So given that excessive sweating occurs 1.4 seconds after stepping outside lately, it seems apt that summer cosmetics launches in HK appear to be geared towards pore-cinching and, in Neal's Yard Remedies' case, deodorant as well! On top of giving both products by the famous British beauty brand a whirl, I'm also in the process of trying out their newest line of Organic Superfood Blends, which, with a mere teaspoon a day, are meant to 'cleanse' you from the inside out and dramatically improve digestion. I'm keeping the packs at the office so I can drink a cup of water blended with the powder every morning before I start my day! So check back with me in another few weeks if you're curious to know about the longer term effects.
Below is a quick write-up of the new summer series of products by NYR Hong Kong: Organic Superfood Blends in "Detox" and the new "Cleanse", Oil Free Hydrating Facial Serum (HK$310/30ml), and Aloe & Lavender Deodorant. All of these products are available at 10/10 Hope outlets located all over Hong Kong, as well as the Neal's Yard Remedies store on 65 Hollywood Road, Central. The verdict has been quite good so far, with the biggest results seen with the Face Serum.
Each of these packs is filled with the essential nutrients, minerals and vitamins to cleanse your body from the inside. A teaspoonful is recommended to sprinkle into your smoothie, breakfast, juice, salad, or in my case, water. It doesn't taste like much to be honest, so it's easy to drink. On the left is the DETOX superfood pack, which aims to detoxify, purify & revitalise with a blend of active greens like chlorella and green tea. The one on the right is the newest in the series, the CLEANSE organic fibre blend. This one specifically targets digestion, with the help of probiotics and fibre-rich apple, flax seed, psyllium husk and chia seed. I added a tad too much DETOX powder in the cup pictured above (oops), but even with that much in it, like I said, it really doesn't taste as aggressive as it looks. I've been alternating the packs for four days, and so far I feel fab! Not sure if it's a result of them or not, but still, my energy levels are at an all time high even without coffee. And I definitely need that energy with my crazy schedule.
This is the Oil Free Hydrating Facial Serum, which offers a nice mattifying effect once applied on the skin. In response to the rising heat and the resulting increase in our skin's production of sebum (oily stuff, especially on the T-zone), NYR created this formula to prevent breakouts and to keep skin smooth & hydrated. It has four main properties: balancing with willow herb, strengthening with antioxidant-rich rocket leaf, hydrating with hyaluronic acid & skin-plumping rice extract, and providing protection with shiitake mushroom extract, a source of kojic acid which helps brighten skin. I've been using it in the morning before applying makeup and at night after showering, and I've experienced noticeably less breakouts and smoother, more luminous skin. I haven't used it by itself though, because my skin appears to just suck it all up really fast, and I apply my usual Cetaphil face cream on top.
I've always stocked up on that Secret stick deodorant whenever I fly to the US, which basically plugs up your pores in the most unhealthy way so you literally can't sweat out of them. Which I now realise is kind of crazy to continue using for so long. I never even considered natural deo before this, and I'm glad I got to try out NYR's creation - the Lavender & Aloe Vera soothing organic spray deodorant. It's very gentle and perfect for sensitive skin, and contains essential oils like lavender, tea tree oil and ylang ylang. Not sure how effective it is for heavy sweaters, but it insists on being a powerful natural odour preventer, and so far I have no reason to believe it doesn't work.
10/10 Hope Admiralty Location - Neal's Yard Remedies
Address - Lab Concepts Queensway Plaza, 93 Queensway
Tel - +852 5920 7079
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/1010HopeHK/?fref=nf
Instagram - @nyr_official