By Rachel Read
Buly for You
Who doesn’t love a good comeback story? French beauty brand l’Officine Universelle Buly was originally founded back in 1803 – and following a successful revival in 2014, they’ve just opened their first store in Hong Kong on Wyndham Street. The place is drop-dead gorgeous too, with high ceilings, tiled floors and wooden cabinets stuffed full of exciting lotions and potions. In-keeping with its heritage, the brand is totally cruelty-free and focuses on raw, natural ingredients. Our top picks are their stunning perfumes, which are water rather than alcohol-based and feel almost like exquisitely-scented body lotions; their extensive range of pure botanical oils; and their purifying powders, which you simply mix with water to create your own mask or scrub. Half Hogwarts, half cathedral to beauty, we can’t wait to go worship at Buly on a regular basis.
Perfumes cost $1,500 for 75ml, oils $250-980 for 50ml, powders $150-420 for 100g.
G/F, 20 Wyndham St., Central, 2191-9005,www.buly1803.com.
Don’t Harsh My Melo
If your quest for pampering knows no bounds, how about a trip to the Hyatt Regency Sha Tin? Their blissed-out Melo Spa has a sweet seasonal promotion in the shape of the Melo Autumn Pampering treatment, which is based around the humble pomelo fruit.
The treatment includes an invigorating 60-minute Melo Marmalade Polish body scrub, which is prepared fresh daily and includes pomelo, honey, brown sugar, orange and lemon; this is followed by an uplifting 60-minute Melo Signature oil massage with a pomelo herbal compress. Plus, Melo Spa guests snag access to the hotel’s sauna and steam facilities as part of the package too.
Promotion runs until October 31 and costs $1,688 for two hours. 5/F, Hyatt Regency Sha Tin, 18 Chak Cheung Street, Sha Tin, 3723-1234, hongkongshatin.regency.hyatt.com.
Go Slow
If, like me, you’re a fan of life in the slow lane, then new Hong Kong e-boutique The Slow Mode will be right up your street. Amidst its carefully curated selection of artisanal labels sourced from around the globe, there are some great beauty finds from brands not available elsewhere in the ‘Kong, including Courtney And The Babes, and Vanderohe. The former is a gorgeous Aussie range of “botanical apothecary” products all infused with certified pure therapeutic-grade essential oils and healing crystals; the latter is a British organic skincare label whose signature item – the No.1 Nourishing Face Serum – is a divine blend of organic essential oils with heaven-sent healing and restorative properties… and after just a few weeks, my skin is already well and truly addicted. Taking things slow never felt – or smelt – so good!
Beauty products range from $195-860, www.theslowmode.com.
