Imogen Kwok

Self care is a huge part of feeling beautiful for me. I pay just as much attention to my mental/emotional health as I do my beauty regime because the inside/outside are totally intertwined. If I’m feeling bad it shows, the same way as when I’m feeling good.

I’m lucky I’ve never had problematic skin even as a teenager, but the downside is I felt like I was invincible and never paid proper attention to my skincare until a few years ago (this includes not wearing sunscreen and smoking for too many years… I’m still working on quitting). I’m 33 so of course now I’m paranoid about wrinkles, elasticity, jowls and drying up etc. I’m putting more care and effort into my routine now and love it – I’m a chef so I’m good with my hands, I love massaging my face and touching different creams and serums. My skin isn’t sensitive either so I can play around with different products often which is like recipe testing for me – so fun. 

AM: I am not a morning person. No matter how many hours of sleep I’ve had the night before (my sweet spot is 10), it takes me ages to get out of bed. I relish my morning routine because it helps me slowly acclimate to the world. 

I always make hot water with fresh lemon juice and drink it while getting ready. I soak a washcloth with hot water and press it onto my face for comfort and steam– no splashing cold water first thing when I wake up, it’s too jarring. I don’t use a cleanser in the morning.

I always wake up with puffy eyes – nothing helps more than gua sha, but lately I’ve been liking Ilia Beauty Bright Start Activated Eye Cream for mornings when I don’t have time for gua sha.

Light hydrating serum– I really love the viscosity of the Awvi power serum right now.

Vitamin C morning – Raaie Dew Vitamin C Serum.

Barbara Sturm Glow Serum is especially good before putting on makeup to look extra dewy. For a moisturiser, I use Augustinus Bader, The Rich Cream.

Between every layer, I use a fan to help dry properly before adding the next.

PM: I alternate nights between an oil cleanser (Emma Lewisham), and an exfoliating one (Tata Harper Regenerating Cleanser). Then i use Bioderma micellar water and the Fresh rose toner. Again, I’ll use a light hydrating serum.

Then I’ll use Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Bakuchiol Eye Cream: bakuchiol instead of retinol better as it’s milder, and for a hydrating eye cream I like the Augustinus Bader eye cream. 

I use Tata Harper Rejuvenating Serum.

I use a light retinol 2-3 times a week. I am using 0.05% Naturium Retinaldehyde Cream Serum, and then apply a moisturiser again.

I’ll use Nuface and Currentbody LED eye and lip mask in either the morning or evening.

I dyed my hair platinum blonde for about a year and half – it’s only just recovered from totally drying out and breaking off – I had a summer when I woke up looking like a pineapple every morning. The process of fixing it was really painful– a lot of slicked back hair looks to hide the empty patches where hair had snapped off and religiously using hair masks (Christophe Robin Regenerating mask), and so many oils… Nuxe, Lenor Greyl, Olaplex. I used everything including biotin capsules and Barbara Sturm hair care growth cycle hair supplements. I feel Necessaire’s rosemary conditioner has helped with hair growth. I also use Necessaire’s hair peptide serum and their scalp tool at night to massage it in. I make a diluted mixture of apple cider vinegar and water to spray into my roots and get rid of build-up every month. Le Bonne Brosse is the chicest brush I own, and I use a Mason Pearson rake comb in the summer when I’m putting oil in my hair to protect it from the sea and sun. 

My most loved make-up essentials are Saie tinted moisturiser,the Westman Atelier blush stick – it’s so creamy and blends into your skin. Jones Road Miracle Balm in pinky bronze, and the Hermes eyeshadow palettes and eyeliners.

I have Asian monolid eyes so eye makeup has always been challenging and disappointing. I used to put on crazy thick winged black liquid eyeliner because it was the only eye makeup that showed up with a monolid. The colour combinations of the Hermes eye shadows are so sophisticated and unexpected– silver/blue/brown- they have encouraged me to experiment with different shades. I also use the Hermes bronzer.

I bought this Laura Mercier purple eyeshadow palette that I love blending with the Chanel highlighter stick – perfect pearlescent. Then I’ll use the E.l.f eyebrow gel.

I take probiotics daily, tablet electrolytes after exercise on the plane and during the evening if I’ve been drinking alcohol, zooki sachets (they have basically all supplements and are really tasty). I use Mother Made mushroom powder. I make chicken stock all the time with lots of wings to give it the most collagen, and I use Dermatica collagen powder too.

I hate running outdoors battling the elements and exercising where you are jumping up and down a lot.  I have a three-four class a week rotation: The Life Centre for yoga, Barre for weight strengthening, Psycle which I’ve learned to love and the only exercise class I can abide by where the instructor is yelling at you because it’s positive infectious energy.

I’m a true bath person– I don’t own a shower so I take a bath every day. I always say, two on a good day. I treat it like a sauna substitute– the water is very hot until I am sweating. I do all my good reading (and sometimes tv watching) in the bath. Make it luxurious with Bamford Geranium bath oil, Epsom Bath Salts with magnesium, and candles all over the place. Trudon and Diptyque are my favourite right now.

I switch my scent according to the season– I’m not fussy about having a signature scent. I don’t like anything too musky, amber or woodsey. 

Le Labo Thé Matcha 26 : fall/winter 

Maison Margiela Lazy Sunday: spring 

Acqua di Parma Mandarino or Diptyque Citronelle fragrance: summer