Absinthe Hand Care Products from The Body Shop, Chocolate and Rose Pedicure at the Mandarin Salon and Australian Active Wear Lorna Jane
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A Toast to Absinthe
It is strange that in germphobic Hong Kong, we have such a paltry selection of hand sanitizers. It seems that they’re basically available in a rather clinical hospital-esque scent, and that’s about it. What I wasn’t expecting though, was for The Body Shop to launch a line of absinthe (yes, the hallucination-inducing, highly alcoholic spirit that’s more commonly found in French lounges than in beauty lines) hand care products. It seemed like a weird scent to roll with, but after using it for a couple of weeks, I have to say that I love it. The wormwood scent is light, fresh and quite unplaceable—better than boring old lemon/lavender/whatever—and in addition to sanitizing your hands, the whole line is designed to neutralize (the hand wash) or disguise (the sanitizing gel) odors. If you’re like me and hate being unable to scrub the smell of food off your fingers after a messy meal, then you’ll want to sweep up the entire collection. There are four products to choose from: hand wash ($139), hand gel ($59), hand cream ($69/$169, S/L) and a richer hand butter ($189). All available at Body Shop outlets citywide, including 101-2, 1/F, Man Yee Arcade, 68 Des Voeux Rd., Central, 2259-5266.
Toeses are Roses
I'm counting down the days until I get to try the Mando’s Chocolate and Rose Pedicure, which the venerable hotel—celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, might I add—is putting on as a Valentine’s Day-through-to-just-after-Easter special. Buy me this over an Easter egg any day. The 75-minute treatment at the Mandarin Salon begins with either a glass of rose or a hot chocolate—my first instinct is to go for the wine, but I bet the Mandarin’s hot choc is to die for—while you soak your feet in a rosewater and rose petal footbath. Once you’re good and relaxed, the therapist then scrubs your feet with a concoction made up of chocolate, sugar, roasted cocoa and almond oil, followed by a massage using a rose-scented lotion. After all that, your nails are shaped, filed and painted. Now, a 60-minute body massage at the Mandarin Spa usually hovers at around the $1,000 mark, so I reckon that a 75-minute foot treatment at $525 is a pretty good deal, all in all. Book ASAP as it’s sure to be popular. Available at the Mandarin Salon, 5 Connaught Rd., Central, 2522-0111.
She Works Out
Australian active wear label Lorna Jane has just arrived at Escapade Sports, giving Hong Kong gym bunnies even more options for looking hot while staying fit. In addition to flattering cuts in a selection of cool colors, Lorna Jane uses its own trademarked fabric, which it claims is shrink- and fade-resistant, quick-drying, moisture-wicking, breathable, durable, etc. Sounds like a better option than my gross old running shorts at any rate. The product range changes depending on which outlet you visit, but expect bootleg yoga pants, running tops, sports bras and other fitness wear essentials. Available at Escapade Sports outlets citywide, including 1/F, Yee Hing Building, 19 Leighton Rd., Causeway Bay. Hotline: 2891-1855. www.escapade.com.hk.
