All posts filed under: Interviews

Vicky Tsai Tatcha Founder

On the Importance of Self-Care: Vicky Tsai, Tatcha Founder

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As we continue to stay home as much as possible to help curb the spread of the pandemic, The Beauty Gazette asks Vicky Tsai what keeps her going. The founder of skincare label Tatcha started her brand because she was so inspired by the classical Japanese beauties of ancient Kyoto, also known as the queens of self-care. Tatcha’s product range features skincare ingredients such as Japanese rice powder, algae and Uji green tea; and revives classical beauty rituals with a modern spin. What’s the latest beauty trend you adore? The renewed importance of self-care. Since the pandemic began last year, we’ve been dealing with so many things emotionally and it’s taking its toll on us physically, including our skin. When you’re stressed or sad your skin shows it, so giving yourself time to decompress and care for your skin and mind is a wonderful reprieve. When you feel good about yourself, your confidence comes through – to me that’s true beauty. How do you think COVID-19 has changed our beauty routines? It’s allowed many to …

TBG Interview: Tips for glowing skin by Jenna Courtin-Clarins

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While most girls growing up would get their beauty and fitness advice from their mothers or grandmothers, Jenna Courtin-Clarins received tips on how to stay moisturised, healthy and toned from her grandfather. But that is not surprising; given that he is Jacques, founder of the French beauty company Clarins, who started out as a masseur selling body treatment oils from his salon in 1954. Trained in design and photography in Paris, Jenna took on the role of Prospective and New Concepts Manager at Clarins in 2015. “It is so difficult for me to work for anyone else; it is impossible because I’m incredibly proud of Clarins,” said the affable and athletic heiress who was in Singapore to officially launch the brand’s new boutique at Ion Orchard last Friday. The Beauty Gazette sat down with Jenna – decked out in a sexy monochromatic slit-dress by the Clarins-owned Mugler, no less – for a quick tete-a-tete on her role at Clarins, and tried-and-tested beauty regime. Tell us about your earliest memories of your grandfather. My sister and …

TBG Interview: Suzanne Santos, Aesop co-founder and general manager

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FEW places in a mall or shopping street make you feel like you’re in an oasis of calm, like an Aesop store. The warm and soothing essential oils that fill the air, interiors carefully designed by world-class architects (like the stylish Aesop Midtown store in Tokyo by Torafu Architects, pictured above), the unpretentious brown pharmacy bottles with monochromatic labels, to the refreshing licorice tea served, take shoppers away from the harried rhythms of the city. Each store is different but still unified in theme – an authenticity. And Suzanne Santos has a hand to play in every little detail of the the Aesop brand. The general manager and brand advocate has been with the label for more than two decades. Right from its inception, through to its recent full acquisition by Brazilian cosmetics manufacturer Natura Cosmeticos. Today, Aesop marks its 30th Anniversary in the business. It operates 177 stores, and another 84 department counters, across 20 countries. Suzanne shares with The Beauty Gazette on how Aesop stays true in a busy marketplace. It has been 30 years since …

TBG Interview: Francois Arpels, co-founder, Brands & Beyond

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The Singapore-based skincare label which is set on global domination, Skin Inc, has a new member on its advisory board: Francois Arpels. Of Van Cleef & Arpels fame (his family used to own the luxury business, and he started his career there), he now runs a private-equity fund focused on investments in lifestyle and luxury brands. The luxury retail mogul shares his industry insights with The Beauty Gazette.   What are you currently focusing your energies on?  I moved to New Delhi 18 months ago, following more than a decade of close dealings with India, to set up Brands & Beyond (formerly IndEU Capital). It is a private equity fund focused on investing in independent and non-ethnic made-in-India lifestyle and luxury brands that my partners and I plan on rolling out of India. Our business model is closer to that of a strategic operator; we plan on actively contributing value in the strategy of our portfolio companies than that of a typical financial operator.   How do you intend to contribute to Skin Inc’s advisory board?  I’ve …

TBG Interview: Marc Chaya, CEO and co-founder, Francis Kurkdjian

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The celebrated perfumer Francis Kurkdjian is one of the biggest names in the rarefied world of French noses. Kurkdjian’s claim to fame was Jean Paul Gaultier’s Le Male, which he concocted at the age of 26. The award-winning perfumer went on to create many other distinctive juices with his signature juicy, sexy, yet fresh and delicately feminine accords. The Beauty Gazette loves loves loves Guerlain Rose Barbare (2005), Carven Le Parfum (2013), Elie Saab Le Parfum (2011), and My Burberry (2014). In 2009, Kurkdjian launched his eponymous perfume house with businessman Marc Chaya. To kickstart 2017, Kurkdjian adds Aqua Celestia to his signature Aqua Universalis (2009) and Aqua Vitae (2013) line-up. The juice is described as having “a fresh, colorful and generous top note accord that resonates with the sunny radiance of mimosa blossoms from Provence and a celestial whisper of musk”. The Beauty Gazette finds out more about the essence of Maison Francis Kurkdjian from the brand’s CEO and co-founder, Marc Chaya.   How did you first meet Francis Kurkdjian? I met Francis some 10 years …

Actor Yusuke Fukichi’s style pointers

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Before Nicola Formichetti was styling Lady Gaga for her hit music videos and directing Diesel’s fashion campaigns, he discovered Yusuke Fukuchi. “I was a literature undergrad who wanted to be a model. For my first gig, Nicola styled me in an abandoned love hotel in Kabukicho, Tokyo,” says the Japanese actor-model, now 32. The editorial spread was for the British magazine Another Man, and it had the moody, sexy patina of a Wong Kar Wai film. That shoot was the beginning of Fukuchi’s love affair with the camera. Today, he has starred in at least eight dramas (in Singapore, Japan, Taiwan), and seven films (Japan, China), with another one coming up in 2017. Fukuchi’s acting career was an indirect result of his three-year modelling stint in London where he was based in his early 20s. There, he had easy access to the classic stage plays around town. And the influence of the theatre seeped into his persona at work. “Every photographer I worked with told me how the image they captured of me reminds them …

TBG Interview: Sabrina Tan, founder, Skin Inc

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In September, Skin Inc launched its new concept store at Scotts Square in Singapore to cater to women who need flash facials for their jam-packed days, and a relaxing pampering session on their days-off. The store also carries a full range of the brand’s products, from its signature serums to the best-selling masks, and nifty beauty devices. Skin Inc is currently available in 100 cities in Asia, Europe and USA (including Sephora) and online retail channels (Sephora, BeautyBay, Zalora). Next year, the Chinese market is on its cards. Skin Inc’s founder Sabrina Tan, shares why the new concept store is absolutely necessary for the brand’s expansion, and other insights on the brand; with The Beauty Gazette.   Why did you decide to open the new Facial In A Flash Skin Bar? We live in a fast-paced era, where we’re all busy, have little time for almost everything; and when it comes to taking care of ourselves, we literally have no time. But, we want it all. So, I decided to solve this issue that many face with a …

Sarah Moon for Nars Holiday 2016

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The best thing about Holiday collections: the beautiful limited edition sets. Like the Sarah Moon for Nars line, where ethereal images of beautifully made-up women adorn the boxes. A French fashion photographer, Moon is known for her somehow touching, out-of-focus, and translucent pictures that look like water colour paintings. She is also recognised for her work in the famous Pirelli calendar, and commissions by Chanel, Dior, Vogue and Comme des Garcons. Pictures: Sarah Moon And here’s how Francois Nars first met her, in his own words: WHEN DID YOU FIRST DISCOVER SARAH MOON AND HER WORK? I discovered Sarah’s work in the early ‘70s when she was doing quite a bit of editorial work for ELLE and Vogue. I never actually met her until we decided to work together though. It was really incredible to be able to do this collaboration and work with her for the rst time after all those years of admiration. HOW DID YOU PICK SARAH MOON AS YOUR NEXT COLLABORATOR, WHAT DREW YOU TO HER? I pick the people whom …

TBG Interview: Alwyn Chong, owner, escentials

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When escentials first threw open its doors in 2001 at the Raffles Hotel shopping arcade, it changed Singapore’s beauty retail scene forever. The multi-label beauty store brought in one-of-a-kind cosmetic brands that only the discerning, well-travelled, cult beauty junkies recognised. Today, escentials is still the Singapore exclusive retailer of Le Labo, Maison Francis Kurkdjian, Verso, Lipstick Queen, Diptyque, and Creed. It would not be an understatement to call Chong a tastemaker of the local beauty retail scene. Over the years, escentials has also introduced many other beautifully understated brands to the Singapore market: Eve Lom, Serge Lutens, Byredo, Annick Goutal, By Terry, Memo Paris, Strivectin and Perricone MD. And after all, escentials is part of Luxasia, which distributes more than a hundred cosmetic brands – like Calvin Klein and Bvlgari – across markets such as China, India and Myanmar. Luxasia was founded by Chong’s father Patrick in the mid 1980s. Chong is managing director of Luxasia; and he runs the business in China, while overseeing the Indonesia, Thailand and Philippines markets. He is also co-founder …