If you’re looking to shop some of the world’s best green beauty brands, Beautysaur Organics is the place to be. This totally roar-some boutique, which recently celebrated its fifth anniversary in Hong Kong, is home to a gorgeously-curated selection of natural, organic, cruelty-free and eco-friendly beauty products that are destined to level up your skincare game!

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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