On 25 September, following their Hong Kong debut in Times Square this August, Dutch cosmetic retailer Rituals has opened a second store, in IFC. Hosted by founder and CEO Raymond Cloosterman, the launch event was attended by fans and key Hong Kong figures, including Gaile Lok, Cara G and Angie Ng.
The Rituals psyche is centred around mindfulness and being at peace with oneself. As Cloosterman himself said, “We live so fast these days, we live life in auto-pilot. People have forgotten what it is to enjoy the little things. We help people to take a step back, to slow down. That is our passion.”
The store offers a wide array of luxurious yet affordable skincare products that are inspired by the wisdom and traditions of Asian cultures. Their fragrances, both unprecedented and unique, yet comforting and nostalgic all at once, are meticulously concocted by the world’s finest perfumers. The end results are addictive, timeless scents that you can incorporate into every aspect of your life, filtered into products from body creams and bath soaps to washing-up liquids and car fragrances.
With over 250 products being released each year, Raymond recommends a few of his favourites. First, the iconic shower foam, with a unique gel texture that expands into a creamy foam on contact with water, that completely reinvents the ritual of taking a shower as it invigorates the senses of touch and smell. Another favourite is the Ritual of Samurai Shaving cream, allowing a clean shave without needing to add water – also popular among women, for shaving their legs.
With over 850 stores in Europe, and plans to expand to build a presence in 15 countries in Asia over the next 5 years, Raymond’s life is nothing short of hectic. To relax, he is partial to an early morning run when time allows, or, when possible, stopping by a church for a few minutes of silence and mindful meditation. Offering some words of wisdom, Raymond concluded that, “being happy is not about the big things, it’s about being able to celebrate the small things.”
Editor
Carina Fischer