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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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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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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Before you head to the supermarket to pick up those cheap and cheerful plastic beach toys you noticed hanging next to the grocery counter, why not do a bit of forward planning and consider some more eco-friendly toys instead?

Traditional beach toys are often made of cheap PVC (polyvinyl chloride) plastics that contain compounds such as BPAs and phthalates, chemicals that have been proven to be harmful to humans. Since they also crack and chip easily, these toys are typically thrown out after just a few uses – where they can then take more than 400 years to decompose.

Some people leave their discarded toys on the beach too; these often end up washing into the sea, breaking down into microplastics and wreaking havoc on our ecosystems.

Thankfully, a growing number of toy makers have started using biodegradable materials such as bamboo fibre, bioplastic or recyclable silicone for their beach toys. Apart from being environmentally friendly, these are more durable and will serve your little ones longer than their plastic counterparts. Here are eight fun ideas to get you started.

LoveLotte Eco Beach Set

Made from soft-touch bamboo fibre, LoveLotte’s Eco Beach Set is biodegradable – and if lost in the ocean or buried in the sand, the toys will break down in approximately 12 months.

Available at Amazon

Hevea Flipper & Beach Toy Set

This pair of baby flippers and cute beach toy are made from a mix of natural and recycled rubber in order to reduce its environmental footprint.

Available at Smallable

Dantoy Toy Truck

This 29x17x15cm truck is made to last, created with bioplastic, 90 percent sugar cane and vinylon, without pesticides and comes in a recycled cardboard box. It’s even dishwasher safe too!

Available at Smallable

Liewood Sand Toys Set

Danish eco-brand Liewood has created this super cute ice-cream shaped sand toy set made from 100 percent silicone.

Available at Babyshop

The Beach People Beach Toy Set

Made from unbleached compostable bamboo and bioplastic with hemp rope handles, this set of four toys with a pail and three tools ideal for sandcastle building also comes in a handy canvas bag.

Available at The Beach People

Scrunch Sand Moulds Set

These super bendy sand moulds are made from 100 percent silicone and come in a set of four different animal shapes in a matching net bag.

Available at Baby Central HK

Scrunch Foldable Flyer

This 18cm-diametre frisbee is foldable, soft, weighs only 65 grams and is made from 100 percent silicone – making it ideal for throwing in your bag for beach days.

Available at Baby Central HK

PlanToys Penguin Sailing Boat

This colourful sailboat from award-winning sustainable Thai toy brand PlanToys is made from chemical free, kiln-dried recycled rubber wood and designed with water-based, non-toxic accent colours.

Available at Amazon

See also: 8Shades’ Guide to a Sustainable Beach Day

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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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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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Design isn’t everything though, so make sure you choose brands for their commitment to sustainability and fair practices – actions which range from the use of recycled metals and ethically-sourced gemstones to supporting local communities where the pieces are made; from reducing their carbon footprint and zero-waste programs to offering full transparency and tracing.

From playful metalwork to colourful cocktail rings, here are some lovely jewellery pieces to add to your collection this spring:

Finger Candy

Add a pop of colour to your outfit with a bold cocktail ring in oversized proportions. The Burning Desire Ring from UK-based Alighieri features a large cabochon-cut garnet forged into the brand’s signature 24-karat molten gold-plated recycled silver. Each piece created by the brand is completely unique, and handmade in Hatton Garden, London, through the ancient art of lost-wax casting.

Alighieri also uses recycled bronze in its talismans, bracelets and earrings, and all excess metal waste is reused. The brand is committed to materially reducing its carbon footprint through offsetting, and it sources precious metals from Cooksongold, certified members of the Responsible Jewellery Council.

Available at Alighieri

Link It Up

Chain belts that were wildly popular in the ’00s are back in style, but if you’d rather a more subtle look, go for a solid gold chain necklace instead, like Laura Lombardi’s Franca necklace, made from gold-plated brass that’s linked by hand. The New York-based designer uses recycled materials when possible and casts each piece locally in her studio.

Wear your chains layered, or opt for a chunky choker version, like Lauren Stewart’s Baroque gold vermeil pearl necklace, featuring irregularly shaped freshwater pearls. The LA-based brand’s founders, Rachel Loren, Satra Steward and Annah Stewart-Zafrani started out by upcycling vintage jewellery. The trio continue to work with local artisans for wax casting, metal casting and stone setting.

Available at Netaporter NETsustain.

Born this way

John Hardy’s Birthstone Amulet Keyring necklace is very versatile. The chain necklace, fashioned from sterling silver and 18k gold, can be split into two shorter chains that can be used as bracelets. The necklace also comes with a keyring connector chain and three amulets: your birthstone, a Padma, which symbolises enlightenment and rebirth, and a hand-hammered gold bead. John Hardy will donate up to 40% of the proceeds for the necklace to Every Mother counts, in support of mothers, families and maternity care workers worldwide.

The Bali-based brand is a certified member of the Responsible Jewellery Council, and all packaging materials are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. All jewellery is handmade locally, and the brand is active in supporting local communities and keeping waste to a minimum.

Available at John Hardy

Dainty Days

Small but stylish, these dainty stacker rings and earrings are really easy to wear and won’t break the bank. Nyrelle’s Diamond Waterfall Earring comes in 9k or 18k recycled gold, with Kimberly Process-certified conflict-free diamonds. The company only every uses recycled gold, fairtrade silver and ethically sourced gems, and each piece comes with a two-year full warranty, followed by lifetime warranty on wear and tear.

The company also practices a closed-loop process to help reduce waste– so it buys back its jewellery at 20 percent of the purchase price, to be upcycled to new pieces.

Available at Nyrelle.

Get stacking

Linjer’s stackable rings – Karoline, Ilse, Diamond Eternity and Diamond Solitaire – are all made with recycled 14k solid gold or vermeil, and labgrown diamonds. Sustainability is a core value of this design studio, focusing on the use of quality  metals so pieces last many years, recycling metals, using recycled paper and cardboard packaging, and offsetting carbon emissions by funding renewable energy projects through Carbonfund.org.

Available at Linjer.

Au Naturel

Upcycled materials originally found in nature like driftwood, abandoned shells and stone can create unique textures and memorable jewellery. Niin’s Luna Inlaid Pendant Necklace and Earrings feature whitewood, abalone shell, resin, stainless steel and gold foil.

The pieces are made from gold-plated sterling silver. Hong Kong-based Niin, and its designer, Jeanine Hsu, works with small artisanal businesses across South East Asia, supporting small communities for the production of their designs, all while focusing on repurposed materials. All niin pieces come in recycled packaging.

Available at Niin

All the Rage for Vintage

If they look like they came out of your grandma’s closet, they’re in– earrings and bracelets in hammered gold, enamel details and pearls. Check out Octavia Elizabeth’s Charmed Micro Gabby hoops come in 18-karat recycled gold hammered by hand, and feature ethically sourced emeralds weighing 0.50 carats.

Available at  Netaporter Sustain

Go Baroque

Agmes’ Baroque Bodmer Earrings, designed in collaboration with Brooklyn-based designer and sculptor Simone Bodmer-Turner, is fashioned from sterling sillver or gold vermeil, with a baroque freshwater pearl drop.

Almost all of the metals used by the brand are recycled, from the 925 sterling silver to the 14-karat gold. Games ensures that its designs are constructed to stand the test of time, made to last for generations by a small team of jewellers in New York City.

Available at Agmes

See also: Buckle Up: 5 Stylish & Sustainable Belts To Wear Now

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The post 8 Sustainable Jewellery Picks For Spring appeared first on 8Shades.

Express your appreciation to all the special mums in your life – the ones who’ve made you the person you are today, raised children with you, or the best friends you couldn’t live without – with eco-friendly, thoughtful gifts that will not only make them look and feel good, but show the planet some love, too.

Urban Plants Flowers in a Pot

Instead of giving mum a bouquet of flowers wrapped in fancy plastic film and ribbons, why not give her a more lasting present of calla lilies in a decorative pot? These pretty, trumpet-shaped blooms from Urban Plants can brighten any room, plus they’re symbols of faithfulness and rebirth. They can grow up to 3-feet tall and 2-feet wide, growing best indoors in cooler temperatures and need only be watered every 4-5 days.

Available at Urban Plants

Rooftop Republic Curated Grow Kit

Does mum like to cook with fresh ingredients? Rooftop Republic’s curated grow kits has everything she’ll need to grow organic greens indoors (or on her balcony or rooftop) year-round. Let her enjoy delicious, nutrient-packed microgreens with the Microgreens Grow Kit, which includes instructions, the soil, seeds plant tags, a spray bottle, and a decorative ceramic growing tray, all packed in a pretty burlap sack.

Available at Rooftop Republic

See also: 8Shades Of… Michelle Hong, co-founder of Rooftop Republic

Fleurology Veggie Bouquet

If you’d still prefer to send a floral arrangement but want to go for sustainable and unique, check out Fleurology’s Classic Veggie Bouquet, which comes in tasteful and colourful combinations of various seasonal produce such as broccoli, eggplant, bell peppers and cauliflower, all edible and wrapped in recycled craft paper, making this bouquet truly zero-waste.

Available at Fleurology

8Shades Sustainable Gift Hamper

Give mum everything she needs to relax at home with the 8Shades Gift Hamper, which includes a limited edition STTOKE coffe cup, custom-blended candle from BeCandle, a gua sha face massager, bath salts, an eye mask and Coconut Matter soap scrub.

Available at 8Shades

See also: Introducing 8Shades’ Sustainable Gift Hampers

Cowshed Hand and Beauty Set

Looking for a gift for a mum-to-be? Cowshed’s Hand and Beauty set was designed for new and expecting mothers, with the bath and shower gel formulated with antioxidant-rich Sea Buckthorn oil, Vitamin E and Patchouli essential oils, for  a gently cleansing but soothing and nourishing experience. All Cowshed products are cruelty-free, suitable for vegans and free from parabens and sulphates.

Available at Look Fantastic

Peninsula Hong Kong Massage Voucher

With spas and gyms open again, it’s the perfect time to give a gift of pampering. The Peninsula Hotel’s Mum’s Bliss package offers ultimate relaxation with a two-hour treatment of mum’s choice, whether facial, massage or body scrub, using products by organic and cruelty-free brand Voya, followed by a scrumptious, three-course meal by the poolside.

Available in May at The Peninsula Hong Kong

Kibo Sustainable Kicks

Is mum a lover of sneakers? Why not gift her one made with recycled leather, post-consumer plastics, and that’ll stay in her wardrobe for many seasons? Kibo, which means ‘hope’ in Japanese, is an apt name for a Hong Kong-based footwear brand that offers minimalist styles of footwear made from recycled PET bottles, leather, rubber, and cotton offcut trimmings – all materials that would have ended up in landfill.

Based on reviews, the shoes are not only stylish and sustainable, they’re really comfortable too. The company donates part of their profits to charities that serve under-represented communities, and they only work with partners who manufacture ethically.

Available at Kibo

Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong Suite Staycation

Treat the queen of the household to a memorable weekend of rest and relaxation with the Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong’s Mother’s Day Club and Suite Room Package, which includes a stay in one of the hotel’s signature suites, a 60-minute spa treatment of her choice, a set dinner for two, club lounge access and a beauty gift set from cruelty-free luxury skincare brand Xove.

Available in May at the Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong

Gentle Diamonds Jewellery

Mums who love all things sparkly will appreciate this elegant tennis bracelet or dazzling pair of earrings from Gentle Diamonds, all created with lab-grown diamonds and set in 18k white gold.

Available at Lane Crawford

Lane Eight Workout Trainers

Another shoe brand committed to using upcycled and recycled materials in their high-performance footwear, Lane Eight’s HIIT Trainer is build for high-impact movement, and is made from plant-based knitted material. The ultra comfy and sturdy design comes in seven colours.

Lane Eight has also partnered with BLOOM, an organisation working with brands to implement changes in the way they manufacture products. For each pair created, Lane Eight cleans and returns 31.5L of fresh water back to Hong Kong’s waterways.

Available at Lane Eight.

Omega Heirloom Timepiece

If you’d like to treat mum to a piece that you’re hoping to inherit someday, then look no further than the Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra. This colourful watch features a pale pink dial that includes a wave-embossed pattern and 11 ruby hour markers.

The 34mm case is crafted in stainless steel and 18K Sedna Gold, and is presented on a shimmering red leather strap–definitely a piece that can be passed on to many generations. Omega has committed to sustainable production practices, investing in a facility that is energy-efficient and runs purely on solar power.

Available at Omega

Good Days Athleisure Wear

Busy mums, whether they’re running companies or marathons, will appreciate upgrades to their workout and weekend wardrobe. Good Days is a Hong Kong-based activewear brand that’s committed to keeping the planet clean by using recycled nylon, polyester, and poly-cotton blends recovered from materials like plastic bottles and fishing nets, for its line of comfortable, high-quality leggings, sports bras, shorts and tops.

Keeping packaging to a minimum, they also stock Guppyfriend laundry bags that keep microplastics from entering waterways.

Available at Good Days

See also: How To Keep Microplastics Out Of Your Body

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The post 8Shades’ Mother’s Day Gift Guide For Mums & Mother Earth appeared first on 8Shades.

As a responsible 8Shader, there are three key things you’ll want to look for in sunscreen, apart from how effective it is in protecting your skin against harmful UVA and UVB rays, that is:

• the product must be cruelty-free (not tested on animals)
• vegan (doesn’t use any animal-derived ingredients),
• and reef-safe if using at the beach.

Ingredients to look for and avoid

When selecting sunscreen, go for products that use mineral compounds, such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, to block UV rays. The size of the minerals matters as well, as nanoparticles, which are smaller than micro particles, can be toxic in high concentrations. Check the label and opt for those that mention ‘micro-sized’ or ‘non-nano’ minerals, and avoid anything with exfoliating beads, as this is a form of microplastic that can harm ocean life.  

Organic compounds like oxybenzone can induce allergies and affect hormones in humans, and ingredients like octocrylene and octinoxate can cause bleaching and death to corals. To keep your skin, and ocean life happy, formulations must not contain any of these harmful substances either: homosalate, 4-methylbenzylidene camphor, para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), parabens and triclosan.

Skincare experts also advise sticking with lotions and avoiding sprays as much as possible, especially if they contain titanium dioxide, as these can be harmful to health when inhaled.

The final deciding factor would be for products that cut back on single use plastic packaging and have containers that are recycled, reusable or are made of biodegradable, plant-based materials, like cardboard.

Here are eight of the best cruelty-free, vegan and reef-safe sunscreens for daily use:

1. Best Tinted Sunscreen

ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 combines skincare, makeup and sun protection into one, with an ultra lightweight coverage shielding skin from UVA, UVB, UVC and blue and infrared light, using non-nano zinc oxide. Silicon, oil and fragrance-free, the tinted moisturiser comes in 27 shades to match every skintone, and is enhanced with hyaluronic acids, plant-based squalene, and niacinamide, sealing in hydration, while softening the skin and working to diminish fine lines.

ILIA has also partnered with 1% for the Planet and is donating 1% of all its Super Serum Skin Tint sales toward reforestation efforts, with a goal of planting 1 million trees by the end of 2023.

Available at Revolve

2. Best Daily Sunscreen for the Face

A cult fave, Supergoop’s Unseen Sunscreen is invisible and glides on like a dream. Perfect for wearing alone or under makeup, it’s antioxidant-rich while providing SPF 40 and protection from blue light, to. Formulated without oil, it ensures a shine-free finish while keeping your makeup in place. What’s not to love?

Available at Sephora

3. Best Daily Sunscreen for the Body

Perfect for sun-soaked days but light enough for daily use, COOLA’s Classic Sunscreen Spray is both antioxidant-rich and moisturising with broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection. It features a natural guava mango scent and is housed in recyclable, plant-based tubes sourced from sugar cane. Of course, it’s also vegan, gluten-free, paraban-free and reef-safe!

Available at Goxip

4. Best Sunscreen for the Beach

With its lightweight and water-resistant formulation, Mimitika’s Summer Essentials SPF Face and Body Set is all you need for your next trip to the beach. The set comes with an SPF50 face sunscreen, SPF30 sunscreen for the body, as well as a soothing after-sun body lotion with aloe vera and coconut oil. Mimitika’s sunscreen contains seaweed extract, which stimulates melanin production ensuring a glowing, healthy tan, and vitamin E, which neutralises free radicals promoting a youthful glow.

Available at The Organic Store

5. Best Mineral Sunscreen

Supergoop’s Mineral Sheerscreen SPF 30 is a non-nano zinc oxide sheer skin protector that helps filter blue light and prep the skin for makeup. Developed with the brand’s breakthrough SheerMatrix Technology, the formula suspends the sunscreen actives in a matrix without compromising efficacy, so it instantly blends to a natural, smooth finish that wears well alone or as a primer under makeup.

Available at Sephora HK

6. Best Sunscreen for Outdoor Sports

Created for those with active lifestyles and love the outdoors, Juice Beauty’s Sport sunscreen is made with certified organic ingredients like jojoba, soothing aloe and mineral broad spectrum zinc, offering ideal, water- and sweat-resistant protection for up to 80 minutes. Re-applying is easy as the formula absorbs quickly. Juice Beauty also comes in sustainable FSC paper packaging.

Available at Juice Beauty

7. Best Sunscreen for Babies and Kids

Use as much of the Erbaviva Baby Sunscreen as you want– this award-winning, organically crafted sunscreen provides full spectrum protection and is gentle enough for babies, so it’s great for the entire family. Infused with sunflower, jojoba oil and essential oils of chamomile and lavender, it features a lightweight and silky formula that absorbs quickly and is water-resistant.

Available at Nourish Clean Beauty

8. Best Sun Protection for the Lips

Don’t forget to protect your lips! Keep chapping and dryness at bay with Babo Botanicals’ Lip Tint SPF 15, which comes in three shades: beach rose, wild rose and crimson rose. A proprietary Nutri-Sooth Complex with antioxidants and vitamins smoothes and conditions while offering protection and a pretty sheen.

Available at Goxip

See also: How to Have a Sustainable Day at the Beach

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The post 8 Cruelty-Free, Vegan and Reef-Safe Sunscreens appeared first on 8Shades.

It’s no surprise that a growing number of the city’s residents are experiencing post-traumatic stress and anxiety, with mental health organisations and counselling groups reporting an increase of up to 60 percent in the number of clients and calls for help, with an estimated more than 70 percent of inquiries related to Covid-19.

Having feelings of anxiety aren’t unique to the pandemic, however. A  2019 study done by the World Health Organization and MindHK showed that more than 61% of Hongkongers are considered to have “poor mental well-being and unsatisfactory mental health”, due to various factors, such as work-related stress and financial difficulties, social stigma, and a shortage of professional mental health support.

See also: Mindish: Mental Health Tips To Cope With Hong Kong’s Fifth Wave

Symptoms of anxiety

The symptoms of anxiety include feelings of fear, tension, excessive worry about everyday problems, heart palpitations or an elevated heart rate, difficulty concentrating, and muscle tension, including chest tightness. It’s important to remember that anxiety can affect anyone at any age. It’s also a common condition that affects millions of people around the world.

Thankfully, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Research has shown that anxiety sufferers may be able to alleviate symptoms through their diet.

In her book, The Anti-anxiety Food Solution: How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood & End Cravings, Trudy Scott delves into the different types of foods we eat and how these impact our brain chemistry and emotions. We may not realise how much our moods, thoughts and feelings can be impacted by our diets until we make a change. What and when you eat can make a big difference between feeling anxious and staying calm.

Food as medicine

According to Scott, the biggest factor in maintaining optimal mental health is eating real, whole, good-quality food. This means plenty of vegetables and fruit and staying away from processed food, sweetened desserts, fried foods, refined grains and high-fat dairy products.

She provides a step-by-step approach in eliminating foods that may be affecting our emotional state, including gluten, dairy and grains, keeping a food diary, and assessing every two weeks if there are changes in how we feel.

A look into some evidence-based studies reveal eight plant-based superfoods that you can start eating now to ease feelings of anxiety and lift your mood.

Dark Chocolate

A 2014 study found that 40g of dark chocolate helped reduce perceived stress in female students, and there are several studies that suggest that cocoa improves mood.

Green Tea

Green tea contains an amino acid called theanine which has calming effects and may increase the production of serotonin and dopamine. A 2017 study found that 200mg of theanine offered improved feelings of calm and relaxation.

Brazil Nuts

Brazil nuts, mushrooms and soybeans are all high in selenium, which reduce inflammation levels that are heightened when someone is suffering from anxiety.

Chamomile tea

Another tea with anti-inflammatory benefits, flavonoids in chamomile tea offer a soothing effect, and a 2010 study showed significantly reduced symptoms of anxiety in those that received up to 1,500mg of chamomile extract per day.

Pumpkin seeds

Pumpkin seeds and bananas are potassium-rich, which may reduce symptoms of stress and anxiety by regulating electrolyte balance and managing blood pressure. 

Turmeric

Adding turmeric in food or tea may help reduce anxiety as it contains curcumin, which reduces inflammation and oxidative stress. A 2015 study found that curcumin helped relieve anxiety and increase DHA in obese adults.

Plant-based Yogurt

Plant-based yogurt contains healthy bacteria or probiotics, which may improve mood and reduce social anxiety, as shown in this 2015 study.

Chia Seeds

 A 2015 review lists the nutritional and therapeutic effects of Chia seeds, which include help with digestion, boosting immunity, and your emotional health too. It is a great source of Omega-3, which helps prevent heart disease, controls eczema and arthritis, and a host of other conditions.

See also: Tips To Manage Stress & Anxiety, From Mindish Counsellors

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See also: Taking Care of Yourself & Others During The Pandemic

The post 8 Foods That Can Help Reduce Anxiety appeared first on 8Shades.