Author: Beauty Gazette

Cle de Peau Beaute La Creme

Published by

The ultimate luxury.   Every high-end beauty brand has its star creme de la creme.  La Mer’s pride is the Creme de La Mer; and La Prairie has its Skin Caviar Luxe Cream. For Cle de Peau, its jewel is the anti-ageing La Creme. The pink jar (pictured above) is a limited edition launched in 2012 to mark the brand’s 30th anniversary. The updated La Creme, which hits stores in March, comes in a jar carved like a faceted diamond.       So how is the new formula different?  The cream is as rich and nourishing, but it literally melts on warm skin and sinks  right into it.  There is no waxiness like most rich creams, and the after-feel is a satiny finish. Skin looks dewy and feels more supple. No need to warm the product between warm hands; just apply and press into skin. A little bit – a pea-sized amount – goes a long way.  Perfect for wintry conditions, as well as to veil skin in an air-conditioned room at night.   Made …

A classic beauty formula

Published by

How many beauty potions out there are made with a formula concocted more than a hundred years ago?  Of course, the others that come to mind is the heavy Hazeline Snow cream (late 1800s) and Nivea Creme (early 1900s). But Shiseido’s Revitalizing Essence – launched in 1897 as the first pharmaceutical-based lotion – is unique.  Scented with “rain-washed peonies”, this lightweight watery lotion is made to soften and prepare skin for the deeper absorption of other skincare. At the same time, it moisturises skin lightly. Fast forward to 2016, watery skincare essences and lotions are a must-have in the beauty routines of Asian women. Shiseido was founded as a Western-style pharmacy in 1872. And today it is still on point with its Eudermine lotion, which continues to be part of Shiseido’s product line-up.  Of course, the original formula has been tweaked to better suit the skin of modern women. In my opinion, the sleek and modern red glass bottle (with the red glass stopper, and the unique lettering) is the epitome of chic. The faceted …

Aesop Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm

Published by

   One of the most beautiful hand creams around. I love everything about Aesop: from its clean, fuss-free aesthetic, the stylish font that covers the tubes and bottles, to its natural scents. I am hooked on its hand balms. They smell great – nothing artificially cloying –   and sink easily into the skin. No greasy afterfeel and waxiness to deal with.  The nutritious natural ingredients make me feel good about applying the cream on my skin too. I get an eczema breakout whenever I apply scented creams and lotions; so far, I have not had any eruptions with this Aesop one. I like to keep a tube handy at my work desk to moisturise my cuticles and legs.   

New hair, don’t care

Published by

   New year, new hair. But what styles? Not everyone has a stylist 24/7 like Ms Jenner. Eugene Ong, hair maestro of Urbanhair and industry veteran, gives you the lowdown on the 2016 hair trends. 1) Get a ‘melting’ ombre colour         Guess what? The ombre dye job is still in. But harsh lines and a stark difference in shades are out. Roots should be darker, and the ends lighter; while the shades in between meld seamlessly. Unless you are Kendall Jenner and can pull off candy floss pink hair with black roots. 2) Go for pastels, browns and blonde hues. These are the most flattering for Asian skin tones. 3) Match cool tones with warm ones for extra dimension. Chestnut brown with cool blonde. Ash with milky chocolate. Icy blue with warm pink.  4) Like the colours, the cuts should be soft with no hard lines. Texture and some weight (not too much layering) are key to the look. Soft waves (achieved with a digital perm) add body to complete the look.  …

Make-up tips for the bride-to-be

Published by

  So now that you’ve got THE perfect dress, what about the make-up to match? It’s wedding season almost all year round in Singapore.  And because we’ve all seen enough brides with scary make-up, here are some tips for brides-to-be. So they (and us) will be spared from dealing with big-day make-up disasters.  Because even if the dress looked beautiful, everyone will only remember the horrible face paint.  The right make-up artist is as important as the dress.  1) So start looking for one the moment your wedding date is fixed. The most popular artists are booked at least a year in advance. 2) Get word-of-mouth recommendations or pick artists’ whose “work” – (best friend’s/ cousin’s/sister’s bridal make-up) – you have seen up close and loved. And because you want someone who will actually turn up in the wee hours of the morning to prep you for your wedding day; actually seeing them in action before helps.  3) Only pick experienced artists. No fresh-out-of-beauty school or Instagram “beauty guru” wannabes (even if their fees are super affordable) …