How Beauty Brands Celebrate the Chinese New Year of Red Monkey

Celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year has become a common merriment all over the world, and all major brands and designers are paying a tribute to it in their own way. For ringing in the occasion, they offer designs dressed in traditional Chinese festive colors, gold and red (red represents gold fortune, while gold color symbolizes prosperity), often inspired by the Chinese zodiac animal sign. For Chinese people, each year is being represented by an animal, and 2016 will be the Year of Monkey. As the Chinese lunar calendar enters the new year, let’s take a look at a couple of new beauty products worth celebrating.

Estée Lauder is joining in with the celebrations of the Chinese New Year. The famous luxury brand has released The Year of the Monkey limited edition of its Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recover Complex II. Available only for a limited time, Estée Lauder's most popular repair serum arrives in a gold-colored bottle, adorned with a Year of the Monkey detachable keychain. In addition to the red-colored monkey charm, the keychain features a special red plate with Estée Lauder’s insignia in gold. The special The Year of the Monkey - Advanced Night Repair' Synchronized Recover Complex II retails at $92.00, and it is available for purchase at Nordstrom.

In addition, the house of Estée Lauder has released the luxurious The Year of the Monkey Powder Compact, which is described as one of the most charming ways to celebrate. This refillable, golden compact, set with Swarovski crystals, depicts a monkey holding a peach. This common representation in Chinese visual imagery signifies a symbol of marriage, spring and immortality. The compact includes a convenient mirror, and is delivered in a special presentation box, together with a velvety puch. The compact opens to reveal Estée Lauder’s most versatile Lucidity Translucent Pressed Powder, which creates a refined soft-focus effect. The Year of the Monkey' Powder Compact retails at $150.00 at Nordstrom.

Givenchy Prisme Libre Year of the Monkey Edition features a limited edition packaging, dressed in traditional festive colors. This Chinese zodiac inspired design features a red colored lid, decorated with golden edge and gold-colored insignia of the brand. This mattifying and color-correcting loose powder is available in a Mousseline Pastel color harmony, which is all about sugar-coated colors that correct and reduce imperfections for a natural opal effect. The product is exclusive to Asia.

M•A•C Cosmetics is also celebrating the Year of the Monkey in a grand manner. The brand has announced a a collection of lively shades and flickering finishes inspired by the drama of Chinese opera. The collection is available online and at select M•A•C stores while supplies last. With any product you purchase, M•A•C will give you a complimentary gilded red envelope, in accordance to one of the favorite Chinese traditions. 

 
M•A•C Eyeshadow - $16

• Mylar – Creamy white with shimmer Satin
• Goldmine - Intense gold with shimmer Frost
• Carbon - Intense black Matte

M•A•C Penultmate Eyeliner- $21

• Rapidblack - True black

M•A•C Lipstick - $17.00

• Frou - Soft beige with silver shimmer Glaze
• See Sheer - Grapefruit pink Lustre
• Lady Danger - Vivid bright coral-red Matte
• Russian Red - Intense bluish-red Matte

M•A•C Powderblush - $22.00

• Modern Mandarin - Red-orange Satin

The Italian fashion designer, Giorgio Armani, also honors the Year of the Monkey with a limited edition face palette, while the French luxury fashion house of Yves Saint Laurent releases a very special, limited edition of its YSL Couture Palette. The Armani’s palate is priced at €85, while YSL’s retails at retails at $60.00.