The best after-sun products are clean; they’re formulated without synthetic chemicals like parabens and oxybenzone that can harm your skin, and lightweight so they won’t clog pores, letting heat escape your body.

Choose products that are infused with natural and soothing ingredients like aloe vera, hydrating ones like hyaluronic acid and anti-oxidants such as green tea, tiger grass and sunflower oil. Formulations with a cooling effect are a big plus to help reduce inflammation, and those with ceramides are effective in locking in moisture.

Whether you’re looking for lightweight serums for everyday use, soothing creams and balms or refreshing gels, here are eight of the best clean and cruelty-free after-sun products.

See also: 6 Sustainable Sun Hats & Visors for Summer Protection

Boscia Cica Soothing Universal Cream

This lightweight, vegan gel-cream contains cica, or tiger grass, sourced from Korea, which offers antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory functions, helping soothe and repair the skin while reducing redness. The formulation also features lactobacillus ferment, a probiotic that helps rebalance your microbiome, protect against pollution-induced damage and help your skin rebuild its natural defences.

Other ingredients include ginger root extract, another anti-inflammatory that soothes irritations, and ceramides that help lock in moisture. It can be used on the face or body and is naturally scented with an aromatic blend of orange and lavender oils.

Available on Amazon

Coola Radical Recovery After Sun Lotion

This deeply hydrating vegan lotion contains a moisture-locking base of organic agave and aloe vera, enriched with antioxidants and nourishing oils from sunflower, sweet orange and mandarin peel, combined with anti-inflammatory lavender oil and calming cedarwood.

70 percent of this after-sun lotion’s ingredients are certified organic, it’s reef-friendly, can be used daily – and it smells great!

Available at Harvey Nichols

Badger After Sun Balm

This soothing body balm conditions and smoothens parched skin directly after sun exposure, or straight after a shower or bath.

It uses a combination of moisturising cocoa and shea butters, extra virgin olive oil and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory essential oils of lavender, tangerine, tea tree and wild marjoram, plus rosemary and ginger extracts. Meanwhile, eucalyptus and peppermint offer a cooling effect.

Available at iHerb

Dr. Barbara Sturm Aloe Vera Gel

This soothing and cooling gel is made from 90 percent aloe leaf juice extracted from hand-selected, organic aloe vera plants. It also contains purslane, a plant rated for its anti-aging and antioxidant properties. Purslane helps reduce visible signs of irritation and works together with panthenol (vitamin B5) to soothe the skin.

This gel can be used on the face and body and is recommended after sunbathing, waxing or epilation.

Available at Net-a-Porter

Babo Botanicals After Sun Soothing Hydrating Gel

This cooling and non-sticky organic formula is quickly absorbed by the skin and is gentle enough for children and adults alike.

Formulated with 75 percent aloe vera juice, it contains antioxidant and anti-bacterial green tea and arnica which help soothe and repair the skin; hyaluronic acid and rosehip oil to hydrate and lock in moisture; and anti-inflammatory witch hazel and eucalyptus, which provide a cooling and refreshing effect.

Available at Babo Botanicals

Mill Creek Botanicals Aloe Vera Soothing Gel

This moisture-rich, quick-absorbing vegan gel comprises mostly of organic aloe vera extract, combined with anti-oxidant cucumber to help keep the skin protected, while providing relief for skin irritations, sunburn, minor burns and even insect bites.

Other ingredients like comfrey and allantoin further assist the skin’s healing process. As well as being a great after-sun product, it can also be used as a cooling after-shave balm for men and women.

Available at iHerb

Pai Instant Kalmer Serum

Made for hyper-sensitive skin, this vegan fragrance-free serum works to reduce redness and calm the skin quickly with a ceramide-rich formulation that combines anti-inflammatory sea aster, calming oat extract, antioxidant magnolia berry extract and hyaluronic acid to soothe stressed skin while repairing damage.

Pai decided against adding common cooling ingredients like menthol and eucalyptus to ensure this serum can be used by people with ultra-sensitive skin conditions, such as eczema and rosacea.

Available at Lookfantastic

Nuori Sun Repair Serum

This deeply rehydrating vegan serum contains a potent mix of plant-based, bio-fermented sorbitol and chamomile flower that work to reduce inflammatory reactions; natural hyaluronic acid and sucrose complex for hydrating and locking in moisture; and vitamins C and E to neutralise free radicals. Liquorice root extract also inhibits melanin production, reducing signs of photo-ageing.

Available at Smallable

Read also: 8 Cruelty-Free, Vegan and Reef-Safe Sunscreens

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The post 8 of the Best Clean After-Sun Products appeared first on 8Shades.

Founded back in 2011, Bathe to Basics’ gorgeous skin, hair and body-care products are handmade locally in small batches in Hong Kong, using all-natural, cruelty-free ingredients; in fact, they were one of the first beauty brands here to offer eco-friendly refill stations for many of their products.

We talk to Edmund about how Hong Kong’s sustainability scene has changed over the years, his top green beauty tips and why he’s all about embracing the basics.

See also: Neighbourhood Guide – Eco Retail Shops in Central

1. In one sentence, tell us what you do?

We locally create products derived from nature for the benefit of both ourselves and the environment.

2. Why are you an 8Shader?

It feels good to be sustainable! It’s the same feeling you get when you help others – it’s just that you’re helping the environment and Earth instead. I believe that if all of us do a little to help the environment, our collective efforts will be big enough to change the future.

3. Fave eco brand?

Hyginova – they focus on making disinfectant that easily decomposes and their products are made locally in Hong Kong too.

4. Fave veggie dish in Hong Kong?

The spicy cauliflower hummus bowl from Chickpea. Their pickles are so fresh and tasty – you really feel the joy of veggies with their colourful selection!

5. Bathe To Basics started back in 2011; how has Hong Kong’s sustainability scene changed since then? And what improvements would you like to see in the future?

We started our refill stations when bulk shopping was not really a thing yet in Hong Kong. We provided more than just the body soap or shampoo that you’d normally expect, with refills for other products like toothpaste, cleansing oil and deodorant too. I’m happy to see more bulk shops opening around different districts these days, with even more product options!

When it comes to sustainability, I think most people are currently concerned about disposable containers and single-use plastics; however, I think it’s about more than just that. We should put more emphasis on ingredients too. Besides being vegan and cruelty-free, it would be even better if products didn’t use artificial fragrances and colours, as well as other ingredients that impact our environment, such as oxybenzone in chemical sunscreens which harms the sea and coral.

6. What are some of the biggest challenges in making your all-natural beauty products? How long does the development process take?

I think one of the biggest challenges is keeping ourselves up-to-date with the latest trends and standards. Going eco and natural is now a global trend, so we’re constantly checking to see if there are any better ingredients for our formulas. But of course, we’ll always embrace the basics, like our brand name! That’s why we use a lot of natural plant oils – they’re the most basic ingredient and still the best.

Indeed, the development process never stops! I think that is one of the benefits of being a smaller brand; we can keep our production batches smaller and keep our ears open to feedback from our customers, so we can make minor adjustments to our formulas and make our products even better. We also have so many ideas for new products – like shampoo bars, mouth wash and other customisable products. It’s an endless process as I think there is always room for perfection!

7. What are your favourite Bathe to Basics products? And what are your top green beauty tips?

My personal favourite combo is our Basic Facial Oil and Porcelain Face Scraping Plate. I love using oil in my skincare routine; the scraping plate helps the product get absorbed while boosting blood circulation and working its magic to keep my skin in good shape!

My top green beauty tip is to pay attention to ingredients and read the labels! Many of us aren’t used to reading labels and understanding ingredients; I think it’s essential for brands to provide their full ingredient lists for clarity, like Bathe to Basics does. As customers, we should also start learning how to read labels properly instead of just believing marketing jargon, so you know exactly what you and your family are using.

8. What shade of green are you?

A dark greyish green. It’s subtle and calming – I even dedicated one of the walls in my room to this colour! 

Find out more about Bathe to Basics on their website and Instagram

NEXT: See all ‘8Shades Of‘ interviews

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The post 8Shades Of… Edmund Ip of Bathe to Basics appeared first on 8Shades.

What is dry brushing?

Dry brushing is a type of exfoliating body massage that uses a special brush, leaving your skin smooth, soft, glowing and more luminous. Devotees of this ritual, including celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow, Miranda Kerr and Elle Macpherson, also attest to its additional benefits – such us the feeling of relaxation during brushing; reducing the appearance of cellulite; and even lymphatic drainage, helping the body release toxins by stimulating its pores and opening them up to release sweat.

Its origins date back a few thousand years. Ancient Egyptians were said to have used the dry body brushing technique to exfoliate, following this with natural enzymes from our milk or wine for soft, supple skin.

Hailing from India, Ayurvedic dry brushing – called garshana – uses raw silk, linen gloves or a natural bristle body brush to stimulate circulation and blood flow. Meanwhile, in ancient China, dried fibres of a gourd fruit – or the modern-day loofah – were used, either alone or mixed with sesame oil to remove dead skin, and stimulate circulation along the lung, stomach and liver meridians.

See also: 8Shades Of… Kavita Khosa of Purearth

How to dry brush?

Before showering, when you’re completely dry, brush your skin using wide, circular clockwise motions, starting at your feet and moving up your body towards the heart. Use light pressure in areas where your skin is thin, and harder pressure on thicker skin like the soles of your feet.

When brushing your arms, move towards the armpits. Avoid any sensitive areas or where skin is broken; skip your face too. The process should take anywhere between five to 15 minutes. Take a cool shower to help remove dry skin, dry off and moisturise with a plant oil, or your preferred hydrating body cream.

How often should I dry brush?

Based on a variety of sources and reviews online, there isn’t really a consensus on how often one should dry brush. Some do it daily while others, once a week.

Dr Barbara Sturm, a German aesthetics doctor and founder of her eponymous anti-ageing and clean skincare line, recommends dry brushing twice a week: “I like using a body brush before taking a shower, and after using an anti-ageing body cream to nourish and hydrate the skin,” she says. She adds that dry body brushing is an important part of one’s skincare routine and an effective way to treat cellulite at home.

But before you start typing the words “dry brush” into Google, some words of caution: the ritual may not be for everyone. US-based dermatologist Dr Michelle Henry says that while a dry brush helps encourage effective circulation and lymphatic drainage, excessive or improper use can cause irritation and inflammation.

People with skin issues like eczema and psoriasis should avoid dry brushing over inflamed areas. Those with more active melanocytes, or with darker skin, should also watch out for a risk of hyperpigmentation, or darkening certain areas of the skin due to constant rubbing. Always wear sunscreen and use gentle skincare after dry brushing.

7 Of The Best Vegan, Cruelty-Free Body Brushes

Dry brushes come in a variety of designs and materials. Natural bristle brushes give a firm pressure, while synthetic ones are softer and less stiff. Here are our top picks of cruelty-free and vegan brushes to try:

Best Natural Bristles

Aromatherapy Associates Polishing Body Brush

Available at Aromatherapy Associates

Best for Sensitive Skin

Dr. Barbara Sturm Body Brush No. 1 (Soft)

Available at Net-a-Porter

Best for Men

Dr. Barbara Sturm Body Brush Medium

Available at Mr Porter

Best Budget

EcoTools Dry Brush With Cruelty-Free Bristles

Available at iHerb

Best for Leg Cellulite

Legology Lymph-Lite Boom Brush For Body

Available at Net-a-Porter

Best Long Handle

Joanna Vargas Ritual Brush

Available at Revolve

Best Synthetic Bristles

Mio Body Brush

Available at Lookfantastic

See also: Gua Sha – Better Than Botox?

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The post 8Shades’ Ultimate Guide To Dry Brushing appeared first on 8Shades.

Frizz happens when the level of humidity in the air is greater than the level of water in your hair. As the moisture in the air rearranges the bonds inside each hair fibre, what was once a smooth look turns into chaos. Exposure to the sun, chlorine or saltwater, as well as heat from styling tools, also causes hair damage – usually resulting in dry and brittle strands, broken or split ends, thinning and discolouration.

So whatever you’ve got planned outdoors for summer, we’ve come up with a shortlist of hair products for your styling armoury – keeping your locks hydrated, healthy and silky-smooth throughout the season and beyond.

These products are all clean, meaning they’re free of parabens, phthalates, oxybenzone and synthetic fragrances that could harm you or the oceans. We’ve also looked for brands that use naturally derived and sustainably sourced ingredients and recyclable or no-waste packaging, and of course, which don’t test on animals. Here’s to more good hair days!

See also: 8 Ingredients To Avoid In Your Shampoo

Frizz, Frizz, Go Away

Briogeo Farewell Frizz Creme

Suitable for all hair types, including colour-, keratin- or chemically-treated or relaxed hair, Briogeo’s Farewell Frizz Blow Dry Perfection & Heat Protectant Creme is a vegan formulation that not only prevents kinks and poufiness, but also protects hair from the damaging effects of hot tools, like irons and hair dryers.

Ingredients include a hydrating blend of rosehip, argan and coconut oils, plus vitamin E to nourish and revitalise dry or damaged strands.

Available at Sephora HK

Shea Moisture Frizz Free Curl Mousse

Shea Moisture is a clean and cruelty-free line of hair products made with fair trade ingredients. Shea Moisture’s Frizz Free Curl Mousse is great for enhancing waves while reducing frizz without weighing hair down. Featuring shea butter and coconut oil to moisturise and repair dry and brittle hair, its formula also includes neem oil to control any kinks.

Its coconut and hibiscus scent transports you to a tropical island instantly. Use on damp hair, applying two to three pumps to each section, and comb through. 

Available at iHerb

Paul Mitchell Anti-Frizz Leave-In Treatment

Formulated with sustainably sourced ingredients – including 86 percent that are naturally derived – Paul Mitchell’s Clean Beauty Anti-Frizz Leave-In Treatment calms and protects locks against humidity, making hair more manageable and easier to style with continued use.

Cold-pressed almond oil helps nourish and strengthen hair with omega-6 fatty acids and vitamin E, while hyaluronic acid provides hydration to help prevent future breakage. Even better, it comes in recyclable, bio-based packaging made from sugarcane.

Available at LookFantastic

The Honest Company Conditioning Detangler

Featuring a nourishing blend of ingredients like jojoba protein, shea butter, quinoa extract and argan oil, The Honest Company’s Conditioning Detangler leaves dry hair frizz- and knot-free – keeping it smooth, soft and hydrated, with a sweet vanilla and orange scent. It’s lightweight and gentle enough to use everyday and also works great after a swim.

Available at The Store HK

For A Squeaky Clean

Love Beauty & Planet Blooming Color Shampoo

A micellar-water based shampoo, Love Beauty & Planet’s Blooming Color Shampoo is sulfate-free, protecting colour-treated hair with a mix of coconut oil, murumuru butter, rose water and plant-based cleansers. 93 percent of its ingredients are naturally derived, creating a formula that breaks down completely, unlike many shampoos that don’t decompose fully over time.

This shampoo also comes in two other formulas – Argan Oil & Lavender for frizz control, and Coconut Water & Mimosa Flower for strengthening and volume.

Available at iHerb

Innersense Detox Hair Mask

Innersense’s Detox Hair Mask is a clarifying treatment with a relaxing scent of sage and vanilla that can be used for all hair types and textures. Charcoal, kaolin and certified-organic white vinegar gently remove build-up from the hair shaft, helping bring microparticles to the surface without stripping hair of natural oils.

Available at Niche Beauty

Create Your Own Waves

Rahua Enchanted Island Salt Spray

No time for a beach trip just yet? Get an effortless tousled beach wave anytime by spritzing Rahua’s Enchanted Island Salt Spray on dry or damp hair to create volume and texture.

Naturally anti-bacterial pink sea salt detoxifies and exfoliates the scalp, giving hair a tousled look, body and hold. Meanwhile, guava hydrates and softens, while antioxidant hibiscus helps boost shine, strengthens, reduces UV damage and provides hair colour support. Vitamin C-rich passion fruit also helps regulate the optimal pH balance for your hair and scalp.

Available at SSense

Ouai Air Dry Foam

One of the cult brand’s best-selling products, Ouai’s Air Dry Foam creates beautifully air-dried, frizz-free, beachy waves that last the whole day. It’s formulated with kale extract that helps smoothen locks, giving hair a defined natural finish – without the curling iron!

Available at Sephora HK

BeautyBio Healthy Scalp Dry Shampoo

A dry shampoo that gives hair an ultra-clean feel, plus great volume and lift, BeautyBio’s Healthy Scalp Dry Shampoo uses the brand’s proprietary Flash Wash Technology to deep clean the scalp, while its FolliGRO complex goes into the roots to encourage hair growth.

Its formulation includes loquat leaf, which increases hair density, strength and thickness; rosebay extract, which dissolves scalp build-up, soothes inflamed skin and reduces flaking; and larch tree, which balances sebum production, preventing hair from getting and looking greasy. The alcohol- and starch-free formula leaves hair feeling fresh without any chalky feel, and with a radiant sheen.

Available at Harrods

See also: 8 Safe & Sustainable Shampoos in Hong Kong

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The post 8 Clean Hair Products to Beat the Summer Heat appeared first on 8Shades.

Why? Because there’s nothing worse than makeup melting in the 40-degree heat and 80 percent humidity, messing up that glowy, dewy look you were going for – the one that perfectly matches your favourite swimsuit, beach hat and cover-up, relaxing microbead-free salt scrub and virgin pina coladas.

With spiking temperatures – and we know how this feels given Hong Kong’s recent hot weather warnings – the key to looking fresh is to swap out your foundation with a light, hydrating, tinted moisturiser that won’t weigh you down, delivering the coverage you need while giving your skin a breather.

Tinted moisturisers can save a lot of prep time too, as the latest formulations also double up as skincare, incorporating ingredients that can fix imperfections, enhance your complexion and boost hydration, all while protecting you from sun damage. Some address specific concerns like oily or dry skin, with continued use resulting in better skin.

So for all the outdoor frolicking you’ve got planned this season, we’ve selected eight of the best-performing vegan and cruelty-free tinted moisturisers, which are also all free of parabens, silicones, phthalates, PEGs and sulfates.

See also: 8 Cruelty-Free, Vegan & Reef-Safe Sunscreens

Ilia’s Super Serum Skin Tint

Ilia’s Super Serum Skin Tint SPF30 is a multi-tasking tinted moisturiser. This liquid formula is blended with niacinamide, plant-derived squalane and hyaluronic acid to help nourish, balance and moisturise skin. It goes on light and adjusts to your natural colour, resulting in a radiant complexion.

Available at Net-a-Porter

Tarte’s Maracuja Tinted Hydrator

With 20 shades available, Tarte’s Maracuja Tinted Hydrator delivers sheer, buildable coverage while infusing skin with up to 12 hours of hydration, thanks to an oil rich in essential fatty acids and vitamin C from the maracuja super fruit. Easy to apply with your fingertips, this product helps visibly even out skin tone and minimise the appearance of imperfections. The formula also includes hyaluronic acid, vegan collagen and turmeric root extract, a soothing ingredient that helps reduce redness.

Available at Sephora Hong Kong

Bare Minerals’ Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream

BareMinerals’ Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream SPF30 boasts a 24-hour hydration boost that increases skin’s moisture levels by 215 percent with just one week’s use, based on the average results from a US independent clinical study. With buildable sheer to light coverage, the formula visibly evens skin tone and blurs imperfections, creating a dewy, healthy glow – plus it’s oil- and fragrance-free.

Available at BareMinerals

The Ordinary Serum Foundation

The Ordinary Serum Foundation with SPF15 is a lightweight formula that glides on effortlessly, pretty much like a regular serum. It comes in 36 different shades, ensuring there’s a perfect match for every skin tone. There are additional shades for silver and gold highlights too, which are infused with metallic effect pigments to add a luminous effect to skin (look for shades that end with S or G).

Available at The Ordinary

Huda Beauty’s Glowish Multidew Skin Tint

Huda Beauty’s GloWish Multidew Skin Tint is ideal for giving dry skin an all-over glow. This creamy, fragrance-free formula has the coverage of foundation, with the lightweight texture of a tinted moisturiser. Available in 13 shades, it also features moisturising and antioxidant functions, thanks to hydrating plant-derived squalane, Damascus rose oil which soothes and clarifies, and red bell pepper extract, which protects the skin against digital blue-light pollution.

Available at Sephora Hong Kong

Kosas Tinted Face Oil

Kosas Tinted Face Oil is a clean, weightless foundation formulated with six nourishing botanical oils such as avocado and meadowfoam to moisturise, plump and improve skin’s appearance. Soothing red raspberry and meadowfoam oils calm the skin, while camellia and rosehip seed oils work to balance and brighten your complexion. With a serum-like consistency, the oil gives a natural, dewy finish; in a consumer study, using it for 28 days resulted in brighter skin, a more even skin tone and reduced blemishes.

Available at Revolve

Hourglass Illusion Hyaluronic Skin Tint

If you think your skin needs a bit more hydration plus anti-ageing ingredients, Hourglass Illusion Hyaluronic Skin Tint SPF15 comes infused with the brand’s unique Hyaluronan Complex that boosts moisture levels, while tightening the skin and filling in wrinkles. Coming in 12 shades, its lightweight creamy texture – think whipped cream – offers medium to full coverage, while pearlescent pigments provide a luminous glow.

Available at Hourglass

Chantecaille’s Just Skin Tinted Moisturiser

Chantecaille’s Just Skin Tinted Moisturiser with SPF15 is a three-in-one formula that provides hydration, sun protection and foundation-like buildable coverage. A unique blend of thyme and butterfly bush extracts offers powerful antioxidant protection, while hyaluronic acid seals in the moisture. It’s a great product to use if you have concerns with blemishes and discolouration, with a velvety smooth texture, and it comes in eight shades.

Available at Chantecaille

See also: 8 Waterless Beauty Products for Summer

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The post 8 Best Vegan, Cruelty-Free Tinted Moisturisers for Summer appeared first on 8Shades.

Pledge to live a more sustainable lifestyle by eliminating single-use plastics with your beauty choices. Here are eight versatile and sustainable lip products that nourish while offering a guilt-free experience.

Poppy & Pout: Lip Balm

Quench your lips with a choice of ten different sweet and fruity lip balms from Poppy & Pout. Each is made with beeswax, sunflower oil and organic coconut oil to achieve a luscious pout. Each balms is hand-poured into a thoughtfully-crafted recyclable cardboard tube, with the majority of its packaging able to biodegrade within three months.     

Shop on amazon.com

Ethique: So Cocoa Lip Balm

Ethique gives you the chance to achieve healthy-looking lips with a delicious chocolate aftertaste, thanks to the addition of fair trade cocoa butter. Its formula uses moringa, jojoba and castor oils to seal your lips with moisture. Not only is this product fully plastic-free and home compostable, but the brand also pledges to plant a tree with each order — making your purchase even more enjoyable.  

Shop on Live Zero

Hurraw: Coconut Lip Balm

A blend of oils extracted from safflower, olive and sunflower finished with rich, raw coconut oil brings a natural sweetness that coats your lips with vegan goodness. Made to fit in your pocket or a small purse, this lip balm comes encased in a slim slider tin for easy application.

Shop on hurrawbalm.com

WinkiZinc: Lip & Cheek Tint

With its inclusion of SPF30, this balm caters for outdoor enthusiasts at heart. The product is formulated as a lip and cheek stain to achieve an understated sun-kissed look. WinkiZinc offers three different shades, with each product using pure cold-pressed and unprocessed ingredients packaged in biodegradable tubes.   

Shop on etsy.com

Axiology: Vegan Multi-Use Balmie Set

Axiology’s lip-to-lid balm set comes fashioned as crayons for an easy, blendable application for eyes, lips and cheeks. The palette is inspired by desert spices, from cherry to golden camel, to suit your shifting moods. Each is crafted with nine natural ingredients, including hemp and plum oil, to nourish and hydrate skin.   

Shop on axilogybeauty.com

Eco Roots: Zero Waste Lip Balm

Eco Roots’ lip balm formulation is entirely plant-based, making it totally vegan. Cacao and mango butter are the hero ingredients of their recipe, making this product smoother and thicker, with an inviting tropical scent.

Shop on ecoroots.us

Rituals: Fortune Balm in Red

A certified B corporation, Rituals aims to find refillable and recyclable solutions for all their products. This 100% naturally formulated lip balm moisturises and conditions dry and damaged lips, while offering a swoosh of colour with a shade of soft red.

Shop on rituals.com

La Bouche Rouge: Matte Lipstick Refill in Pop Art Red

French brand La Bouche Rouge allows you to embody a femme fatale persona with its delectable range of creamy lipsticks made with long-lasting pigments. Redefining luxury, the brand educates its shoppers by creating a plastic-free leather case for its lipstick or balm refills; these are handcrafted in France with excess leather from a vetted tannery, for a Parisian touch.

Shop on net-a-porter.com

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The post 8 Sustainable Lip Products With Plastic-Free Packaging appeared first on 8Shades.

Despite trying hundreds of skincare products over the years, Dorothy Chau couldn’t find a line that matched her needs perfectly. She also found herself on the receiving end of complaints from her girlfriends about their own host of skin problems – from eczema caused by the changing of seasons and pollution, to dry and sensitive skin, as well as breakouts caused by stress.

Chau decided to do something about her skincare dilemma. Her goal? To create simple solutions for the most common skincare concerns. She wanted to offer a small yet incredibly effective hypoallergenic range of products, focusing on plant-based ingredients, and do away with tedious skincare routines.

Inspired by TCM

She sought advice from one of her doctors – an expert in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) – who suggested several ingredients that were commonly prescribed for the skin, including goldflower root extract and snow mushroom. According to legend, they were even favoured by the great beauties of the Song and Tang dynasties.

Goldflower root extract, or huang qin, is widely used in Chinese medicine to reduce inflammation, and is prescribed to people with diabetes, hypertension and arthritis. In skincare, it prevents ageing caused by pollution and free radicals, keeping the skin plump, tight and smooth for a youthful appearance.

Meanwhile, snow mushroom – known as hyaluronic acid’s vegan cousin – is a powerful moisturiser that can hold water a thousand times its weight, and works to increase skin elasticity and reduce inflammation.

In 2020, after a year of research and development, plus months of travelling across the world in search of a lab to produce the line, Botanic Pretti5 was born.

The Botanic Pretti5 Range

The range includes six products: Hydropower Brightening Cleanser, Antioxidant Hydrating Toning Essence, Advanced Hyaluronic Serum, Intensive Water Glow Moisturiser, Hydro-Rescue Repairing Night Mask and Miracle Glow Facial Oil.

To say that the reception was warm would be an understatement, and products started flying off the shelves. Chau, who had no marketing budget, was surprised and delighted when she found out that three of Pretti5’s products received Elle Beauty’s Empty Bottle award.

The Advanced Hyaluronic Serum is the star of the line, with a potent formula of 12 botanicals that include huang qin, snow mushroom and green tea leaf extract, plus vitamin B3 and provitamin B5, which all work to nourish, eliminate puffiness and sooth irritated skin.

The Miracle Glow Facial Oil comes second, with Chau attributing its popularity to its versatility; it can be used on its own or mixed with the brand’s Intensive Water Glow moisturiser depending on how dry one’s skin is.

For those wanting to wake up with dewy skin, the Hydro-Rescue Repairing Night Mask is a leave-on formula crafted with lavender, amur tree bark and aloe barbadensis, which effectively eases skin fatigue for eight hours straight.

Made in Japan

Chau chose to work with a Japanese lab to produce Botanic Pretti5 skincare as she was impressed by how stringent their quality measures were, from formulation to testing, and how they also placed importance on aspects that she values.

This includes using biodegradable and recyclable packaging, not testing on animals and creating non-comedogenic formulas that are free of alcohol, parabens, SLS surfactants, artificial fragrances and synthetic colourants.

The brand has the clean beauty thumbs-up from Sephora too and is safe for pregnant women to use. Still searching for high-performance, clean beauty solutions? Look no further and give Botanic Pretti5 a try!

Available at Sephora HK and Botanic Pretti5

See also: Shop Local: 8 Homegrown Clean Beauty Brands in Hong Kong

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The post Stress & Skincare: How Dorothy Chau Founded Botanic Pretti5 appeared first on 8Shades.

As consumers, we can do our part by using waterless beauty products that are not only more sustainable, but often more potent as well since they are not diluted with water. Curious? Below are eight waterless beauty products worth trying:

Kate McLeod – Daily Stone

An improved body soap by Kate McLeod without a drop of water, each Body Stone is crafted with a core formula of cocoa butter and four nourishing base oils: sweet almond, apricot kernel, avocado, and fractionated coconut – leaving the skin feeling velvety smooth.

Note: The body soap also doubles as a face wash with non-abrasive and nourishing oils.

Shop on katemcleod.com

Dr. Barbara Sturm – Lip Balm

Dr. Barbara Sturm’s lip balm features botanically-rich ingredients of shea butter, avocado and coconut oil for naturally luscious lips. The thoughtful addition of vitamin E seals your lips with moisture in dry environments, while its colourless property makes it an alternative highlighter for your cheekbones and eyelids.

Shop on net-a-porter.com

Chanel – N°1 DE CHANEL Powder-to-Foam Cleanser

Chanel created this powder-to-foam cleanser in order to store the naturally-derived ingredients in their prime state. The elements activate only when the powder form makes contact with water – only then does it transform into a rich foam packed with red camellia extract and red camellia oil to purify the skin and shield it from free radicals.

Shop on chanel.com

ONE THING – Centella Asiatica Extract Toner

As its name suggests, K-beauty brand ONE THING strips down its formulas to the basics to create effective products honing in on high concentrates of a singular ingredient. This water-free toner comprises only three elements and boasts a high percentage of Centella Asiatica extract, which is known for its natural anti-inflammatory and skin healing benefits and best suited for acne-prone and sensitive skin types.

Shop on yesstyle.com

Whamisa – Organic Flowers Water Cream

Korean brand Whamisa substitutes water with natto gum for its moisture benefits and hydrators like rice and aloe vera leaf extracts, carrot seed, and olive fruit oils to target various layers of the skin. The brand is known for adopting the food fermentation concept favoured by Asians in every one of its products. The process boosts the nutritional and antioxidant contents of specific ingredients.

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One Love Organics – Skin Saviour Multi-Tasking Wonder Balm

Like Vaseline but better, this do-it-all body and face balm by One Love Organics cleanses, moisturises and conditions the skin at the same time. The antioxidant-rich blend of organic coconut oil, mango butter, jojoba and chia allows the formula to glide effortlessly onto your skin. Whether you use it as a softening makeup remover, conditioning face mask or wound healing seal, there’s nothing it can’t do.

Shop on shop.oneloveorganics.com

Versed – Vitamin C Powder

Versed has developed a super-fine vitamin C powder to address the unstable oxidation in liquid forms. It’s engineered as an add-on to your favourite serum, gel or lotion for a personalised concoction that best suits your skin needs. Fun fact: The powder is made with a base of tapioca starch, making it fully vegan and pregnancy-safe.

Shop on versedskin.com

Cocokind – Organic Ultra Chlorophyll Mask

A beauty elixir in green powder form, Cocokind offers a clarifying and brightening mask made of fresh and saltwater algae-derived ingredients of green alga and spirulina to leave skin feeling firm and toned after just one application. To avoid powder masks drying out your sensitive skin, mix it with equal parts of rosewater, yoghurt, honey or avocado for a well-deserved pampering session.

Shop on cocokind.com

See also: Shop Local: 8 Homegrown Clean Beauty Brands in Hong Kong

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Traditional nail polish contains formaldehyde (a carcinogen and skin irritant that makes polish shine and resist chipping), toluene (a nail polish solvent that may also be a neurological toxicant), and butyl phthalates (which makes polish flexible), but today, we have safer and more eco-friendly options available. All you have to do is look, and we’ve done the hard work for you!

Here are some terms to get familiar with:

• 3-Free means the polish is free of toluene, dibutyl phthalate (DBP), and formaldehyde. For instance, Essie and OPI are now 3-Free.
• 5-Free is free of camphor and formaldehyde resin on top of 3-Free – the bare minimum for natural brands.
• 7-Free, on the other hand, takes triphenyl phosphate (TPHP) and xylene out of the mix in addition to being 5-Free.
• 9-Free is the next tier, being free of ethyl tosylamide, lead, and parabens, too!

Moving on, there are also 10-, 12- and 15-free nail polishes out there, which just means that they are free from other scary toxins as well. If you’re looking for a sustainable mani-pedi in Hong Kong, read on for some of 8Shades’ approved nail salons.

Eco-friendly Nail Salons in Hong Kong

1. Melomist 

Melomist’s soak-off gel polish is 7-free, which is pretty much the gold standard if you ask us! They also offer a wide range of mani and pedi services, including lavender and spearmint scented salt scrub for soft and smooth skin.

Melomist, 3/F, Cheung Hing Commercial Building, No. 37-43 Cochrane Street, Central, +852 2450 2220

2. Emmanuel f.

Promising to use “only natural, certified organic and eco-friendly ingredients”, the award-winning Emmanuel F has a French touch and offers 7-free polishes that are pregnancy-safe, vegan, and cruelty-free!

Emmanuel F, G/F, 176 Wellington Street, Central, +852 2167 8280

3. Tinted

At Tinted, you’ll have the non-toxic option of Green Flash by Manicurist,  the first clean gel nail polish that can be removed like ordinary polish. The best part? It’s 12-free, vegan, cruelty-free and contains no “bad ingredients” (such as endocrine disruptors, CMR, sensitising monomers or hydroquinone). Not to mention this Causeway Bay spot’s beautiful and creative nail art, which is every girl’s dream.

Tinted, 5/F, 18-20 Pak Sha Rd, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, +852 6012 6444

4. Nail Me

Aiming to nourish and nurture its customers, Nail Me lets you choose from 7-free and 9-free products, and even offers manis and pedis for men! The best part is, you can choose from their three locations in Tsim Sha Tsui, Wanchai, and Taikoo.

Nail Me, 1/F, 1 Wing Fung Street, Admiralty, +852 2529 8166

5. The Nail Library

The Nail Library is Hong Kong’s only official Christian Louboutin Room and offers 9-free, vegan, and cruelty-free alternatives! This prestigious salon is truly a luxurious experience with a sustainable twist.

The Nail Library, 2/F, 76 Wellington Street, Central, +852 6298 8391

See also: 8 Ingredients to Avoid in Your Shampoo

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The post 5 Eco-friendly Nail Salons in Hong Kong appeared first on 8Shades.

For our latest edition of ‘8Shades Of’, we’re chatting to Beautysaur’s absolutely fabulous co-founder Chris Yiu about his all-time favourite green beauty products, how tomato juice inspired his sustainability journey and why your beauty regimes should always spark joy.

1. In one sentence, tell us what you do?

I’m a curator of plant-based beauty products that smell absolutely divine and make you feel extremely good about yourself!

2. Why are you an 8Shader?

My mind was blown – not in a good way! – when I worked as a flight attendant… oh, the horror of having to pour almost-full cartons of tomato juice into the toilet before descending! As a small potato back then, I couldn’t do much to change the aviation industry’s long-time practices, so I started contemplating what I could do as an individual to raise awareness about sustainability. Supporting eco-friendly brands was the easiest way to go.

Focusing on beauty products came naturally as beauty has always been my biggest passion; I asked myself why I needed to put tonnes of artificial toxins on my body, when I could instead feed my skin with Mother Earth’s goodies?

At first, I started sharing natural and vegan beauty products with my colleagues as a hobby. Organic skincare products were still not widely recognised in the Hong Kong market a few years ago, but my friends’ interest in my recommendations boosted my confidence in bringing eco-friendly beauty brands here. Hence you could say that Beautysaur Organics was born out of frustration, desperation and hope, all at the same time!

3. What’s your best eco habit – and your guilty not-so green one?

I always up-cycle my empty bottles; repurposing all those beautiful violet glass bottles can be very therapeutic! You can get creative with using empty bottles and containers at home too, turning the taller ones into vases or making desserts in the shorter ones.

For not-so-green, I plead guilty to still drinking bottled water… but I promise I always recycle all the bottles!

4. Fave eco products or brands?

This is such a cruel question! May I present to you all our partner brands at Beautysaur? But if I had to live with only one beauty product, it would have to be May Lindstrom’s The Blue Cocoon – a mystical nutrient-packed, all-natural, cerulean-hued beauty balm. 

It’s a serum-moisturiser hybrid that you can use day and night throughout the year, and it has an intoxicating scent – imagine a chocolate-vanilla pudding with a hint of blue tansy and frankincense. It’s fair to say that The Blue Cocoon is my fave eco product as it has stayed on my beauty counter for over six years!

5. Fave veggie dishes in Hong Kong?

I am obsessed with Chinese-style walnut sweet soup! It’s a delicious traditional Chinese dessert that is usually served warm; you can find it pretty much anywhere in Hong Kong. It fills your stomach with warmth and happiness, especially on a cold winter night, and it brings back so many childhood family memories whenever I eat it. 

6. How do you find the brands you stock at Beautysaur? What are your most important criteria for choosing brands?

We look for brands that are certified environmentally-friendly, anti-animal testing, are all-natural and hopefully vegan. Brands that heavily use artificial toxins are a no-go for us. We don’t merely look at what products do to our skin either; we need to sync with a brand’s missions and beliefs as well. 

It’s important for us to learn how brands source their ingredients and the processes behind their production. Take UMA for example; their founder Shrankhla Holecek uses 100 per cent organic ingredients grown in her family estate farms in India. She also supports women workers in her home country by hiring an all-female team.

Grums from Denmark is another great example; they use all recycled materials for their packaging and their star ingredient is recycled coffee grounds. 

7. What are the key benefits of using green beauty products instead of standard drugstore ones? And what is your top green beauty secret?

Green beauty products usually have less chance of causing skin reactions than standard drugstore ones, as their formulas normally contain fewer toxins and artificial perfumes. Generally speaking, it’s a safer choice for people with extra sensitive skin to use green beauty products.

Personally though, it’s about the sensation and joy that I get from using green beauty products. I indulge myself in beauty rituals, from mixing my own treatment masks to massaging aromatic products into my skin; I find using drugstore products often makes beauty regimes feel more like a “task”. In Beautysaur’s world, applying skincare products should make you feel good about yourself! Take back your time and slow down for the day – it’s wellness for you, both physically and mentally.

My top beauty secret is don’t forget your neck! When you apply facial oils or creams, always take it down to your neck and décollete.

8. What shade of green are you and why? 

I’m a malachite green – vibrant and lively! 

Find out more about Beautysaur Organics on their website and Instagram

NEXT: See all of our ‘8Shades Of‘ interviews

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The post 8Shades Of… Chris Yiu of Beautysaur Organics appeared first on 8Shades.