All posts tagged: beauty

Pamper: Urban Retreat Bangkok

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When you’re tired and weary from all that eating and shopping in Bangkok, a good body massage is what you need to perfect that holiday. But if cheap, S$10 hourly Thai massages in cramped quarters are not your thing, consider the Urban Retreat spa located right next to the Asok train station. Urban Retreat’s suite of services are pricier than your average quickie Thai massage spots; but they are still three to four times cheaper than what you would pay in Singapore. The prices for the services at Urban Retreat start at 400 TB for an eyebrow wax, to 3,200 TB for the “Bliss Package” (2 hr 50 min sugar and honey body scrub, mud mask and macadamia oil massage). Plus, the experience is worth it at this decade-old establishment. There are more than 20 clean, private and spacious rooms available, including those for couples with adjoining shower cubicles. This means you could show up without a prior booking (say, just before dinner time) and have a good chance of getting a slot (although planning …

Start the Lunar Year of the Dog with the right beauty essentials

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Before the celebrations for Chinese New Year draws to a close, here are The Beauty Gazette’s picks this Spring for an auspicious start to 2018. Yves Saint Laurent Beaute Blush Volupte Hope & Joy Edition – for its limited edition collectible packaging with red blooms against a radiant gold. Marc Jacobs Beauty Le Marc Liquid Lip Crayon – one-swipe long-lasting pigmented formula that is non-drying. Lightweight but just a gentle glide would get you an intense shade. One of the best lipsticks we’ve ever used. (Both pictured above) SK-II Facial Treatment Essence – an iconic and effective skincare formula in a limited edition, auspicious scarlet. Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Dirty Thirty Limited Edition Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter in Trophy Wife – Because there’s always reason to own another, especially when it is in shimmering gold. Chanel Le Vernis for Spring Summer 2018 – Bright and poppy colours inspired by the idyllic seaside city of Naples, Italy. Pictures: The Beauty Gazette, Fenty Beauty, Chanel Beauty

Clarins Hydra-Essential: Skin quenchers to start 2018 right

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Dehydrated skin always looks tired, dull, and lined. Plumping it up with moisture is that one thing you can do to make skin look more youthful, immediately. According to Clarins’ research on the skin, it is exposed to sudden changes in temperature and humidity everyday; on the commute, air-conditioning, rainy days, even post-gym. This “shocks” the skin, and it ends up dehydrated if it is not replenished with the right levels of moisture. To keep skin supple and hydrated throughout, Clarins’ new Hydra-Essentiel range contains organic Leaf of Life, an organic succulent herb with antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties. Sourced from the Jardins du Monde in Madagascar, the organic and fair trade Leaf of Life supposedly keeps the skin’s moisture level optimal through the “shocks”. The Hydra-Essentiel Intensive Bi-Phase Serum is a watery formula that sinks easily into the skin. I find that it plumps up skin immediately, making it look brighter and firmer. For best results (especially for those with normal to combination skin), use it with the Hydra-Essentiel Cooling Gel to seal in …

Laneige Two Tone Matte Lip Bar

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Because a multi-tasking lip product with balm, primer, and intense pigment will make our lives easier; Laneige created the Two Tone Matte Lip Bar range. One of the K-Beauty brand’s signature makeup product, the Two Tone Lip Bar offers lips an artsy ombre effect too. The matte version has a satiny-finish, but does not feel dry on the lips. It applies smoothly and evenly with bright colours that are relatively long-lasting. All the shades are also flattering on Asian skin tone. As they are not completely opaque while veiling lips in punchy hues, these lipsticks are great for everyday, non-dramatic looks too.

Three Point Makeup Spring Summer 2018

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These are some of the subtlest makeup products around; just for that hint of colour to make your face look fresh and youthful in a few minutes. Dab on skin, blend, and you’re good-to-go. These new point makeup products from Japanese label Three’s Sprint Summer 2018 collection may all look like lip gloss, but they’re really makeup multi-taskers with skincare benefits. The Whisper Gloss for Eye (S$45) is an eyeshadow/ eye cream. The gel formula has a pearlescent texture and sheer colour to lightly colour/ contour lids for some definition. Just add mascara for brighter looking eyes. The formula contains oils of tea seed, argan, jojoba, evening primrose, rosehip, olive, and meadowfoam; as well as shea butter and beeswax to moisturise. Still, it is surprisingly long-lasting and non-sticky. The Epic Mini Dash (S$43) lightweight gel blush gives a light and fresh dewiness to the skin. Dab on cheeks and blend with finger tips. The product will look good on the lids too. It also contains inca inchi oil and all the oils mentioned above; except …

Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Primer

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Primers are indispensable if you need your makeup to last from breakfast to evening cocktails, through the heat, dust and oils. They help makeup to go on more smoothly, and set on the skin for longer. One of the star products from Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty range; the Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Primer is a good option. The lightweight gel texture feels refreshing on the skin; and blurs the appearance of pores and fine lines. It colour-corrects subtly too. Makeup glides on more easily with a base layer of this primer. The formula also mattifies the face – because Rihanna prefers her skin to look that way – but leaves it with a soft glow. Wear it on its own to even out the complexion on off-days; or under foundation for longer-lasting full-on flawless makeup.

Laneige Perfect Renew Eye Serum

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A refreshing gel-textured formula, the Laneige Perfect Renew Eye Serum (S$65 for 14ml) is made to moisturise and firm the eye area. It contains rejuvenating ginger water and lavender oil to keep skin supple for longer; a perfect non-oily base for concealer make-up on the under eye area. This product kept my eyes looking brighter, more awake and youthful.

Nars Wanted Eyeshadow Palette

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This limited edition palette by Nars is christened “Wanted” for a reason. Highly covetable by makeup junkies, it is a beautiful rose-gold-themed palette (soft pinks, nudes, and milky brown tones) that looks good on all skin tones. With a mixture of matte, metallic and shimmer powders, this palette is all you need for complete day-to-night looks that are on-point. The powders are easy to blend with minimal fallout; especially if you use them with an eyeshadow primer. Watch this clip to see how the shadows look in real-life, and perform.

ReFa Carat Face and Face-Up Cream

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A slimmer-looking face with lifted contours in minutes might sound too good to be true; but it is not impossible. Especially when you are in the hands of a trained facialist familiar with massage techniques on lymph nodes around the face, and able to get rid of water retention effectively. Or you could train yourself to pin point the lymphatic areas including the back of the earlobes, under the chin, and along the jawline. Otherwise, consider investing in a beauty device by Japanese brand ReFa. The platinum-coated rollers of the ReFa Carat Face (S$279) are ergonomically-designed to mimic the fluid movements of an ethetician’s hands, boosting circulation and lymphatic drainage. The device also taps on a micro current technology to stimulate collagen and elastin production for lifted contours of the face. Results are immediate (a slimmer face, sharper jawline, lifted corners of the mouth), and last for up to eight hours. Use the solar-charged gadget at least once a day for long-lasting results. To enhance the effects of the device, ReFa has also recently launched …

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 …