Beauty expert Renée Chow aka Gothamista teams up with Lane Crawford and gives David Ho the rundown of the essential seven steps to truly care for the skin you’re in

Wash-tone-moisturize may have been the edict of old when it comes to skincare. While the three steps still ring true to a certain extent, time and breakthroughs in cosmetology have made caring for our skin a more sophisticated process. Using the latest products of various brands in Lane Crawford’s stores, here is what Chow recommends for each step:

1) Cleanse

In a busy city like Hong Kong, our skin is exposed to oil, sweat, cosmetics and all matters of grime on the daily. Cleansing our protective layer of such pollutants is clearly the first step. However, it is essential that we do so with stripping the skin of moisture.

One needs to do this step with clean hands and a gentle touch. Chow and Lane Crawford recommends massaging the cleanser in circular motions and to use lukewarm water for best results.  

Chow is partial to Yina, a brand inspired by the tenets of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). With white peony tea, poria and pearl in the mix, the non-foaming cleanser keeps the skin clean whie maintaining its PH balance.

2) Exfoliate

Exfoliation is important to get rid of dead skin cells and unclog pores. Some may choose to use sponges while others might pick products with chemical exfoliators like alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta hydroxy acids (BHAs). 

Chow’s choice is the range from Paula’s Choice. There is one with AHA, some that primarily use BHA and one other has pore refining qualities. So there are choices for all skincare types and needs.

3) Meet your skincare goals

This is where things get personal. Everyone has different goals for their skin and Chow is aware of that.

Fade & Brighten

If fading dark spots and brightening your complexion is what you want, the Vitamin C Serum by Poems from the Lab may do the trick. It comes with a valve seal to make sure you only deliver single drops and not waste or overuse this powerful formula.

Smooth & Soften

Meanwhile, those looking to smooth and soften their skin to make it silkier can benefit from the Flawless Nightly Pro Serum by Dr Sam Bunting. Chow believes the Vitamin A in the product can tackle the signs of premature ageing.

Lift & Tighten

If gravity has had too much of a hold on you, then Sachi Skin’s Pro Resilience Serum may be the one for you. It is lightweight and suits a range of skin types. But if something more heavy duty is needed the Bioeffect EGF Power Serum, which draws on the epidermal growth factor of barley plants, might be what is needed to give you the lift.

Hydrate & Glow

Then those that need to hydrate their skin to restore its glow can go for Saro de Rúe’s freeze-dried hyaluronic acid. It is an activator serum that contains purslane for brightening and antioxidants to boot.

4) Moisturise

Moisturising is the key step for keeping skin supple. It prevents water loss, dryness, tightness and irritation. Chow’s choice for this crucial step is Irene Forte’s hibiscus night cream, which soothes the skin while infusing it with nutrient rich ingredients.

5) Skin tools

It’s not just about lotions, potions and creams for the skin anymore. We now have tools of all sorts to give our epidermis some love.

If we are drawing on traditional beauty tenets, the bian stone gua sha skin tool from Yina can stimulate blood flow and regenerate skin cells. Otherwise, something more high tech like the KIRA 24k gold beauty device from L&L Skin with its 1000KHz radio frequency technology is said to aid collagen production.

6) Sunscreen

With summer coming up, we are likely to be outdoors more. Keeping your skin protected from the UV rays is a must to prevent painful sunburns, premature ageing, and even skin cancer. But we know how off-putting it is to walk around with a greasy layer of sunscreen that feels like clown makeup. Chow recommends Tatcha’s weightless sunscreen for optimum protection. Without a white cast, it won’t look odd and serves as a pore minimizing primer to boot.

L&L Skin also offers a nifty product in the form of a two-sided compact mirror that helps ensure the proper application and removal of sun protection formulas. It has three brightness setting to ensure that you apply your makeup correctly for all lighting situations.

7) Bodycare

Skincare is not just limited to our visage, the rest of the body needs just as much love, care and attention. In a humid climate like Hong Kong, body moisturising is often neglected. Chow suggests using a lightweight and fast-absorbing lotion like the weightless body lotions with 2 percent BHA from Paula’s Choice to keep your skin supple but not slippery.

So those are the seven steps of skincare, according to Chow. Those interested to learn more from the beauty guru can do so at Lane Crawford this month. Details below:

Registration fee: HK$430 (Instantly redeemable on beauty and wellness products)

When: Friday, April 21, 2023 (5:30pm – 6:30pm)
Where: Platinum Suite, Lane Crawford ifc Mall

When: Saturday, April 22, 2023 (2:00pm – 3:00pm / 4:00pm – 5:00pm)
Where: Platinum Suite, Lane Crawford Canton Road

Lane Crawford also will also be launching a series of services, workshops and masterclasses to help beauty devotees be their best. Find out more about these events here.

Also see: Ladies, time for some self-care