish side is represented by Voyou, the other half of this Excluisifs collection. In contrast, Voyou is aromatic and herbal with hints of Artemisia, coriander and piquant pepper.

Neither are cheap. At HK$1,880 for a 100ml bottle it is an investment, but it is a price reflective of the quality of the liquid the Guerlain team have produced. True to the man it’s based on, the fragrance is also hard to find – you’ll only find it at Harvey Nicks (one of just 50 outlets chosen worldwide). And if you’re still having trouble locating a bottle for yourself, just head for the huddle of suspicious-looking tall, dark, handsome, trench coat and sunglasses-wearing briefcase-carrying strangers – you’ll not go far wrong!

Delicious! So much so we have a feeling we might have a contender for BBHK’s top 10 Christmas gift guide which we’ll be revealing in the next couple of weeks. Join the mailing list here to be sent it in advance.

Note from the BBHK editor
If you are still intrigued by the Monsieur Lupin, you might be interested to read this from the UK’s Daily Mail. It seems Guerlain are not the only ones drawing their influences from the illusive gentleman thief – restauranteurs, you have been warned!

The desk of BBHK get inundated with various lotions and potions with promises of youth, perfection and glamour.  Whereas most of these do feel and smell fabulous of the skin, they tend to come with a lofty price tag to match.  But can skincare make a difference and not empty your wallet?

Australian skincare and body range NAT may have the answer.  By using pure plant extracts and aromatherapy, NAT believe they are tapping into the source of nature to combat skin problems, and create beautiful complexions.  Akin to the popular but more expensive Aromatherapy Associates range, NAT have concocted various ranges using pure pressed plants, flowers and herbs from plants that have known healing benefits.  Is it a lot of mumbo jumbo?  Well if the products we have trialed, then we would say the answer is no.

Divided into three ranges, NAT.FACE, NAT.BODY, and NAT.AROMA,  the various products have been developed to best suit the user, with ‘replenish’ for normal to dry skin, ‘rebalance’ for combination skin, ‘rejuvenate’ for dry dehydrated skin, and ‘restore’ for sensitive and fragile skin.  We tried products from the ‘restore’ range, including one of their most popular items, the Restore Serum.  This is a night serum, that can be used alone, or under a moisturiser.  Containing pure rose oil, the serum glides onto the skin, and smells divine.  They claim that the vitamins in the essential oils boost collagen while you sleep, and antioxidants help to plump up the cells for a youthful and healthy complexion.  Regardless, pure products at that price are a sure winner, and  a bargain in the BBHK books.

Cost
HKD$100 – HKD$280
Restore Serum $220

Where
Watsons (Store Locator)

Philip Georg Salon
1 Duddell St. 23rd Floor. Central. Hong Kong. Tel: 25 243 143

Why do some girls always get their own way?  No man can resist the flutter of perfect lashes, accompanied by a pearly white smile!  Here is Beauty Buzz HK’s guide to the top five mascaras in town, so you can bat you way to the top!

1. Maybelline Great Lash Mascara $TBC
This iconic mascara should be in every woman’s make up kit.  After thirty five years in the market, it is still going strong and loved by celebrities and make up artists world wide.  Maybelline Great Lash mascara is a definite staple when it comes to top mascara steals.  The non-gloopy formula seems to coat and lengthen every lash perfectly, for a pristine, natural long look.  Its also cheaper than any of the other fab five, so its a steal!  Available in a good variety of colors and shades as well.

2. Lancome Definicils $TBC
Lancome Definicils is a fabulous mascara that does exactly what is says on the tin.  The patented wand coats every separate last from tip to root, for a semi-realistic fan effect. Its uber strong formula keeps lashes in place after curling for hours, but may be a little hard for some peoples taste.   Defincils would be a hot runner for our number one spot, but the price point of the Maybelline just beat it to the post.  Available in five colors to match every outfit.

3. Chanel Inimitable Mascara $TBC
With a unique rubber wand, this mascara manages to lengthen and volumise without sticking together or clumping at all.  The regular formula is perfect for everyday, bu the waterproof version is a must have for any beach beauty that wants luscious lashes even in the water.  The only problem with this mascara is that is tends to dry out really quickly, so they only last a few weeks, however you should throw mascaras away after six weeks anyway, but who ever does that?

4. Diorshow Mascara $TBC
A classic favourite for those who favour extremely long, thick eyelashes.  Even better when applied over fakies! For the just-stepped-off-the-catwalk look, this is the mascara for you.  Can have the tendency to clump eyelashes together, so can take a bit longer to apply, as you may need to brush out clumps to separate.  Great for night out on the town!.  Available in three great colors, including a ultra-cool royal blue.

5. Clinique High Definition Lashes Brush then Comb Mascara $TBC
Beauty powerhouse Clinique came up trumps with their ingenious dual edged, high definition mascara.  The award winning product giving you a double sided wand to help coat each lash and then build and separate for the most natural look of the fab five. It is also small enough to give you a great coat on your bottom lashes too.  A wonderful wand, but can be a little time consuming. Available in two colors, black and brown.

Some mascara application tips:
1. When you pull your wand out of the tube, bend it slightly, so you have an angle. Professional makeup artist use their wands this way to get as close to the lash line as possible.
2. When you notice your mascara getting clumpy, clean off the excess by wiping your brush on a tissue.
3. If you use mascara everyday, you should toss it in about 6 weeks.
4. Don’t pump your mascara — air gets pushed into the tube, causing bacteria to harbor.
5. Don’t share mascara.
6. Don’t think you can add life to your mascara by adding water. This just makes it easier for you to get an eye infection.

There you have it.  BeautyBuzz Hong Kong’s Fab Five Mascaras.   Go ahead, bat those lashes.

1 available from Manning and Watsons.

2-5 available from Lane Crawford.

LANE CRAWFORD IFC MALL
Podium 3, ifc mall, 8 Finance Street, Central
tel: +852 2118 3388

LANE CRAWFORD PACIFIC PLACE
Level One, Pacific Place
88 Queensway, Admiralty
tel: +852 2118 3668

LANE CRAWFORD CANTON ROAD
3 Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
tel: +852 2118 3428

LANE CRAWFORD TIMES SQUARE
1 Matheson Street, Causeway Bay
tel: +852 2118 3638

Ever lost in Central, looking for a fab little place to have a manipedi, but don’t want to pay extortionate prices, or get a free fungal disease with a dodgy looking local salon?

Well Rainbow Nails might just be the place for you.  Discretely tucked away, high up in a building near H&M you will find Helen Leung and her team at Rainbow Nails.  After ten years in the industry, Helen also is the chief OPI trainer in HK, and regularly runs nail classes in her quaint little shop.

In a strict shoes-off policy, the OPI centric shop is clean, friendly relaxing and very reasonable, not to mention you will have your nails done by one of the best nail technicians in Hong Kong.

Whether you are looking for gel nails, nail art, buffing, french or just a regular manipedi, Rainbow is a fabulous little gem in the middle of the bustling city.

“My nails are always a mess, I never have time to have a manicure”
I decided to try out the O.P.I Axxium Soak Off Gel nail varnish system, not to be confused with gel nails.  With regular gel nails, you have to have quite a thick layer of gel placed on the nails, generally with extensions, with a reasonable amount of damage to the nails.  This also has to be ‘filled in’ every 3 weeks.  With the new O.P.I Axxium Soak Off Gel, it is the half-way home between regular nail varnish and gel nails.  It claims not to damage the nails so much as it is a much lighter resin, and essentially a nail varnish, it just coats your nails in a thin layer of coloured gel, so you have shiny beautiful nail polish for three weeks that doesn’t chip!

Rainbow Nails YouTube Channel – OPI Axxuim Removal/Reapplication Demonstration

I personally have very thin nails with short nail beds, and nail varnish just chips off in about twenty minutes.  I am often envious of the beautiful talons I see clawing themselves around town, but I also don’t like the idea of fake nails,  and as I spend a lot of time typing, I can’t handle long nails, so with eighteen colours to choose from, the gel nails seemed to be a fabulous idea. Imagine, beautiful shiny nails, which are stronger than usual, that will stay pristine and chip free for two to three weeks!

The process took about an hour, in which time Leung, expertly applied very thin layers of coloured gel, which were set hard with a UV lamp.  I also had a fabulous manicure, in which Helen used a scary looking electric filer to remove the hard skin.  Much to my initial hesitance, and her reassurance, it was very effective in removing the hard skin without clipping, and possibly cutting my skin.  Helen warned me that if a technician isn’t trained properly to use the electric filer, then they can cause a lot of damage, and that most people don’t know how to use them, so do be cautious when you see them pulled out in less kosher looking salons.

Due to the UV light, my nails were dry as soon as she was finished, so I could go about my day not flapping my hands around like a baby.  “O.P.I Axxium Soak Off Gel is one of our most popular treatments,’ Helen told me.  “What is so fabulous is that the colour is so shiny and vivid, and lasts for up to three weeks.  You can also paint over it with regular nail varnish if you want to change, and the nail varnish remover  doesn’t remove the gel, just the colour on top”.

I decided to put them to the ultimate test.  I was off to Phuket the next day, and as girls know, nail varnish dies a death on holiday, with sun creams and bug sprays disintegrating them, as quickly as we paint them, they quickly start to get sticky and dull.  But with the OPI Axxium Gel Nail Varnish there was no such problem.  My nails stayed as shiny and perfect as they were when I walked out of Rainbow Nails.  Three weeks later, they still looked amazing, even though they had ‘grown out’ a bit.

The Upkeep
As you cant remove the gel yourself, you have to go back to the salon to get them soaked off, or topped up, whichever you prefer.  In the nature of research I soaked them, which took about half an hour, and also comprised of a mini-manicure and buff to remove the flaked top layer of nail. This is where I personally had a bit of a problem.  As my nails are unusually thin, I did sustain a bit of damage for the procedure.  I found for the next six weeks, my nails were flaky and even more brittle than normal.  However I have had acrylic nails in the past, and the damage was no way as much as before.  Helen advised me to rub nail oil on them, and keep them painted, which I did, but I was left longing to put the O.P.I Axxium Soak Off Gel  back on.  I had my fix, now I wanted another hit.

Conslusion:
I would 100% recommend Rainbow nails and Helen for all nail treatments.  With regards to the O.P.I Axxium Soak Off Gel system, even though I had a small issue when they were removed I think it is a fabulous, but addictive product.   I would do it again, especially if I had a holiday to go on, or maybe a wedding to go to, but as I wouldn’t want to keep going back every three weeks, and it did slightly damage my nails, I wouldn’t do it regularly.   Very few people have nails as thin as mine, so I don’t think the damage would be noticeable at all.  However if you do have very thin nails like myself, do consider the constant upkeep or the damage after.  If you seem to find that you are too busy to ever get your nails done, and you are constantly embarrassed of your hands, then I think the O.P.I Axxium Soak Off Gel system might be perfect for you.

How Much?
Rainbow nails regularly have promotions and special offers for returning customers, so do join their mailing list to in informed, but at the time of going to press the cost is:
For two treatments-
Hands: was $1,150 now $1,000
Feet: was $1,550  now $1,400

Where?
Address : Unit 503, 5/F., Canton House,   54-56 Queen’s Road Central,   H.K.
Telephone : (852) 2840 0660
Website : http://www.rainbownails.com.hk/
Email : rainbownails@rainbownails.com.hk

Nestled deep in the heart of the cosmetics department at Lane Crawford lurks a hidden gem: a cluster of cocoon like pods specially designed to soothe, rejuvenate and invigorate. I went along to Pacific Place to experience pod living the Elemis way and familiarize myself with some of Elemis’s next generation retail beauty products.

As one of those people whose daily beauty routine is lucky if it includes moisturiser, the Elemis facial was something of a master-class in how one should really look after one’s face – if you want to avoid looking like a soggy beancurd sheet by the time you’re 50 that is.

As soon as I’d discarded my day-wear for a toweling robe and settled onto the comfy pod bed, we kicked off the treatment with a gentle cleanse. Rehydrating rose-petal cleanser was applied in an artfully soothing manner to help remove the build up of grot and grime from my un-loved skin. I particularly liked its delicate fragrance which, unlike many rose scented products, was not too overpowering.

After the cleanser came the application of toner and a gentle exfoliation. Sophia, the therapist, applied eye mask, face mask and lip mask (see below for details) before settling me, ready for a 15 minute hot stone massage. Ahhhhh – what bliss. I drifted near sleep as Sophia oiled my shoulders and set to work with her hot stones. I wasn’t expecting to feel so much more relaxed after only 15 minutes, but I was………zzz.

Sophia removed the mask, again using the rose-petal cleanser and applied pro-collagen marine cream, an anti-ageing treatment cream. It wasn’t too heavy, cloying or perfumed. As for its anti-ageing credentials, one session just isn’t enough to comment, but according to Elemis its anti-ageing ingredients include marine algae, gingko biloba, Chlorella, Prophyridium, Rose and Mimosa Absolutes. Quite a list!
After donning my day-wear, I walked away feeling a little bit taller (thank you the hot stones) and more energised. My face didn’t feel clogged up by the application of multiple products, but firmer, brighter and better tended than it has done in some time.

So with my critical hat on, what could have been better? Well the exfoliation could have been a little more abrasive but I suppose that’s partly a personal preference and on the plus side, I didn’t leave looking like my face had been on the receiving end of a sand storm.

End Result
The pod facials are a brilliant way of taking a little time out from the office or the shops (especially if you work or shop in Central) and treating yourself and your skin to some professional care. I liked the products and am tempted to treat myself to the rose-petal cleanser and apricot toner.
X factor

Hot stone massage. This was an unexpected treat and I encourage all you hot stone skeptics out there to give it a go.
Things you should know

A number of power booster facials are offered in the Pod, all at the HK$790 mark. Guys don’t need to feel left out either as there is a specially designed treatment to keep you looking and feeling and looking tip-top-tastic in the face department.

Helen Wrigglesworth

Costs
Facial:
Pod Power Booster facials: HK$790
Products:
Rehydrating Rose Petal Cleanser, 200ml: HK$399
Soothing Apricot Toner, 200ml: HK$399
Gentle Rose Exfoliator, 50ml: HK$365
Pro-collagen Quartz Mask, 50ml: HK$1150
Exotic Cream Moisturising Mask (applied to lips), 50ml: HK$550
Absolute Eye Mask, 30ml: HK$450
Pro-Collagen Marine Cream, 50ml: HK$1380

Where
Elemis Counter
Cosmetics Department
Lane Crawford at Pacific Place
Tel. +852 2118 3654

Elemis fans should also check out the Elemis day-spa
9/F, Century Square,  
1 D’Aguilar Street,  
Central, Hong Kong  
Tel: +852 2521 6660

Looking for a snog at the HK Rugby Sevens? Make sure your lips are in tip top shape and pucker up girls, its time it slip on something fabulous!  We’ve tried and tested lipglosses galore to find the best ones for your luscious lips.

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1 .LANCOME PARIS JUICY TUBES - $165
Since Lancome introduced the worlds first lipgloss in a tube in 2000, other companies have been vying to compete with the Mamasan of lipware -Juicy Tubes.  You just can’t beat the shine, this uber glossy lipgloss is available in a vast array of colours and tingly flavours, which are perfect to wear alone or worn over lipstick for that wow factor.  It’s still there shining up your lips like a beacon after numerous Cosmos at Tivo, and tapas at Enoteca, but do refrain from snogging the boy.  After many attempts for a bit of a smooch with gloopy lips, the boy has started to cower away from the ‘yucky mouth’.  Alas no tongue action but fabulous looking lips all night long.

2. DIOR ADDICT ULTRA GLOSS REFLECT – $200
This high tech lipgloss with multi-dimentional reflective pigments that make your lips shimmer and shine to reflect that star that you are.  The Ultra Gloss Reflect has the perfect combination of moisturiser for dry lips, combined, colour and shimmer, with the right amount of gloss without flyaway hair sticking to your lips.

3. MAC LIPGLASS CLEAR – $125

Whilst available in a ridiculously large amount of colours, our fave Mac Lipglass is in puritanical Clear.  It punches a massive punch in the gloss stakes, as you will be hard pushed to find a glossier pout than one doused in Mac LipGlass.  It adds an incredible shine on nude lips (use a nude lip-liner, no dark liner and glossy lips please girls, that is so 1990′s Morticia Adams!), looks fabulous over any number of lipsticks for extra shine, and makes matte lipstick look more sheer.  The only problem is it’s extreme stickiness.  Whilst this is the main reason is lasts so long, and you seldom need to reapply, don’t be shocked to find your hair stuck to your lips.  Mental note, don’t wear during a typhoon.

4. CHANEL LEVRES SCINTILLANTES (Glossimer for lips) – $220
For those of you who crave for shiny sexy lips, but cant stand the uber sticky high gloss gels, then this may be the perfect compromise.  It leaves a high shine, without the ridiculous stickiness of some other glosses, and if a deep colour is chosen, has a great colour intensity, and lasts an impressively long time. The shine creates a impact without being overbearing, and if sheer colours are chosen, they again shimmer with tiny particles rather than bigger glittery bits.  You might even get  snog as boys may not be so adverse your subtle sexy shimmer!   

5.LAURA MERCIER LIP GLACÉ – $170
Another favourite for the more subtle lipgloss wearers.  This lipgloss leaves the lips beautifully hydrated, and very smooth.  It almost feels like a lip treatment, rather than a cosmetic.  It doesn’t last as long as some of the others, and isn’t as high-shine as some of the others, but its non-sticky formula creates very striking and elegant pouts. Available in a variety of coverages (sheer, meduim and full) and finished (shine, sheen and shimmer), there is a choice for everyone.  We love Baby Doll and Rose depending on natural lip colour for a barely there, but sexy pout. 

All available from Lane Crawford.

LANE CRAWFORD IFC MALL
Podium 3, ifc mall, 8 Finance Street, Central
tel: +852 2118 3388

LANE CRAWFORD PACIFIC PLACE
Level One, Pacific Place
88 Queensway, Admiralty
tel: +852 2118 3668

LANE CRAWFORD CANTON ROAD
3 Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
tel: +852 2118 3428

LANE CRAWFORD TIMES SQUARE
1 Matheson Street, Causeway Bay
tel: +852 2118 3638

The company behind Perfect C are having the last laugh as their viral videos to promote their breast boosting pills hits the masses.  The videos feature a Chinese girl, who has been dumped by her ex boyfriend due to her small A-cup breasts.  She is seen recording a message to show him what he is missing, then flashing her now ample bosom.

A ‘reply’ video from her ex boyfriend is the second installment on the clever marketing idea.  The viral has already attracted more than three million hits on youtube,  the company’s website has doubled in traffic and they have received more inquiries on the product.  Its a brilliant example of how effective and cheap a marketing campaign can be, but what is it and does it work?  Check out BeautyBuzz HK next week for our review of Perfect C Breast Enhancers.