The appointment comes as Clarins launched its first-ever men's line in Hong Kong ahead of a global rollout scheduled in the middle of the year.
But Kwok will serve as the celebrity face for the entire brand, not just its men's line.
Margaret Leung, president of France's Clarins Group, said the company chose a male celebrity for a brand targeted at women to better differentiate itself from competitors such as Biotherm and SKII, which use female stars.
"Female images are so plentiful in Hong Kong and that is the case across different age groups and brands. We wanted to do something different.
SKII has a number of females it uses, so do Biotherm, L'Oreal and Revlon.
We decided to go with a male face because women want admiration from the opposite sex," said Leung.
Kwok, who also represents Pepsi, Fuji Films and a number of other brands, was selected for his strong character, good skin and wholesome lifestyle.
"He doesn't smoke, take drugs or drink and he is very talented. The fact that he represents these brands, we know that he is popular and considered attractive, and that he is the most in demand celebrity. He is not just well-known here, but across Asia," she added.
"Clarins' policy has always been to use visuals of women of different age groups. We don't even stick with one model, unless it is for the body because a good body model can be hard to come by. When it comes to the face, we like fresh, happy faces," said Leung.
She added that in Asia, celebrities and brands were a powerful combination, with consumers of all ages seeing popular stars as role models.
Kwok will represent the brand at events. He will also be featured in communications campaigns in Asia, and will play a key role in promoting the brand's new men's skincare line. The new product line will be available at a 'men's spa' which upscale retailer Lane Crawford will be opening in Hong Kong. Leung added: "Today's men, especially those under 35, are more likely to use skincare and be more aware of their appearance. We believe this is a booming market, and we are giving these men their own products in terms of packaging and fragrance. We're looking to gain 15 per cent of the category."
