5 Products Not to Miss at SLT's Perpetually Packed Cosmetics Store Harmay

If you've traveled along the road between Changhongqiao and Sanlitun recently then you may have noticed a long line snaking down the sidewalk outside the newly-renovated BEI Zhaolong Hotel. However, these people aren't queuing for rooms, they're battling it out to get into new cosmetics shop Harmay.

Harmay has made a surprisingly successful transition from online to offline retail, with stores in Shanghai, Hong Kong, and now Beijing. The feel of the Beijing store is more factory chic than luxury boutique, with the downstairs area dedicated to bins full of makeup and sample-size items, while upstairs you will find racks and rack of everything from shampoo to face masks. It's not entirely clear how or why (it's not a duty-free store, for example) but you can expect discounts of around RMB 20-100 compared to usual retail prices.

It should go without saying but these are not cheap brands, so don't expect to be walking away with a basket of items for under RMB 100. But if you're a skincare junkie with no visit to a duty-free on the horizon, then Harmay will definitely give you the fix you need.

Stuck for choice (or time)? Here are five products you won't want to leave Harmay without.

Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II, RMB 502 (usually RMB 590)
Renew your skin overnight with this cult classic. Primarily an anti-aging product, it's also great for dry and dull skin (it contains lots of moisture-attracting hyaluronic acid), and since it is oil-free and non-comedogenic it can also be used by people with oily and acne-prone skin. Truly a miracle product.

Crème de la Mer The Moisturizing Cream RMB 1,233 (usually RMB 1,450)
The OG luxury skin cream, Crème de la Mer may cost a pretty penny but with celebrity fans such as Kim Kardashian West and Chrissy Teigen it must be doing something right. Based on the brand's trademark "Miracle Broth," made with sea kelp, algae, and other ingredients, the cream hydrates, nourishes, and renews dry skin.

Kiehl's Calendula Herbal-Extract Toner 500ml RMB 485 (usually RMB 570)
Haven't added a toner to your skincare routine yet? You're missing a trick. A good toner helps to unclog pores, refresh skin, and prep it for products like serums and moisturizers. Kiehl's alcohol-free calendula toner won't dry or irritate skin (and it is full of pretty petals to boot).

DHC Deep Cleansing Oil 200ml, RMB 131 (usually RMB 218)
Beijing's dry winter can play havoc with your skin and traditional soap-based cleansers can exacerbate those effects. Deep cleanse skin without drying with this olive oil-based cleanser from Japanese brand DHC, which binds to sunscreen, makeup, and daily grime, rinsing away easily with warm water. 

Erno Laszlo Multi-Task Eye Serum Mask, RMB 31 each (usually RMB 280/six)
Let's be honest, life in Beijing can be hectic and often the first place to show it is your eyes. These silk stick-on patches contain algae extract, vitamin B3, amino acids, and allantoin to help combat a multitude of sins including dark circles, puffiness, fine lines, and wrinkles.

*Prices correct at the time of our visit, RRP taken from the brands' official stores on Taobao/Tmall.

Harmay
Daily 10am-10am. 1-2/F (attached to BEI Zhaolong Hotel), 2 Gongti North Road, Chaoyang District (7744 3764)
朝阳区工体北路2号一层

READ: Stay Soft With These Skin Care Tips for Beijing's Windy WInters

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Images: Robynne Tindall, courtesy of the brands