Imagine you’re transported to Ireland, driving along the coastline of Connemara, passing through ancient stone walls, coral beaches, cliffs and coves under a greyish-blue sky. You get out for a breath of fresh air, stand in the vast open facing the sea with wind breezing through your hair and soak in the salty, crisp air and that one ray of sunshine that illuminates your face. Pause, relax and replenish. This is where the inspiration for Hibernicis was born.
Celebrating Ireland’s rich history and culture, among its scenic landscape, Hibernicis is a luxury bodycare brand here to renew your mind, body and soul. Founder Catherine Logue took it upon herself to create a skincare brand that blends time-honoured heritage with Mother Nature at her finest. ‘Hibernicis,’ itself means ‘of or from Ireland,’ a simple meaning yet so profound. Moreover, Hibernicis is written in Ogham, an ancient system of runes, which can be found etched in centuries-old pillars of stone across Ireland. For something deeply and meaningfully crafted, I can only imagine how this translates into the products made for skin.
*Side note: Those with sensitive skin should exercise caution as essential oils may trigger skin irritation.
I was deeply humbled to spend one nice afternoon with the Hibernicis team. From my viewpoint, they’re not just selling skincare products, they’re selling you an experience. My visit was an informative one, greeted by the friendly team that showered my skin with essential bodycare that is all made with at least 95% natural and naturally derived ingredients. I’m all for brands that create with intention, and with Hibernicis, they harness the power of nature and couple it with science, searching for possibilities until they find the best solution.
The hero ingredient that’s found in all of Hibernicis’s products is seaweed extract. Seaweed is a powerful antioxidant packed with vitamins K, B, A and E to improve skin tone, texture and elasticity. And as an antioxidant, it can protect skin from free radicals, and hydrate and repair skin. Alongside seaweed extracts are a number of essential oils used to nurture the body, as well. I’m rest assured that I’m in for the ultimate treat after learning of this and that the formulations meet global safety regulations.
We started with the bestselling pre-shower bath treatment ÚR (New) Exfoliating Gel, which has tiny exfoliating microbeads and a blend of seven seaweed extracts that work harmoniously to detoxify and cleanse the skin while maintaining moisture levels. Many exfoliators I’ve previously tried were a bit harsh and dried out my skin, which made the end result sensitive. But with ÚR, none of that happened. We massaged it onto my arm in circular motions while my skin was dry, adding a little water to emulsify, before rinsing off. I was surprised at how my skin stayed moisturised, in fact, more moisturised and supple than it was before. I especially enjoyed the scent of peppermint and spearmint essential oils that had rejuvenating effects. And if you just happen to be in luck and have a steam room nearby, step in, apply the exfoliating gel and you’ll notice its incredible restorative properties!
Next in line was the SONAS (Happiness) Bath + Shower Gel. As its name suggests, its texture and scent both invite positivity, keeping spirits high and of course, happy. The gel had a soft texture that lathered gently onto my skin, moisturising the skin while washing off dirt and impurities. The best part for me was the unforgettable scent. I relished in a blend of geranium, rosemary, lemon and mandarin that reduce stress and anxiety while uplifting the body. After rinsing, I dabbed on a few drops of the SONAS (Happiness) Shower Oil, complementing the shower gel, while my skin was still wet to lock in moisture and rinsed once more before finishing off with the SÓLÁS (Comfort) Body Lotion. This body lotion is a nice way to end the day and wind down with notes of lavender, bergamot, sandalwood, mandarin and ylang-ylang essential oils, which all work in unison to calm and relax the mind, body and spirit.
It’s clear that Hibernicis is more than just a skincare brand; it also prioritises health and wellness. So much thought goes into creating each and every single product that I was curious what they have to keep in mind when crafting a formulation. As I was lucky to speak directly to Hibernicis’s skin chemist Wendy Jowers, she explained how lengthy a process it is and that they have to take into account many considerations, like the types of seaweed extracts used, how to source them, ensure that worldwide regulations are met for quality and safety and understanding market needs. Moreover, knowing how to marry the different ingredients is a skill hard to master. I mean, who would have thought seaweed had such profound effects for skin in the first place?!
The more I learned about the brand, the more positive I became about the future of skincare and how it can positively impact the world. Hibernicis champions sustainability and being mindful. Ingredients are ethically sourced and operational processes and manufacturing are done in a way that leaves the least carbon footprint. Bottles used are designed so that they can be repurposed into mini vases while the tubes can be reused for striking plant roots and growing seeds and seedlings; essentially, you can grow your own mini herb garden! The outer packaging is made from FSC-sourced paper printed with vegetable ink. Even Hibernicis’s physical shop was repurposed from a specialty butcher shop. Everything is just purposefully done with sustainability in mind. I even got to walk out with a reusable string shopping bag, happy girl!
Hibernicis offers a number of bodycare products apart from the ones mentioned in this feature, like a must-have body serum that’s perfect for Hong Kong’s humidity. As to what’s next for the brand, not much can be said, we’ll just have to wait and see. But, it’s safe to say that there are new and exciting products in the pipeline, so we just have to stay tuned!
