Here’s the article I wrote about Saint Charles Apotheke for Mintel’s BPC website: Saint Charles Berlin. Enjoy! My April feature will be on niche perfumery store Belle Rebelle in Charlottenburg.
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German budget makeup brand @essence_cosmetics has just launched what looks like its most inclusive colour range yet. Hashtagged #thisisme, the new collection offers 20 lip colours and 20 nail polishes developed for a wider selection of skin tones than Essence's usually more Caucasian-dominated ranges. The shades are divided into four colour families (light, medium, tan and dark) and a range of colour swatches runs along the edge of the display case to make it easier to select the correct shade. The lipsticks are deeply pigmented, with a semi-matte finish (I didn't try out the nail polishes) and it looks like the new launch is part of Essence's regular portfolio update rather than a mere limited edition. What I'm particularly impressed with is that the brand really could have gone all out in terms of marketing - like, "look at us, we're so awesomely inclusive!" I looked at the official Essence Insta coverage that referenced their new collection and the terms "inclusive" or "diverse" do not appear in any of the hashtags or the posts. Instead, the tonality is matter of fact and very neutral. I really like that but then again I'm already a huge fan of Cosnova, the manufacturer of Essence and sister brand @catrice.cosmetics 😀. Cosnova is an independently owned company with two highly successful and attractive brands (there's also a third brand, LOV, which is only available online). The more teen-oriented Essence is sold in some 80 markets worldwide; Catrice (with a slightly older demographic, sophisticated and stylish) also has a solid international presence. #cosnova leads the German colour cosmetics sector, with a massive product portfolio in both brands, and a constant stream of trend-driven product innovations (seriously, their launch schedule is staggering!). Add the very low price point and the very wide distribution in Germany and internationally and it's no surprise that Essence has become such a major player in the German and European colour cos market. #germany #makeup #diversebeauty #inclusivebeauty #drugstorebeautyI finally ordered @starbucks China's famed Icy Dumplings! Such a pretty-looking dessert 😍. I'd seen this on the menu board on various Starbucks stores in Shanghai on each previous visit but had never gotten around to actually ordering it. But today (last day in Shanghai and all that) I did! I had imagined the dumplings to be frozen fruit ice cream triangles but they are jelly dumplings with different mochi-type fillings that shimmer through the clear jelly layer: (from 12 o'clock) Cranberry Yoghurt, Teavana Peach Flavour, Matcha Sea Salt Cheese, Cold Brew and in the middle, Piña Colada. The price point of this dessert is definitely in the premium category (one set of ten dumplings costs as much as nine medium-sized iced americanos), so I probably wouldn't order them again, but they do taste delicious. I like the fact that Starbucks offers such an enchantingly regional dessert - as far as I'm aware the dumplings are only available in Starbucks stores in mainland China, not in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan or Korea. In fact, I continue to be impressed by how well the East Asian Starbucks divisions/subsidiaries/franchises (or whatever the Starbucks business model looks like) adapt their food and beverage options to their regional markets. The European Starbuckses all look the same, more or less (similar foods, drinks and merchandise) but when you look at Starbucks Japan, Starbucks China or Starbucks Korea - each of these chains offers an entirely different range of coffee and tea beverages, sweets, foods and cakes/desserts, tailored to the local preferences. Like Starbucks Japan with its seasonal beverages, for example, (sakura/cherry blossom-themed drinks in spring or autumn leaves/Halloween-inspired coffee/hot chocolate beverages in October/November). Or Starbucks China with the Icy Dumplings! And before you ask: yes, I do spend a lot of time in Starbucks cafés when I'm trade show traveling in Asia 😀 (I like to go there to work). #starbuckschina #dessert #icydumplings #onlyinchinaAt Tipsy/Sober Bar, Shanghai: Tipsy doesn't like you to take photos so I took a pic of the napkin instead 😍. Bartender's creation (no menu in this bar: I asked for something strong, experimental and Asian): a riff on a martini - Japanese gin infused with gyokuro green tea, Japanese rice vinegar and @the_japanese_bitters shiso and yuzu bitters. Delicious; loved the shiso note! Served in vintage glassware (my goblet was more than a century old; this kind of antique glass sings in the most beautiful soprano voice when you tap it with your finger nails 😍😍). Thank you @kazuhisarai! #tipsybar #soberbar #mixology #craftcocktails #shanghaibars @soberspeaker @sober_company #drinkstagram #shanghaiAt Sober Café, Shanghai (we want to get access to the #sobertipsybar and you need a special chip from each of the bars in Sober Café/Bar/Restaurant!): Jasmine Swizzle - jasmine-infused rum, lemon-sugar syrup, soda. Garnish: A sprig of dried jasmine flowers. Refreshing and floral. After we've had this drink we're allowed entry to the holiest of holies, the #tipsybar 🤩. #sobercafe #shanghaibars #mixology @sober_company @soberspeaker #craftcocktails #drinkstagram #shanghai #SSG #sobergroupAt Sober Bar, Shanghai: Ox (from the bar's Star Sign menu): a mezcal-based negroni aged in an actual leather bag (!). The leathery notes on the palate are indescribably awesome 😍. Served on a square ice cube embossed with the picture of an ox (which unfortunately isn't quite visible in the picture). #shanghaibars #soberbar @sober_company @soberspeaker #mixology #craftcocktails #drinkstagram #shanghai #SSG #sobergroupAt Sober Bar, Shanghai: Matatlán - mezcal, tequila, sweet vermouth, Amaro and bitters. Smoked with cinnamon and cloves. Served with a dish of Taiwan-style bamboo charcoal-coated peanuts. Lightly smoky with a soft sweetness and herbal notes on the palate. So nice to be back in this amazing bar! #shanghaibars #soberbar @soberspeaker #mixology @sober_company #craftcocktails #drinkstagram #shanghai #SSG #sobergroupAt Sober Kitchen, Shanghai: Osmanthus Wheat Ale from Taste Room, a craft beer brewery from Hangzhou. Delicious food and good company 🤩 @tasteroom_brewery @soberspeaker #soberbar #soberkitchen #shanghai #SSG #sobergroupLunch with @icecook at Eat Dumplings near #Mintel's new Shanghai office. Delicious. #shanghaiThis is @sephora China's Skin 'n Seed skin and body care collection. The range was designed by French branding agency @centdegreschina and is only available in Sephora's mainland China stores (although there's a chance that the brand might be rolled out internationally at some point. I've also seen the products listed in several of Sephora's Asian online stores). The line-up offers four ranges - Lemon Seeds, Cucumber Seeds, Grape Seeds and Camellia Seeds and as you'd expect from a Centdégres-designed brand, the packaging is stunning 🤩. #sephorachina #retail #chinesebrand #chinaretail #shanghai #trendhunting
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