All posts tagged: beauty

Fancl BC Night Intensive Cream and BC Facial Washing Cream; and products for saving your skin

If you want to turn your skin around quickly, beauty formulas that contain no preservatives would probably be a start. Since 1980, Japanese skincare label Fancl has stuck to its preservative-free maxim by churning out smaller bottles of product hermetically sealed for optimum freshness during use. Each box also comes with a clear indication of the production date to prove it. So if you are a health nut and prefer fresh and preservative-free foods, why wouldn’t you consider preservative-free beauty products for the skin as well? The brand’s star products include the range of watery lotions and lightweight emulsions (S$36 for 30ml each) for different skin types. The ingredients include collagen, hyaluronic acid, an essence encapsulated in a nano-formula to boost effectiveness, as well as mallow flower and blue sweet pea extract to help repair skin. The popular anti-aging cocktail BC Essence (S$125 for 18ml) which promises to rev up the skin’s collagen production (silybum marianum fruit extract), glow (pear juice ferment, and hops flower extract) and regeneration capability (blue sweet pea extract); is best …

Ren Perfect Canvas Silicone Free Skin Finishing Serum

Every skincare brand aims to have a do-it-all serum; and Ren Clean Skincare’s is the Perfect Canvas Silicone Free Skin Finishing Serum. The clear and slightly viscous serum is lightweight and blended with probiotics, as well as agave extract to smoothen, plump, and protect skin. The finish is semi-matte, and left my skin supple and bouncy. This serum may not help makeup to stay on for longer, but it is a good moisturising base for foundation to go on more smoothly, without settling too much into fine lines. Or wear it on its own under sunscreen. Ren Clean Skincare is ideal for those with easily-irritated skin; as the formulas are made without silicones, parabens, sulphates, mineral oil, petrolatum, synthetic fragrances, and colouring. Available at Escentials.

Fenty Beauty Stunna Review: Lip Paint Uncensored

Fenty Beauty clearly knows how to build up demand. Following its official launch in September, and the Holiday collection release barely a month later; it has followed-up with a single product: a bright red liquid lipstick for all skin tones. To tease fans, Rihanna did a quick minute-long “makeup tutorial” on how to wear the Stunna Lip Paint Longwear Fluid Lip Color in Uncensored, on her Instagram account. The celebrity has previously launched a make-up collection with MAC, and her limited edition lipstick Riri Woo, was hugely popular. Stunna is a super true bright red that looks very similar to Riri Woo, except in liquid form. πŸ’‹Watch Clip to see how pigmented it is: pictured in video is one dip, one coat. πŸ’‹ Super true bright red that looks exactly like it does in the hefty glass bottle πŸ’‹ Flattering on all skin tones πŸ™‹πŸ»β€β™€οΈπŸ™‹πŸΌβ€β™€οΈπŸ™‹πŸ½β€β™€οΈπŸ™‹πŸΎβ€β™€οΈπŸ™‹πŸΏβ€β™€οΈ πŸ’‹ Texture is completely matte πŸ’‹ Not completely smudgeproof, but that’s how the sexiest red lipsticks are; it ends up somewhere πŸ’‹ That said, it is difficult to totally remove without a …

Skin-perfecting duo: Infinity Kose Tight Lift Base, One by Kose Moisture Rice Power Moisturizing Serum

A serum rarely gives the immediate buzzy feeling of soothed and quenched skin. So I was pleasantly surprised by the slightly viscous and milky One by Kose Moisture Rice Serum (S$74 for 60ml). The star ingredient is a rice and rice bran extract fermented for over 90 days, with yeast and lactic acid to produce amino acids, peptides and saccharides. The formula is said to boost the skin’s ability to retain moisture. After one use, it left my skin moisturised and supple for longer. This will be incorporated into my beauty routine in the morning. Easily absorbed, it is best used on just-cleansed skin before a moisturiser; or if you have normal to oily skin, on its own. The Infinity Kose Tight Lift Base (S$55) is a perfect complement. The words “Tight Lift” caught my attention; imagine a lifting veil on the skin to keep it firm and tight the entire day. I felt the slightest tightening sensation after slathering this tinted make-up base. It spreads like a relatively thick sunscreen (it contains SPF30 PA++), …

Laneige Delights Pop Holiday Collection 2017

There are many reasons to love the year-end Holiday launches. And limited edition shades and value-for-money deals are just a few of them. Laneige’s year-end collection for 2017 ticks all the right boxes. First up, you get a good deal. Like this Holiday Sleeping Mask Set ($39): A set of three mini sleeping mask jars for plump skin. Next, the colours are pretty. Case in point: The Holiday Ideal Shadow Quad – Flash Gold Pop (S$42) : Sparkly and pearlescent eyeshadow for the office and drinks. Holiday Cushion Blusher – Roly Pink Pop (S$32): For an airbrushed flush and glow. Holiday Two Tone Tint Lip Bar – No.1 Lovely Pop and No.2 Chic Pop (S$32 each): Laneige’s signature two-tone lip bar, infused with its Lip Sleeping Mask ingredients to keep the pout moisturised and hydrated. The two looks that you can create from this set of makeup are wearable for both the boardroom and that Tinder date. Available at all Laneige stores, Lazada and Zalora. Photos: Laneige

Too Faced Melted Matte Liquified Matte Long Wear Lipstick in Gingerbread Man

A good liquid and matte lipstick is hard to find. And the Too Faced Melted Matte Long Wear Lipstick is one of them. It goes on opaque in one dip one coat, super long-lasting (through meals and drinks, especially when you stay away from oily food), with a completely matte finish. Does not feel too drying on lips either, and applicator is easy to use for precise strokes. If you are thinking of giving this lippie a shot, no better time to buy the limited edition Gingerbread Man shade. The toasty terracotta shade is very flattering and suits most skin tones; packaging is cute, and smells like fresh-from-the-oven-cinnamon-sprinkled Gingerbread πŸ˜‹ Available at Sephora.

Shu Uemura X Super Mario Bros, Holiday 2017

Every year when the Christmas season rolls around, Shu Uemura launches a make-up collection inspired by the year’s most influential pop culture icons. There were the fashion-inspired Karl Lagerfeld (Shupette) and Yazbukey launches, the artsy Takashi Murakami ones; and even film auteur Wong Kar Wai’s one year. In 2017, Nintendo’s Super Mario Bros take centrestage as the game makes a huge comeback. But even if you aren’t the sort to be excited over a pixelated computer game character, it would be worth your while to get your hands on this super-cute collection. Apart from the adorable packaging, the palette comprises of both metallic shades and those with fine shimmer. The colours are on-point too: plum, bronze terracotta, gold and nude-pink for the eyes; pink and peach with subtle gold glitter for the cheeks. Perfect accents for a party look. The Dual Stamp-me Eyeliner comes with an oh-so-cute black star stamp at one end, and regular liquid eyeliner applicator on the other. The rest of the collection are classics;Β like the award-winning lash curler, and Rouge Unlimited …

Drunk Elephant TLC Sukari Babyfacial

When you flip open the box of the Drunk Elephant Sukari Babyfacial, you see the words: I wanted something that didn’t exist…so I made it myself. – Tiffany Masterson, founder Indeed, we haven’t seen formulas quite like Drunk Elephant’s. The Babyfacial exfoliating mask is a potent one with 25% AHA and 2% BHA blend of glycolic, tartaric, lactic, citric and salicylic acids to smoothen the surface of the skin. The acids are balanced with a mix of chickpea flour, pumpkin ferment, matcha, milk thistle and apple. Once a week, apply a thin layer of the mask on clean skin, leave on for 20 minutes, and wash off with water. It gave my face a slight tingling sensation but it was bearable. Especially when the results are worth it. Immediately after, my skin looked smoother and clearer; the mask got rid of all the patchy dead skin. The acids do leave the skin drier, so make sure your replenish it with a hydrating serum and heavier cream immediately after. Also, if your skin is intolerant, it …

Laneige Time Freeze Essence EX and Intensive Cream EX

When you’ve had a late night and have to wake early (and look alive), all you need is skincare that would plump up and smoothen the skin immediately before makeup application. Laneige’s Time Freeze Essence Ex (S$90) and Intensive Cream EX (S$95) seem to do just that. The Essence is a viscous serum which feels like a lightweight day moisturiser. Containing hyaluronic acid, it quickly adds a layer of satin smoothness and suppleness to the skin. Thus creating a perfect smooth base for foundation application. The Intensive Cream is best used on drier skin. The rich water-and-oil formula boosts the absorption rate, keeps skin moisturised for longer while smoothening the appearance of fine lines immediately. Good as a night cream as well. Add these to your bag of quick skincare-fixes for the Morning After.

Decorte AQ: Revamped and Reformulated

Luxury skincare transports you to another realm of calm, quiet, and comfort after a long day. The Japanese label Kose’s new Decorte AQ (Absolute Quality) range does just that. Launched in 1990, AQ was created as a premium range in the Kose Cosme Decorte stable. The textures and scents are formulated to relax the mind, and boost the effectiveness of the skincare ingredients. The latest products all contain white mucuna known to boost energy and reduce stress levels; white birch sap for its healing properties; as well as the night-blooming cereus for its exceptional white floral scent that takes anyone to a blissful state. Indulgent, soothing, and easily absorbed by the skin, the 10 products in this line are perfect for a home facial session before bed. Dim the lights, put on a scented candle, and get that night beauty ritual going. TBG‘s picks: AQ Lotion (S$148) with white birch water and glycerin. Lightweight and keeps the skin supple and soft; good as the first step in the beauty ritual. Or just add a splash …