Health and beauty news and deals with Sarah Fung.

Object of Desire
We love Nars cosmetics for their rich, long-lasting color and easy-to-use formulations. And even though this year is their 15th anniversary, they’re still producing gorgeous, wearable cosmetics. Their summer collection focuses on bold, colorful eyes in shades of blue, combined with peachy-pink lips. Our favorites are the Tropic eyeshadow ($195) and the Belize lipgloss ($210).
Available at Nars, B1/F, The Landmark, 15 Queen’s Rd. Central, 2523-3805

Manipedi at Essential Spa
Hong Kong is jammed with nail bars of varying quality, but for our money, there’s no better place to treat your talons than Essential Spa. It’s hard to get a booking here, even with five outlets, and it’s easy to see why. The spa’s success is due to its fantastic members’ packages that offer cut-price treatment packages to regular customers. For regular joes, however, a pedicure costs $360 and a manicure $140. I was ushered into a special manipedi massage chair and my feet were plunged into a warm whirlpool footbath. Then, I was handed a magazine while the two beauticians set to work simultaneously on my hands and feet. Hard skin was buffed off, cuticles softened with oil and nails filed perfectly. The OPI nail polish has so far lasted five days without a single sign of damage or chipping, thanks to the special hand and foot dryers that speed-dry the nail color to a rock-hard finish. Sure, the décor isn’t as fancy as any of the high-end beauty outlets, but in terms of value and quality, Essential spa is the go-to for essential maintenance.
Room 402, 20 Queen’s Rd. Central, 3106-0303

Dear Mom...
It’s the only day in the year when you can make it up to your poor mother for a lifetime of abuse at your hands, so why not spoil her rotten with a special spa treatment? Here are two of our favorites.

Hot Mama
The Mandarin Oriental’s “Mama’s Delight” spa package is available from now until June. Costing $1,580 on weekdays and $1,630 on weekends, this 150-minute treatment includes a rose, geranium and lavender aromatherapy massage followed by a hydrating prescription facial, and finishes with a mini manicure and a cup of rejuvenating tea.
The Mandarin Oriental Hotel, 15 Connaught Rd., Central, 2825-4888

Bumps and Babes
OK, so maybe it’s technically cheating for moms-to-be to get a mother’s day gift as well, but we reckon they deserve a little something. “The Yummy Mummy To-Be” treatment at Langham Place’s Chuan Spa offers a 90-minute session that includes a consultation with an expert in pregnancy massage, followed by an acupuncture session and an antenatal massage designed to relieve nausea, water retention, muscular aches and insomnia.
41/F, Langham Place Hotel, 555 Shanghai St., Mong Kok, 3552-3510