Goodies Gracious Me
I bring you yet more green beauty shopportunities with the launch of another shiny new Hong Kong e-store, Oh My Goodies. Dedicated to products that inspire mindful healthy living, Oh My Goodies is currently home to two boutique natural beauty brands: Ania from Singapore, and Conscious Coconut from the States. The selection is pretty small right now with only five products available, but they look like they’re good ‘uns; Conscious Coconut’s travel-sized tube of certified-organic, cold-pressed coconut oil is a multi-tasking marvel (its suggested uses include lip balm, make-up remover, body moisturiser, shaving cream and cuticle treatment), whilst Ania’s similarly all-natural African-inspired range includes a lightweight Argan Hydrating Cream and refreshing Rose Immortelle Facial Mist.
Products range from $185-300; shipping in Hong Kong is free for orders over $400 ($40 otherwise), www.ohmygoodieshk.com.
All Thai-ed Up
Ring in Songkran, aka Thai New Year, with the Thai Songkran Spa Retreat at Hotel ICON’s Angsana Spa. This indulgent treatment includes an invigorating 30-minute Thai perfume body scrub (plus a fabulous rain-style shower in your spa suite) that leaves your skin feeling insanely silky-smooth; then it’s onto a super-relaxing 60-minute fusion body massage, which melts away all manner of aches, pains, stiffness and stress thanks to a potent blend of Thai and Swedish massage techniques. I’d been suffering with some persistent muscular niggles and twinges over the past few months, which magically melted away thanks to the healing hands (and some nifty assisted stretching!) of my therapist. Factor in some soothing cups of ginger tea and Angsana Spa’s lovely tranquil vibe, and this was the most relaxed I’ve felt in months.
Thai Songkran Spa Retreat costs $1,200 and is available until April 30. Angsana Spa, 9/F, Hotel ICON, 17 Science Museum Rd., Tsim Sha Tsui East, 3400-1052, www.hotel-icon.com.
Moroccan Magic
We’ve all heard by now about the miraculous properties of Moroccan argan oil – but the Middle Eastern country actually has plenty of other skincare saviours up its sleeve. You might have spotted Nectarome goodies at some of the city’s pop-up fairs in the past, but thanks to their new Hong Kong e-commerce site Close2Origin, it’s easier than ever to get your mitts on their lotions and potions, including their signature soothing Orange Blossom Water, revitalising Honey & Rose Mask, exfoliating Lavender Mineral Salts… and yes, of course, certified-organic argan oil. The whole range is based around traditional Moroccan beauty recipes and ingredients, which have been reworked with modern scientific know-how, without the addition of parabens, paraffin, phthalates and toxic solvents. Cruelty-free, the brand is also committed to providing work opportunities for women from Morocco’s Ourika region.
Products range from $280-580; shipping in Hong Kong is free for orders over $500 ($40 otherwise),
www.close2origin.com.
