Beauty: PREP
In an ideal world, we'd all have radiant skin at the time of the big Christmas party. But the reality is that with all the year-end stress, late nights and new vices that we've picked up, our skin gives up before the first carol is sung. With a few weeks to go until party season, take a breather from your hectic schedule and hit the spa for an hour or two to get yourself back on track.
For problem skin, we recommend Luxus Beauty spa's Ainhoa Luxe Gold & Vitamin C Refreshing and Nutritive Program (HK$1,680/90min). The products used in the treatment contain caviar extract, gold and vitamin C, which help to refresh the skin (vitamin C), improve elasticity and minimise pores (caviar extract) as well as increase micro-circulation to oxygenate facial tissue (gold).
The treatment includes a thorough cleansing, gentle peel, facial massage with the Luxe Gold Day & Night Cream (not the regular massage creams that some spas use for facials), as well as a Collagen Biomatrix Vitamin C Mask, which is hydrated with facial tonic and left on for 20 to 30 minutes. The treatment finishes up with a shoulder and chest massage, then the mask is removed and Luxe Gold Eye Essence is lightly massaged on to the eye area while the Luxe Gold Day & Night Cream is applied to lock in moisture. A needle extraction is also available as part of the package. Though not for the squeamish, the extraction works wonders on facial acne.
Meanwhile, for those who want to both feel good and do good, Chuan Spa is offering a new Organik Integrity treatment (HK$1,580) that is '100 per cent pure, 100 per cent chemical free and 100 per cent ethical'. Launched last month, the two-hour treatment uses ingredients that are certified organic, free of synthetics and not tested on animals. All core products used were created through hydro and wind energy.
This environmentally-friendly treatment starts with a facial, which includes a clay peel, warm honey exfoliating mask and a hydrating massage that finishes with a flax serum application. This is followed by a full-body body polish, body wrap, hot-stone application to relax the muscles and finally a scalp massage.
Beauty: GOODIES