Gaylia Kristensen Turns Back Time

There is a point in every woman’s life when she looks in the mirror and notices the first signs of ageing. Laugh lines around the eyes, stress lines on the forehead, and perhaps the effects of one too many late nights show up as dark bags under the eyes. In our modern world, it’s easy to turn to quick fixes like Botox, but there are plenty of options that will leave you looking just as youthful but don‘t require injecting poison into your face.

Photo: Gaylia Kristensen has years of experience in the beauty industry

A new option and one of your favorites comes courtesy of Gaylia Kristensen. Kristensen’s range recently hit shelves in Macau and is making waves in the beauty world. They have also been snapped up by high-end spas across the globe including four Mandarin Oriental spas (two of which are Macau and Hong Kong) and the Willow Stream Spa at the Fairmont Singapore. We were lucky enough to get our hands on a few products to put them to the test.

Photo: Gaylia Kristensen products are natural alternatives to cosmetic injections

All Gaylia Kristensen products are designed (and have been clinically proven) to reduce lines and wrinkles, increase firmness and smoothness and increase suppleness by deeply hydrating. With the recent spike in temperature and humidity, every building in Macau seems to have turned their air conditioners to full blast. Such drastic changes in temperature and humidity can wreak havoc with your skin, which is why we were delighted to discover that many of Kristensen’s products supply a very generous dose of hydration.

We start our beauty regime with a cleanse. The orange blossom cleanser, GENTLE (HKD440), is designed to remove makeup and dirt as it hydrates and nourishes the skin. The texture is rich and creamy and it is very gentle on the face making it ideal for sensitive skin.

To remove dead skin cells and buff your face to a youthful glow, you’ll want to supplement your routine with the VELVET (HKD600) facial polish a few times a week. The gentle exfoliator contains jojoba beads (a waxy alternative to harmful microbeads) and plant extracts to make your skin glow.

HEAVEN (HKD520) is a toning facial mist that is designed to hydrate and refresh. We recommend spritzing in the morning to help wake you up (it is also fantastic when you’re traveling) and applying at night with a cotton pad to help wipe away the dirt and sweat that naturally accumulates after a hard day at work (or the pool or beach). The scent, like many of the other products in Kristensen’s range, is delightful.

After the toner apply the EYE LIFT (HKD1,560) serum around the eyes and forehead. This product packs a pretty powerful punch and is designed to smooth out wrinkles around the eyes, which is one of the first signs of ageing. The appearance of expression lines and wrinkles can be reduced in a little as 30 days.

Photo: Of favorite product in the Gaylia Kristensen line is the DREAM cream

Gaylia Kristensen’s DREAM (HKD1,800) cream is the real miracle worker out of the range, and our favorite product. Having gone through four years of testing and development you would expect this moisturizer to really do it all. And it pretty much does. From lifting and toning to reducing lines and wrinkles, if you are going to invest in only one of these products this is the one we recommend.

In order to get the best out of any products of this nature, you must use them regularly. Kristensen describes them as “medicine for your skin,” so it’s imperative to make them fixtures in your beauty routine (missing the occasional day after a few too many martinis can be forgiven we suppose).

None of the products contain harsh detergents or mineral oils and are never tested on animals. They also do not contain any protection from the sun, but they can easily be layered and paired with other products, so be sure to apply some SPF 15 or higher before heading outdoors (check out our Spring Guide for a few sunscreens that we recommend this season).

Photo: Try the products before you buy them at The Spa at Mandarin Oriental Macau

Interested in taking the products for a test run before you commit? Try out the Utopia Advanced Anti-Ageing facial at the Mandarin Oriental Macau and the Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong. Ready to turn back the clock? Purchase Gaylia Kristensen beauty products at either of the above mentioned spas or Harvey Nichols in Hong Kong.

Visit the website here for a detailed guide and to find out which products are right for your age and skin type.

#glamour #beauty