All posts tagged: beauty

His story: Roland Chow and Singapore’s early hairdressing scene

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In the mid-1970s, when the teenaged Eugene Ong decided that he wanted to become a hairstylist, he looked to the prominent industry veteran Roland Chow as a role model.  “Then, almost all hairdressers were women. And Roland was so glamorous, all my friends’ mothers were always talking about him,” recalls Ong, the director and founder of Urbanhair.  “Women of a certain social standing all had their hair done by him.” Through serendipity, Ong’s first apprenticeship was with Christine Wah, Chow’s top assistant.  “Christine would tell me how exclusive his salon was. Roland even had a drawn curtain around each client for their privacy.” The curtains were also there for another reason. The hair maestro did not want observers to “steal” his skills; only the privileged few could watch  him in action, recalls Ong. Born into the upper crust of Shanghainese society in 1926, Chow fled to Singapore in 1949 to seek refuge from the communists.  Chow first made a name for himself as a fashion designer; he was often described as the “Mr Dior of …

Clarins White Plus Pure Translucency

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Clarins is one of those rare European brands that already had its finger on the pulse of skin-brightening trends from way back when; 20 years to be exact. It started in 1996 with the Whitening Essence, and now into its seventh variation for 2017, the White Plus Pure Translucency. The star of the latest range is the antioxidant-rich acerola fruit, which resembles a cherry. While doing extensive research on how melanin production takes place in the skin (which leads to dark spots), Clarins scientists also discovered the potent benefits of the acerola. The fruit contains polyphenols, antioxidants that help to protect the plants from damaging UV rays. Apparently, the younger the fruit, the more polyphenols it contains; therefore Clarins harvests the early fruits and freezes them to get the best extracts. These extracts proved to reduce melanin production by almost 25 per cent during in vitro tests. There are six new formulas in Clarins’ White Plus Pure Translucency collection. The Brightening Creamy Mousse Cleanser is lovely. Lightly scented with an uplifting floral fragrance, the cleanser …

Elizabeth Arden’s new Eight Hour Cream collection

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Elizabeth Arden is the original Lipstick Queen. In 1912, she supported the women’s suffrage movement by supplying them with red lipstick,  turning bright rouge into a mark of female liberation. Arden is also best known for her Eight Hour Cream, which she formulated in 1930 as a multi-purpose balm to treat everything from chapped lips to ragged cuticles and cracked heels. The apricot-coloured formula contains the skin-moisturising petrolatum, soothing beta-hydroxy, and Vitamin E. Apparently, Arden even used the balm on her thoroughbred horses to heal their cracked hooves. The bestselling balm has clinched 22 international beauty awards, and is a celebrity fave. To ride on the balm’s cult status, the brand has churned out at least 13 products in the Eight Hour Cream range. The latest of which is the Eight Hour Miracle Hydrating Mist, blended with pomegranate, acai, mangosteen, noni, goji, apple leaf, and coffee seed extracts. Use it to tone, soften and refresh skin, or even set your makeup. TBG’s other picks in the range: the Lip Protectants, and All Over Miracle Oil …

3Rific Premium Face Oil

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Sometimes, all you need in your skincare routine post-cleansing is just one product. Especially when your skin feels too laden with many products everyday, and need a “fast” (you’ll know when you get too many little bumps, and irritation). The made-in-Japan 3Rific Premium Face Oil is perfect for those days. It is lightweight, and doubles up as both a serum and moisturiser. Or just add a few drops into your liquid foundation for extra moisturisation and dewiness.  I like to use it as a facial massage oil to get rid of the water retention in my face too.  This unscented formula is blended with some of the most anti-oxidant rich plant extracts: Lupine seed extract for collagen synthesis Baobab oil with Vitamins A, C, and E; as well as omega oils Argan oil, rich in fatty acids Avocado oil, rich in omega-3 fatty acids and Vitamins A, D and E. Sweet almond oil Jojoba oil (emollient) Olive oil (Vitamin E) Evening primrose oil (anti-ageing) Rice bran oil (Vitamins B and E) Soybean oil (Vitamin E and …

For that instant glow: Tatcha Luminous Range

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Tatcha is one of those beauty brands where you’ll find the product packaging as lust-worthy as the formulas. Inspired by the Geishas in Kyoto, the founder Victoria Tsai took care to develop a range of effective formulas wrapped in beautiful Japanese-inspired gilded and printed paper. I’ve long heard about its Luminous range, but only got to roadtest it recently. I was impressed with the products, given that Tsai, an American ex-financier, had zero background knowledge on beauty formulas until she met a geisha in a Japanese beauty shop. The Luminous Dewy Skin Mist has been raved by beauty YouTubers such as Jeffree Star. It is made with red algae collected from the clear Okinawan waters, which is known to retain moisture in the skin. The mist also contains squalane, panax ginseng, camellia seed oil, and Tatcha’s proprietary complex, the Hadasei-3 made of rice bran oil, Okinawa red algae, and green tea. Nicknamed the “liquid moisturiser”, this milky lotion worked perfectly as an essence-like skin-softening lotion, as well as a make-up setting spray. It is lightweight but …

50 Years Strong: Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil

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Makeup maverick Shu Uemura launched his first cosmetic product, the iconic cleansing oil, in 1957. The original Hollywood artist formulated the oil to help actresses remove their make-up quickly in between shoots, while maintaining their skin’s integrity. “Makeup starts and finishes with cleansing.” – Shu Uemura Shu, whose mantra has always been that beautiful makeup starts with beautiful skin, knew the importance of proper cleansing from way back when. Clearly, when a product is created to fulfill a need and created with heart, it will have longevity in the market. 50 years on, Shu Uemura’s iconic cleansing oil is available in eight versions (including a balm and a gel-oil) and the category is a bestselling one for the brand. To mark the occasion, Shu Uemura has re-formulated its popular Ultime8 Sublime Beauty Cleansing Oil. It is concocted with jojoba oil, olive oil, ginger root oil, and shea butter oil, to keep skin moisturised while stripping it of (waterproof) makeup and other impurities. The best way to use the cleansing oils? With dry hands on a …

Dawn Yeoh’s Beauty Secrets

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Yeoh returned to Singapore earlier this year to star in sitcoms such as Peace and Prosperity, make guest appearances on variety shows like Closet Secrets, and to host the travelogue Going Miles, Spreading Smiles. The Singapore actress had left for Taiwan in 2014 to further her career. Over the last decade, the 30-year-old has worked on five movies (including one in 2017), and at least 20 dramas. In 2007, she was named as one of the seven shining stars of MediaCorp, alongside Rui En, Jeanette Aw, and Joanne Peh. In between her filming sets, Yeoh spends her time “sculpting” her body and looking youthful in the ruthless entertainment industry. She shares her beauty and fitness secrets with The Beauty Gazette. When you are in the entertainment business, it is important to look good. I hit the gym almost every other day, or I’ll work out at home with the Insanity Workout video clips. I also try to eat clean. My skincare routine is simple. My skin gets dehydrated easily, so I use moisturising serums that contain hyaluronic acid. I …

TBG 2016 Skincare Picks

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The 2016 skincare launches that worked for my skin. Skin Inc Pure Serum Mist. Seriously makes my face GLOW. I spritz it on to refresh my skin in the middle of the day, before I touch up with a BB cushion for a porcelain-like complexion. Super love. Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Ampoules. My go-to when I have had a late night but need to look well-rested the next morning for important meetings. I layer the dry oil-like formula on top of the brand’s signature ADR serum for a 💥-packed skin-nourishing combo.    Clarins Booster. The idea is so ingenious. This watery formula is not to be used on its own but blended with a cream, serum, or even liquid foundation. It does not change the consistency of the product you’re blending it with, but you get extra customised benefits for the skin. I like the Energy version which visibly perks up my tired skin. Lush Softy Foot Lotion. I use this not just on my feet but all over because it smells amazing with …

TBG 2016 Makeup and Gadget Picks

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The 2016 launches that made the cut here on The Beauty Gazette. The Shu x Murakami collection is  super cute. The Eye and Cheek Palette in Cosmiikawaii ticks all the right boxes for on-trend shades like burgundy and deep coral. Tom Ford Soleil Eye and Cheek Palette in Warm has all the perfect colours for a goddess makeup look. Urban Decay Vice Lipstick. 100 shades to choose from. Love the cream and matte shades that packs a punch. Fave: Ravenswood, the perfect #MLBB (My Lips But Better) colour. Shiseido Rouge Rouge– Excellent texture and colour with a beautiful sheen. Lightweight but truly gorgeous pay off. Go for Bloodstone. Dyson Supersonic Dryer, never tried a leaner, meaner, sexier hairdryer Estee Lauder x VB collection surprised me with classic bright shades that are unlike VB, but with classy smokey hues that are so VB Foreo Luna 2. If you think the Clarisonic is too harsh for your skin, this is the alternative. Gentle and effective for exfoliation. I left it in the shower for a whole year …

Estee Lauder Double Wear Nude Cushion Stick 

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Made for quick and easy application, the “cushion stick” is a cream foundation in a twist-bottle. The sponge applicator is shaped like a fat donut, with the lightweight formula dispensed through the hole in the middle. So all you have to do is twist for one pump of the foundation, tap it onto the skin, and blend with the applicator.  This product offers light to medium coverage with a satin-matte finish.