Think pink
Gucci salutes Asian chic and sensuality with its latest fragrance Eau de Parfum II ($345/30ml). It is an ultra feminine scent. Although on the sweet side, it is saved from being sickly by fruity notes of mandarin and bitter orange and a musky mix of jasmine and cedarwood. It was launched exclusively on Monday at Lane Crawford Times Square and Canton Road and will be available from Gucci counters from Tuesday.
It's a kinda magic
Having given the world such skin saviours as top-of-the range La Prairie creams, the Swiss have developed another range of 'miracle' products for faces that aspire to be fabulous. The Magic series by Cosmetics Concept of Switzerland claims to firm, hydrate, brighten and smooth skin as well as neutralise free radicals and even out the complexion. Now available in Hong Kong from certain branches of Watson's, the Dream Face Skin Centre (tel: 3428 3038) and Modern Classic (tel: 2566 2419), the series includes Aqua Magic ($225), a water-based gel-cream that should be applied under moisturiser for extra hydration, and Magic Ampoules and Solvent ($1,380 for four). The latter involves mixing the liquid contents of a small plastic bottle with those in a glass vial, which isn't as fiddly as it sounds, and should be massaged into face, neck and decolletage twice daily for several months. Results aren't instant but fans swear by it.
Buttering up
When it comes to new products, The Body Shop is going hell for leather. The latest range to hit its shelves is for bath and body and takes its inspiration from the texture, ingredients and fragrance of the brand's best-selling Body Butter collection. As well as the original Body Butter line-up of brazil nut, coconut, grape seed, mango and melon seed, the new range, whose mantra is 'Shower. Scrub. Butter', features papaya, which is making its debut as a lead ingredient. It smells wonderful and is designed to help moisturise and condition the skin. Products available in all the Body Butter flavours include bath and shower creams ($65) and gels ($55), dry oil mists ($98) and the all-new lip butters ($58). These nifty little pots of balm are super rich and tasty to boot - ideal for soothing sun-dried lips or for use as a night treatment to guard against the drying effects of air-conditioning. From all branches of The Body Shop.
