All posts tagged: beauty

Skin on skin: Caring for your tattoos

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Why do some tatts look better than others? Tattoo artist Morris Terence (Instagram/ @mowwwis) says while 50 per cent is attributed to the artist’s skills, the other 50 per cent depends on the aftercare. Here’s what to expect, and note, the month after you get your skin inked.  Day 1 – 3: The lines of the tattoo are essentially open wounds. So most importantly, keep it clean and dry. This means there is no need to apply moisturiser or Vaseline on the freshly inked skin. Don’t go swimming, soak in a tub, or take long showers. If you live in a humid climate, avoid wrapping the tattoo in cling wrap.  You can shower and exercise as usual. Just keep the tattooed area clean and dry afterwards. Pat skin dry with a clean towel after showering, do not rub. Avoid stretching and rubbing the tattooed areas when you work out. Stay out of the sun. Sunburns will cause skin to peel unnecessarily, and there goes the clarity of your tatt. Day 3 – 7: The inked part starts …

Original Mineral Project Sukuroi Gold Smoothing Balm

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I dye my hair pretty often.  And there is nothing I hate more than dry, brassy strands.  So besides trimming my locks often, I am always on the look out for good hair conditioners/ leave-in treatments/ masks. The kind that sink into the strands and really nourishing and healing them instead of staying on the surface of the hair and weighing them down with an annoying greasiness. Like most of the Original Mineral haircare products, this smoothing balm really works for me.  My coloured and bleached hair becomes super smoothe, manageable and bouncy-healthy looking whenever I use it. The colour of my hair also looks richer after use. Project Sukuroi was inspired by the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold lacquer. The hydrating and conditioning formula is made with antioxidant-rich oil from the Camelina plant, Australian macadamia oil that locks moisture in, as well as Keratin to strengthen, restore and smoothe hair.  Another plus: O&M products are free from sulfates, parabens, triclosan and phthalates.

Origins’ new masking essentials

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When there’s so much to do between the deadlines, online shopping at midnight and catching up on Orange Is The New Black episodes, it is little wonder that you don’t have time for a spa session.  So brands like Origins are stepping up on its masking range, so you can get your DIY facial done infront of the screen at home. I really like the new By All Greens deep cleansing mask. The creamy formula foams up like most oxygen masks when you spread it onto the skin. Made with green tea, spirulina and spinach, it perked up my skin like a vitamin shot. It felt plump and had a nice glow. My skin did not feel too tight and dry afterwards, while the pores looked finer too. Spritz on the Maskimizer Primer (which works like a regular skin softener) before applying the mask for best results. The new GinZing Peel-off Mask is a little tricky to apply.  The formula contains quite a bit of alcohol, it can sting and smart the eyes as you …

Trending: Red eyeshadow 

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So Chanel will be launching its Le Rouge collection in Fall.  And the star of the collection that anyone who is anyone on Insta is raving about:  That red shadow palette in the corner there.  So red smokey eyes are the next big thing… Or not? The most talented beauty vloggers/ make up artists out there have already been smoking up their peepers in rich scarlet, burgundy, wine and deep red-bronze for the last couple of months. And now, Chanel is hoping to make red eyeshadow mainstream while being edgy (this clever blend is its fail-safe success formula for its fashion line). Kirsten Dunst rocks the red powders in Chanel’s campaign pictures. The look is kept matte for maximum fierce-ness.  And how does everyone else wear red shadow?   With pressed flitter on top, maybe? Bright, bold, and on the edge?  And how does it look on Asian eyes?  Gorgeous when smoked out and lined with wispy burgundy-brown liner. And with a bit of shine. Add bold brows. How would you wear red shadow?

TBG Interview: Kate Forbes, head of R&D, Aesop

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In town for the launch of Aesop’s new Lucent Facial Concentrate (more details below), Dr Kate Forbes has been instrumental in the Australian brand’s  formulas for the last 15 years. She tells The Beauty Gazette why and how Aesop products can be blended together for a customised solution for the skin. “Our approach to the skincare routine is simple: everyone is different. It all depends on the environment they live and work in, their skin type, the skin-feel they like after the application of the products, their stress levels. All these factors affect how the skin looks. So we talk to our customers to offer a prescribed solution for their needs, mixing and matching the options in the different ranges. There is a palette of Aesop ingredients that we use quite frequently. Such as an aloe vera base for gel serums, and creams because it is so soothing; chamomile extract to calm; as well as the antioxidants like green tea extract and Vitamin C. So certain products work well when blended together.” Here are some “formulas” …

A closer look at Urban Decay’s Alice Through The Looking Glass palette

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Launching in stores July 6, this new palette is filled with 20 new shades. The bright colours are just as fantastical as the movie, and the packaging was made to match. Open up the box and you are greeted with a 3D butterfly; while the eyeshadows are tucked in a drawer. Another beautiful collector’s item from the brand. Because you can never have too many eyeshadows; even if you just want to keep them in the box so you can admire the shades. If you don’t own any eyeshadow palettes, this might be a good investment. Almost half of the shades are easy-to-wear nudes and browns and greys, which you can also blend with the out-there pinks and oranges for a bolder look. But judging by the tonality of the colours, this palette would be most suitable for those with warmer skin tones. Picture source: Urban Decay  

Jeffree Star

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If you don’t already know by now, I’m a huge fan of the indie make-up label by Jeffree Star.  A former make-up artist and one-time Internet pop sensation, Star turned back to his all-time passion – make-up!- about a year ago.  And he has proven himself to be a genius as a make-up formula magician. He creates textures and colours that no one else has (just like how all the other famous brand founders Francois Nars, Charlotte Tilbury, Wende Zomnir of Urban Decay, Bobbi Brown, all started out). Star takes things further with intense pigments, and shades that look like meh in a tube but wears beautifully on every skin tone. They are matte but not drying, liquid but so easy to apply, and lasts like no other. His Velour Liquid Lipsticks are always sold out – especially the more popular ones like Unicorn Blood, Androgyny, Gemini – within minutes after they are launched on his site. Star has since moved on to lip scrubs and some serious Skin Frost highlighters that will make you shine …

Gucci Bamboo Eau de Toilette

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Says Gucci: “The new scent pulsates with the original fragrance’s inspiration: bamboo, one of the House’s most celebrated and elegant design signatures, and its references in the Gucci woman. The rich woody floral finds new edge with a bright mandarin note. Lighter than the original essence, Gucci Bamboo Eau de Toilette offers alluring insight into the Gucci woman’s sensual, romantic side.” Says me:  A pretty fruity-floral; bright, fresh, a little sparkly, a hint of clean linen, peachy, slightly sweet. An everyday scent. 

Make-up for vampires?

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Who else remembers Twilight the book? I have to admit, I was never really a fan. I bought the book because everyone else was reading it. And I couldn’t get past the first page. I enjoyed the movie though! Kat Von D is finally launching in Singapore Sephora stores. And the gothic themed, coffin-shaped and shiny black packaging just got me thinking of vampires. Here are some of the brand’s classics. The Shade + Light Contour Palette is a perfect palette for sculpting the face. Unlike most contouring palettes that only come with two shades at most, this one has six. Three of the darker milk chocolate shades at the bottom are made for bronzing or sculpting. While the three lighter ones on top are for colour-correcting and highlighting. So you can blend and mix the shades to suit your skin tone. The textures are also completely matte, so they meld into the skin and make your visage look naturally sculpted. This palette, however, is only suitable for those with fair to tanned skin, not …

Urban Decay Vice XX Ltd Reloaded

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What does technology company Cisco Systems and beauty label Urban Decay have in common? The same co-founder, Sandy Lerner.  Lerner wanted “crazy” shades like purple or green that were beyond the regular offerings of sweet pink, reds and beiges available in the market.  Through serendipity, she met fellow makeup addict Wende Zomnir and teamed up with her to start Urban Decay.  Wende Zomnir Inspired by the unnoticed and ugly side of the urban landscape, they started Urban Decay with 10 lipsticks and 12 nail polish shades with names like Smog, Rust, Oil Slick and Acid Rain.  The successful cult indie brand has since been bought over by French conglomerate L’Oreal, and marks its 20th anniversary this year.  (Zomnir says she still roadtests every product with full make-up on as she surfs, snowboards and does yoga.) To celebrate, Urban Decay has launched the UD XX Vice Ltd Reloaded palette ($83, available June 16, exclusively at all Sephora stores and online at http://www.sephora.sg/brands/urban-decay).  Representing the 20 years of UD, the palette comprises of three new shades, five …