Author: Beauty Gazette

Sephora Singapore re-opens flagship store at Ion Orchard

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When Sephora first threw open its doors at Ngee Ann City in Singapore in late 2008, it revolutionised the beauty retail landscape in the city. Department stores no longer dominated the beauty shopping scene, and a plethora of brands were introduced to the market. By the following year, the LVMH-owned Sephora went on the offensive and opened its then-largest store in Southeast Asia, a 1,200 sq m store in Ion Orchard. Today, there are 11 outlets of the multi-brand beauty superstore; from the swanky malls on the main shopping strips to the suburbs. Over the years, Sephora has kept up its game. It introduced new and exclusive brands every quarter, such as Urban Decay, NYX, Ciate, Butter London, For Beloved One, moonshot, Nudestix, and Living Proof, as well as limited edition sets that were only available at selected Sephora stores. By the middle of 2015, Sephora bought beauty e-commerce site Luxola to ease its transition in selling goods online in Southeast Asia, and launched Sephora.sg earlier this year. To accommodate the re-shuffling of floor space at …

Nars Survival Kit 2

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All you need to look like you’ve got everything in control.  Like when you’re at the airport of a foreign country for a  work trip and discover that your luggage didn’t arrive with you. Or when you’ve just got yourself a fabulous but tiny purse, and need to fit your whole life in it.  Enter the Nars Survival Kit 2.  The palette features the light lavender Tokyo II (also colour-correcting) eyeshadow to brush all over the lids  to make eyes look brighter.  The rich, deep brown Galapagos eyeshadow with gold flecks is made for smudged, sexy smokey eyes. Some prefer to wet the brush and use the shadow as liner.  The Modesty and Day Dream Blush make for multi-dimensional cheek bones; use the light colour on top cheek bones and the coral pink on apples of cheeks to hairline.  The pigmented deep red-fuchsia Phantasia Lip Gloss adds polish and a pop of colour to the face.  Complete eye makeup with Black Moon Audacious Mascara. 

Skin on skin: Caring for your tattoos

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Why do some tatts look better than others? Tattoo artist Morris Terence (Instagram/ @mowwwis) says while 50 per cent is attributed to the artist’s skills, the other 50 per cent depends on the aftercare. Here’s what to expect, and note, the month after you get your skin inked.  Day 1 – 3: The lines of the tattoo are essentially open wounds. So most importantly, keep it clean and dry. This means there is no need to apply moisturiser or Vaseline on the freshly inked skin. Don’t go swimming, soak in a tub, or take long showers. If you live in a humid climate, avoid wrapping the tattoo in cling wrap.  You can shower and exercise as usual. Just keep the tattooed area clean and dry afterwards. Pat skin dry with a clean towel after showering, do not rub. Avoid stretching and rubbing the tattooed areas when you work out. Stay out of the sun. Sunburns will cause skin to peel unnecessarily, and there goes the clarity of your tatt. Day 3 – 7: The inked part starts …

Original Mineral Project Sukuroi Gold Smoothing Balm

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I dye my hair pretty often.  And there is nothing I hate more than dry, brassy strands.  So besides trimming my locks often, I am always on the look out for good hair conditioners/ leave-in treatments/ masks. The kind that sink into the strands and really nourishing and healing them instead of staying on the surface of the hair and weighing them down with an annoying greasiness. Like most of the Original Mineral haircare products, this smoothing balm really works for me.  My coloured and bleached hair becomes super smoothe, manageable and bouncy-healthy looking whenever I use it. The colour of my hair also looks richer after use. Project Sukuroi was inspired by the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold lacquer. The hydrating and conditioning formula is made with antioxidant-rich oil from the Camelina plant, Australian macadamia oil that locks moisture in, as well as Keratin to strengthen, restore and smoothe hair.  Another plus: O&M products are free from sulfates, parabens, triclosan and phthalates.

Origins’ new masking essentials

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When there’s so much to do between the deadlines, online shopping at midnight and catching up on Orange Is The New Black episodes, it is little wonder that you don’t have time for a spa session.  So brands like Origins are stepping up on its masking range, so you can get your DIY facial done infront of the screen at home. I really like the new By All Greens deep cleansing mask. The creamy formula foams up like most oxygen masks when you spread it onto the skin. Made with green tea, spirulina and spinach, it perked up my skin like a vitamin shot. It felt plump and had a nice glow. My skin did not feel too tight and dry afterwards, while the pores looked finer too. Spritz on the Maskimizer Primer (which works like a regular skin softener) before applying the mask for best results. The new GinZing Peel-off Mask is a little tricky to apply.  The formula contains quite a bit of alcohol, it can sting and smart the eyes as you …

Trending: Red eyeshadow 

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So Chanel will be launching its Le Rouge collection in Fall.  And the star of the collection that anyone who is anyone on Insta is raving about:  That red shadow palette in the corner there.  So red smokey eyes are the next big thing… Or not? The most talented beauty vloggers/ make up artists out there have already been smoking up their peepers in rich scarlet, burgundy, wine and deep red-bronze for the last couple of months. And now, Chanel is hoping to make red eyeshadow mainstream while being edgy (this clever blend is its fail-safe success formula for its fashion line). Kirsten Dunst rocks the red powders in Chanel’s campaign pictures. The look is kept matte for maximum fierce-ness.  And how does everyone else wear red shadow?   With pressed flitter on top, maybe? Bright, bold, and on the edge?  And how does it look on Asian eyes?  Gorgeous when smoked out and lined with wispy burgundy-brown liner. And with a bit of shine. Add bold brows. How would you wear red shadow?

TBG Interview: Kate Forbes, head of R&D, Aesop

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In town for the launch of Aesop’s new Lucent Facial Concentrate (more details below), Dr Kate Forbes has been instrumental in the Australian brand’s  formulas for the last 15 years. She tells The Beauty Gazette why and how Aesop products can be blended together for a customised solution for the skin. “Our approach to the skincare routine is simple: everyone is different. It all depends on the environment they live and work in, their skin type, the skin-feel they like after the application of the products, their stress levels. All these factors affect how the skin looks. So we talk to our customers to offer a prescribed solution for their needs, mixing and matching the options in the different ranges. There is a palette of Aesop ingredients that we use quite frequently. Such as an aloe vera base for gel serums, and creams because it is so soothing; chamomile extract to calm; as well as the antioxidants like green tea extract and Vitamin C. So certain products work well when blended together.” Here are some “formulas” …

A closer look at Urban Decay’s Alice Through The Looking Glass palette

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Launching in stores July 6, this new palette is filled with 20 new shades. The bright colours are just as fantastical as the movie, and the packaging was made to match. Open up the box and you are greeted with a 3D butterfly; while the eyeshadows are tucked in a drawer. Another beautiful collector’s item from the brand. Because you can never have too many eyeshadows; even if you just want to keep them in the box so you can admire the shades. If you don’t own any eyeshadow palettes, this might be a good investment. Almost half of the shades are easy-to-wear nudes and browns and greys, which you can also blend with the out-there pinks and oranges for a bolder look. But judging by the tonality of the colours, this palette would be most suitable for those with warmer skin tones. Picture source: Urban Decay  

Jeffree Star

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If you don’t already know by now, I’m a huge fan of the indie make-up label by Jeffree Star.  A former make-up artist and one-time Internet pop sensation, Star turned back to his all-time passion – make-up!- about a year ago.  And he has proven himself to be a genius as a make-up formula magician. He creates textures and colours that no one else has (just like how all the other famous brand founders Francois Nars, Charlotte Tilbury, Wende Zomnir of Urban Decay, Bobbi Brown, all started out). Star takes things further with intense pigments, and shades that look like meh in a tube but wears beautifully on every skin tone. They are matte but not drying, liquid but so easy to apply, and lasts like no other. His Velour Liquid Lipsticks are always sold out – especially the more popular ones like Unicorn Blood, Androgyny, Gemini – within minutes after they are launched on his site. Star has since moved on to lip scrubs and some serious Skin Frost highlighters that will make you shine …

Gucci Bamboo Eau de Toilette

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Says Gucci: “The new scent pulsates with the original fragrance’s inspiration: bamboo, one of the House’s most celebrated and elegant design signatures, and its references in the Gucci woman. The rich woody floral finds new edge with a bright mandarin note. Lighter than the original essence, Gucci Bamboo Eau de Toilette offers alluring insight into the Gucci woman’s sensual, romantic side.” Says me:  A pretty fruity-floral; bright, fresh, a little sparkly, a hint of clean linen, peachy, slightly sweet. An everyday scent.