Ignae brings sustainable luxury to The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel, Hong Kong

Last month, Ignae, a clean beauty skincare brand at the cutting edge of technology, launched its first Asia-based collaboration with The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel, Hong Kong. The partnership resulted in three holistic facial and body experiences now available at the hotel. 

Originating from the stunning volcanic Azores archipelago, located off the coast of Portugal, Ignae is the brainchild of Miguel Pombo, a native of the area and an expert in ingredient manufacturing and EU beauty regulation. Miguel expanded his brand through a partnership with Claire Chung, a serial entrepreneur with two decades of experience in the luxury sector and the woman who launched Net-a-Porter in China.

We caught up with Claire and Miguel over lunch at Four Seasons’ three-Michelin-starred Caprice to learn more about their brand and the idyllic-sounding Azores archipelago. (Spoiler alert: Once you’ve read this, you’ll want to pack your bags and go there, immediately). 

What’s the story behind Ignae?

(Miguel) I began my career as a policy officer at the Azores Government and went on to work in European regulatory affairs in Brussels. I’ve always been interested in botany and recognised the exceptional anti-ageing properties of ingredients native to the Azores that far surpassed those in any other product.

In 2012, I founded Azores Life Science, through which I conducted scientific research on the ingredients of native Azores. After five years of intensive research and development, I launched my skincare brand, Ignae. A friend introduced me to Claire, who was working at Net-a-Porter in Shanghai. She was looking for an opportunity to collaborate with a brand like mine, and so our partnership was born. 

Why did you leave your position with Net-a-Porter in China to join a start-up? 

(Claire) I came across Ignae while working at Net-A-Porter in Shanghai. I had a stressful lifestyle; I was ageing quickly, and my usual skincare products weren’t doing much to help. Miguel sent me some Ignae products to try, and I immediately noticed an improvement in my skin. I was so impressed that I went to the Azores to meet Miguel and the Professors at the University of Azores (partnered with the brand). I joined the team in 2020; we reformulated to clean beauty and made a biotech breakthrough with our first proprietary ingredient. 

What’s unique about Ignae?

(Claire) Ignae products are rooted in scientific research and development, while the active ingredients are sourced from the volcanic Azores islands, and we use mineral-rich volcanic water. Our ingredients cannot be recreated by anyone else or manufactured in a laboratory. Our patent-pending EPC Factor allows liposomes to reach deep into the layers to regenerate the skin cells. For this reason, the products are beneficial for mature skin, although they work with all skin types.

What’s unique about the Azores archipelago?

(Miguel) Located in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, the Azores archipelago is a little-known paradise, formed due to a volcanic eruption and developed over six million years. The environment boasts abundant lush nature and unique ecosystems. Human occupation is very recent. You can find deep ocean seabeds and hot springs next to luscious forests. These conditions result in a rare biosystem with enriched soil and thermal water. We source our mineral-rich thermal water from the crater of an active volcano and extract our main ingredients from Furnas, a lush region boasting more than 20 types of spring water and thousands of different botanical species.

Can you explain the product range?

(Claire) Our range is deliberately simplified because we believe less is more. We currently offer nine products: one for the body and one for the eyes, three serums, two creams, one cleanser, and a mask. We embrace clean beauty principles and harness the synergy between nature and science, and as such, our products deliver superior results without requiring a complicated and multi-step skincare routine. 

What is your wellness routine?

(Claire) I’m very busy and rather lazy with my routine! I only use Ignae products; seeing how my skin tone has improved has been incredible. I visit the Hamman every week to sweat out toxins, and I use thalassotherapy (seawater as a form of therapy). At home, I use red light and ultrasound devices on my skin. Afterwards, I apply our Day Complex or Rich Night Serum and Eye Complex serum. And after a bath, I love using our body oil. 

Ignae is a ‘clean beauty’ brand. What does this mean?

(Miguel) In essence, ‘clean beauty’ means that a brand does not rely on chemicals or harsh processes to create its products and it does not use manufacturing processes that generate dangerous or undesirable by-products. Ignae is one of around 165 brands worldwide that is independently accredited with Positive Luxury’s distinguished Butterfly Mark, a UK-based leading sustainability certification and the highest sustainability recognition. Sustainability is at the heart of our work. Our raw ingredients are ‘wild harvested’ under strict Forest Stewardship Council practices, and our products are underpinned by research and development through our platform, Azores Life Science, which allows us to create our ingredients through safe and sustainable processes. 

What attracted you to The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel, Hong Kong?

(Claire) I lived in Hong Kong for many years and often visited after I relocated to Shanghai. When I come to Hong Kong, I always stay at the Four Seasons and visit The Spa; I consider it the best spa in the city. When Ignae was looking for a spa partner in Asia, we approached Four Seasons Hotel, Hong Kong first and we were thrilled that they accepted. 

The Ignae Digital Detox Retreat is so unique. Please tell us more?

(Claire) We designed this treatment to alleviate long-term stress caused by too much time spent working on the computer. During my time at Net-a-Porter, I had chronic strained neck and shoulder problems, and traditional European techniques didn’t help. While creating this treatment, we worked with the Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine to incorporate Chinese Tui Na techniques with products like our Blue Light Serum, to offer a truly holistic experience.

Ignae treatments at The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel, Hong Kong cost $3,280 for 90 minutes. The Spa at Four Seasons, 6/F, Four Seasons Hotel, 8 Finance Street, Central, Hong Kong