‘Just be yourself’: Hilary Tsui on wellness, family and finding beauty in ageing with Chanel Sublimage
For more than a century, Chanel has celebrated self-expression and curiosity—values first embodied by its founder, Gabrielle Chanel, who built a luxury empire by embracing her vision and individuality. Today, the house carries forward this legacy, empowering women to define beauty on their own terms.
This ethos was showcased at an exclusive Chanel event held in a suite at The Peninsula Hong Kong, where guests explored the house’s Sublimage skincare range, which promises rejuvenation and indulgent pampering.
Through mindful rituals, the event demonstrated how Chanel translates its philosophy into practice. Guests were invited to experience hand massages and singing bowl meditation, which embodied the brand’s holistic approach, which includes comfort, confidence and elegance. They also saw how Chanel blends innovation with craftsmanship, practices sustainability, and views self-care as a form of empowerment that builds mental resilience.
To exemplify how curiosity and self-expression can shape a unique aesthetic, Chanel invited Hong Kong’s fashion vanguard Hilary Tsui to share her journey of defining beauty on her own terms. Known for her avant-garde style, this fashion entrepreneur sees it as an attitude—bold, experimental and unapologetically her own. It’s this fearless individuality that has made her one of the city’s most distinctive tastemakers, with over 220,000 followers on Instagram.
Tsui’s bold individuality echoes Chanel founder Gabrielle Chanel’s belief that ‘to be irreplaceable, one must be different’ (Photo: Tatler Hong Kong)
One of Tsui’s favourite products from the Sublimage skincare line is the overnight serum L’Extrait de Nuit (Photo: Tatler Hong Kong)
Being in the public eye has never swayed Tsui from her vision. “I’ve always followed my own way. I don’t care much about mainstream opinions. I wear what I like and what feels comfortable,” she said.
Her fearless individuality echoes the conviction of Chanel that “to be irreplaceable, one must be different.” Tsui reflected that she’s always had a rebellious streak: “The more people tell me to follow a certain path, the more I want to take another.” She thrives on experimenting with new looks and exploring fresh ideas, as fashion remains a lifelong interest that continually fuels her curiosity.
Hilary Tsui poses in front of the Chanel Sublimage installation overlooking Victoria Harbour (Photo: Tatler Hong Kong)
Tsui reflects on how her definition of beauty has evolved, from striving for perfection to embracing confidence and authenticity at Chanel talk (Photo: Tatler Hong Kong)
Tsui admits her expressive style took some getting used to for her daughter, Constance Chan, who debuted as a singer in Hong Kong this June. “She used to run away when I picked her up from school, saying, ‘Mum, why are you dressed like that?’” Over time, her daughter, now 21, began to understand that fashion was her mother’s outlet for expression, especially after realising that her own idols loved dressing up and dyeing their hair too.
Now, mother and daughter often swap fashion pieces—from clothes and handbags to accessories—and exchange styling notes. “She’s quite knowledgeable about make-up, so she’ll share tips with me and tell me what’s trending now,” Tsui said with a laugh. “Since she’s a Zoomer and more social media-savvy, she’ll also suggest which filter to use or what angle works best, like taking photos from above with an ultra-wide lens.”
Sublimage L’Extrait de Nuit is a serum designed to restore and rejuvenate skin after long days during the night (Photo: Chanel)
Sublimage L’Extrait de Crème is a facial cream that enhances the skin’s appearance across different aspects, from hydration to strength and uniformity (Photo: Chanel)
At the same time, Tsui reminds Chan to care for her skin early on, particularly by using sunscreen. “I used to love being outdoors and tanning, but I regret not using sunscreen back then. I thought my skin was strong enough—but UV rays really do damage your skin.”
Another ritual that Tsui takes very seriously is her nighttime skincare routine. For this, she turns to Sublimage L’Extrait de Nuit, her favourite night serum designed to rejuvenate and restore skin overnight, leaving her complexion radiant and refreshed by morning.
My definition of beauty keeps evolving but my belief stays firm
By - Hilary Tsui
Beyond style, Tsui’s life has always been deeply connected to sports—much like Chanel herself, who was an avid sportswoman known for her love of horseback riding and skiing. A long-time running and snowboarding enthusiast, Tsui said, “Exercise has been as essential to me as breathing since I was a kid. Even if I can’t make it to a fitness class, I’ll always find time for a walk.” This commitment not only builds resilience but also keeps her energised. Once drawn to high-intensity workouts like marathons, she now favours restorative practices such as Gyrotonic, following her doctors’ advice to embrace slower forms of movement.
As her approach to fitness has evolved, so too has her understanding of beauty. “Different stages of my life have given me different definitions of beauty,” she reflected. “Ten or 20 years ago, I pursued perfection—I wanted to be fit, toned, slim and sun-kissed, with flawless skin. But at this stage of my life, I’ve learnt to embrace my flaws and accept my imperfections.” Today, Tsui finds beauty not only in self-expression but also in balance and confidence—qualities that define her wardrobe, lifestyle and everything she loves to do.
Explore the La Fascia De Chanel. An exceptional rejuvenating and repairing treatment that acts on the look of all the skin’s youth parameters, enhanced by the signature La Fascia De Chanel massage. Contact a CHANEL Client Care Advisor to book an appointment by phone: +852 3622 5281, for more information: https://www.chanel.com/hk-en/skincare/les-soins-fascia-de-chanel/