Reviews

TEST-DRIVE Liv checks out the newest workouts and wellness trends

PRODUCT

The Buzz: Famous for its facial cleansing massagers, Swedish beauty brand FOREO has been earning a reputation as a skincare gamechanger for years, with celebs like Chrissy Teigen and Venus Williams swearing by its benefits. We tried out the newly launched LUNA 3 in our skincare routine for a month to see what all the fuss is about. The Product: Shaped a bit like a palm-sized egg, this pink handheld device is covered in soft, silicone bristles that conduct sonic pulsations when turned on. The LUNA 3 has longer and softer bristles, meaning it can get deeper into your pores without causing unnecessary irritation to skin. You can also pair the device to the FOREO app via Bluetooth, allowing you to control the intensity and routine of sonic pulsations from your phone. We cover our face in a LUNA 3 from FOREO

thin layer of cleanser and turn on the LUNA, which feels like a gentle buzz in your hand that lasts for one minute before turning off automatically. As we make slow circles on our face, we can feel the pulsations getting deep into our skin. It doesn’t hurt, but there’s a definite sensation that feels like a serious step up from your normal wash-andgo routine. The Verdict: Definitely worth the hype! We notice a boost in glow from the very first cleanse, and a patch of stubborn spots on our chin disappear after just a day or two. Our skin feels stimulated after every use, and our tone evens out nicely, making it easy to forego makeup. Our only complaint is a matter of tech support: our LUNA won’t pair with the app, meaning we’re stuck on the default pulsation setting. But we can’t fault the radiant results, so would still recommend it as a worthy addtition to any skincare routine. Cost: $1,530, available at Sephora, Fortress and Lane Crawford.

THERAPY

The Buzz: One of last year’s most talked-about wellness openings, Asaya at the Rosewood Hong Kong is so much more than a hotel spa. This fully-fledged urban retreat goes beyond facials and massages (though they offer those too) and instead looks at wellbeing as a whole, with renowned resident experts covering areas such as emotional and mental wellbeing, functional movement, TCM and and more. On the same floor as the wellness centre is Asaya Kitchen, a health- and sustainabilityfocused restaurant that serves gourmet healthconscious cuisine at a surprisingly wallet-friendly price. The Experience: High walls and shallow ornamental pools give this indoor-outdoor space a secret garden feel as you move from the changing area to the relaxation room to the private treatment pods, each of which come with their own miniature private garden. Before your treatment, take a dip in the spectacular infinity pool overlooking the harbour or work up a sweat with a gym session or fitness class. We went for a spinal mobility session with Terry Burge, a sports therapist who previously worked in one of Thailand’s top wellness retreats. Spinal Mobilization Therapy at Asaya

The Verdict: Terry’s warm manner put us at ease straight away, and after a top-to-toe body assessment, he began his session. Don’t go in expecting candles and whale music; this treatment is all about correcting long-held postural issues by releasing trigger points - areas of tight muscle along our spine that were throwing our alignment and mobility out of whack. Although there were more than a few times when we winced, We finished our session feeling an inch taller, and absolutely amazing. Top tip: make sure to visit the restaurant while you’re there. The food is brilliant - light and nourishing but packed with flavour and very satisfying.

Cost: $1,800 for 60 minutes.

6/F, Rosewood Hong Kong, Victoria Dockside, 18 Salisbury Rd., Tsim Sha Tsui, 3891-8888, rosewoodhotels.com.