Author: Beauty Gazette

Urban Decay x Gwen Stefani 

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I’ll say it here. Urban Decay’s Lipstick collab with Gwen Stefani is to die for.  The colours are so rich, creamy, so pigmented, so gorgeous. Best lippies from UD so far. They are long-lasting, stain the lips evenly, and are opaque in one slick. But because they are so pigmented, they tend to bleed a little. It isn’t a big issue. But if you are particular, you may want to layer a complementary lip liner underneath.  I really like Spiderweb (a bright blue-red), Rocksteady (a dark red), and Firebird (a hot orchid fuchsia).

Urban Decay and Ruby Rose

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So, Urban Decay is working on its edge factor. It has appointed Australian model, DJ, actress, model as its new muse and brand ambassador. Rose is known for her gorgeous features, colourful tattoos, androgyny, and her devil-may-care attitude. “Urban Decay believes in supporting individuality and personal self-expression – two values I hold very dear – because everyone deserves the freedom to explore their personality and discover their true selves,” says Rose. Can’t wait to see what this partnership means for upcoming Urban Decay collections 🤘🏻

Tom Ford Spring 2016 collection

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Tom Ford’s makeup collection always makes my heart beat faster.  Ford’s glamourous image and branding, the sleek packaging, the innovative formulas, and the intense colours all make up a winning formula. This latest spring collection is a hit with me, especially with the new Patent Finish Lip Color. A combination of an intense lip stain and gloss, the lightweight liquid lipstick is dispensed through a click-pen velvet-tipped applicator for precision. Despite the formula’s viscous consistency, it is comfortable on the lips with no sticky afterfeel. The liquid lipstick is also relatively long-lasting and stains the pout.     Available in eight shades of red and pink.  The Cream Eyeshadow is smooth and silky, and offers sheer, buildable coverage with a fine iridescent, metallic finish. Perfect as a powder shadow base for longer-lasting eye make-up, and for lining the eyes lightly.     Ford’s Eye Colour Quads are my all-time favourites. The pigmented colours and textures (matte, metallic, glittery, iridescent), all complement each other well for interesting and dimensional eye make-up.  Disco Dust, one of the latest palettes, …

Why scented skincare probably won’t work for your skin

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Especially if you have skin that becomes easily irritated. Dr Alain Khaiat, president of the Cosmetic Toiletry Fragrance Association of Singapore (CTFAS), and vice-president of Technical and Scientific Affairs ASEAN Cosmetic Association; gives The Beauty Gazette the low down. Fragrances do not irritate the skin; their level in skin care products is low, usually below 0.2 per cent to cover the smell of the formula and give a pleasant odor on the skin. However, some have developed an allergy to fragrance ingredients. In Singapore, data from the National Skin Center shows that five per cent of the allergic population is sensitised to fragrance. In general, the percentage of the allergic population is about 10 per cent of the total population (or 0.5 per cent of consumers in general) may have an allergy to one fragrance ingredient. They will react to most fragranced products, so their best choice is “fragrance-free” brands. Do not make the mistake of thinking that natural fragrance oils or essential oils are different. The odorous ingredients that are responsible for some of …

How Cate Blanchett prepared her skin for the Oscars

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Trust me, I’ve seen Cate Blanchett up close during a face-to-face interview. Besides the fact that she is lovely and humble, her skin glows with a radiance that cannot be faked. Of course, she has good genes for sure; but an arsenal of effective skincare products definitely helps. (I know from experience that the SK-II Facial Treatment Essence does not work for everyone. But when it does, you can’t live without it.) Cate looked gorgeous as usual at the Oscars red carpet in Armani Prive. Here’s a sneak peek at what happened behind-the-scenes when she was getting her skin and make-up ready. Here’s what Cate’s make-up artist Jeanine Lobell did to enhance the star’s megawatt glow: 1. Prep skin with the Facial Treatment Essence 2. Follow with the new Facial Treatment Oil 3. Seal skin with the anti-ageing RNA moisturiser 4. Mix a few drops of the Treatment Oil into the foundation for extra dewiness. 5. Spritz Mid-Day Miracle Essence over make-up to set it and further hydrate skin. In an exclusive e-mail interview with …

Foreo Luna 2

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The key to a glowing complexion is simple: cleanse and exfoliate well.  Honestly, the best scrubs, cleansing oils and facial wash alone cannot clear clogged pores as the well as a vibrating sonic cleansing device. When I get congested pores around my chin and nose, I rely on the gadgets to cleanse them thoroughly. Sonic brushes with fine bristles do the job; but sometimes, they can be a little harsh on the skin, causing it to be more prone to sensitivity. This is where the Swedish Foreo comes in. Shaped ergonomically like a bar of soap, it has a curved egde with ridges on one side, and silicon bristles on the other.   I feel that the slippery bristles cleanse and exfoliate the skin with lesser friction than the brushes. The blue one pictured here is made for combination skin, with longer bristles at the edge for deep cleansing the corners of the nose and chin that turns greasy easily.  Flip the gadget to the other side and it can be used as an anti-ageing …

BodyBlendz Coconut Delight

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Coffee body scrubs – the caffeine supposedly boosts circulation and temporarily smoothens skin – are all the rage now.  I’ve tried more than a few, and BodyBlendz is one of my faves. Blended with ground and roasted Arabica beans, extra virgin coconut oil, sweet almond oil, macadamia oil, jojoba oil, organic dessicated coconut shreds, and Himalayan pink salt; the scrub smells good enough to eat. The aroma of coffee and coconut filled the warm air in my bath; pretty much the perfect way for me to unwind after a sweaty circuit-training session. The coconut shred and granules of salt (that are not too coarse) gently exfoliates, while the oils soften the skin. All you need for a simple at-home spa session. BodyBlendz left my skin alot smoother. And I liked how the formula did not leave my skin feeling tight and dry like some body scrubs ✌🏻️

Experts’ take: The future of beauty

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With new beauty products rolling out every week, what will the next truly innovative product look like? Dr Shekhar Mitra, member of the Procter & Gamble Global Leadership Council; Dr Donald Bissett, research fellow at Procter & Gamble; and Ms Rameet Kaur, managing director of Skin Inc USA and Canada, give their take. The Beauty Gazette (TBG): Encapsulation technology is increasingly gaining popularity in beauty formulas. Why is the encapsulation of active ingredients so important in a skincare product? The encapsulation of actives in skincare is important as it ensures the stability, purity and potency of the ingredients. Vitamins and other antioxidants can degrade when exposed to light.  Certain ingredients provide benefits to the skin when used individually. But when they are added into a formula with multiple other ingredients, the various components may react with each other and lose their efficacy. The protective encapsulation layer maintains the efficacy of the individual ingredients before they are delivered into the skin. The encapsulation of single ingredients also allow for easy customisations of formulas to suit individual skin …

Wearing make-up to the gym

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With all the hip new exercise options in the most bustling spots in town, looking tired while you sweat it out is not an option.     Especially with the latest virtual gym passes (KFit, Guavapass) that get you through to the fancy spinning classes, barre, MMA sessions, and aerial yoga time-outs.  You want that post work-out glow before the work-out. It’s the same reason why you would shell out the money for pricey designer sportswear. The sleek cuts and cute cut-outs make you look good while you prepare to get your heart pumping. It is proven that if you feel good before you actually hit the gym (or the tarmac), you would perform better. Now, for the make-up to match those spiffy Lululemons. (If you already unintentionally wear make-up to your workouts when you rush to classes after work, these tips are for you too.) 1) Stay away from the pore-clogging make-up.  I would not recommend slathering on picture-perfect foundation just before you sweat it out. It might end up patchy and stain your perfect (and …

Shiseido Maquillage Dual Colour Rouge

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I am loving these new lippies that are hitting stores soon. Each is a fusion of two complementary shades, so you get two lipsticks for the price of one. Wear the shades alone or layered one over the other; or one on the top lip and one on the bottom. Feeling adventurous? Use a lip brush and create an ombre lip; with the brighter colour on the inside. These lippies are moisturising, have rich opaque colours, and a semi-glossy finish. Relatively long-lasting too.