All posts tagged: beauty

TBG Interview: Pernilla Rönnberg, Founder of Estelle & Thild

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Launched in 2007, Swedish skincare label  Estelle & Thild is known for its Ecocert-certified organic and potent formulas. It is available in more than 1,300 stores worldwide. In Singapore, it is stocked in Sephora stores. Making the transition to organic or “cleaner” beauty products may be tricky. But Estelle & Thild’s lightweight and effective formulas make it easier. As Earth Day approaches, brand founder and CEO Pernilla Rönnberg shares – in an exclusive e-mail interview with The Beauty Gazette – why she believes in sustainable and “clean” beauty. Do you remember the moment you decided that the market needs more organic skincare labels?  The idea behind the brand came to me when my children were newborns. I was in a stage of my life where I wanted to do something else, something that was meaningful. As a former CEO of a conventional skin care brand, I’ve seen the amount of chemicals that go into producing conventional beauty products, and grew painfully aware of how these affect our bodies and the environment around us. I wanted …

This Works In-transit Camera Close-up

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This award-winning product is favoured by people in-the-know and jetsetters. Like Victoria Beckham and celebrity make-up artists.  Here’s why.    Made to be a fuss-free do-it-all between travels (Shinkansen, A380, Greyhound etc), this is an all-in-one mask, moisturiser and make-up primer. It contains hyaluronic acid, argan oil, and caffeine to keep skin hydrated, nourished and perky.  The gel cream feels thick and enveloping when first applied on skin. But when I massaged it in, the cream was completely absorbed. Surprisingly, it left my skin completely matte with a velvety texture. Because my skin is hydrated, it was not oily for the rest of the day.  Think of this as a thick moisturiser that actually sinks into the skin; or a mask that you don’t have to wash off. Since it prepares the skin well, make-up applied on top stays on for longer. Another bestseller to look out for by This Works is the Sleep Plus Pillow Spray.    It has a heavenly lavender scent to help knock you out in unfamiliar hotel rooms, so you …

Armani Code Profumo

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This new Pour Homme is made to be worn with a sleek tux. Giorgio Armani Parfums: “Alluring, powerful, fiery, the classic Code base of tonka bean has been amplified by a sensual woody-ambery accord and notes of burnt styrax wood.  …The green mandarin essence, crisp green apple and cardamom essence…the freshness continues with aromatic lavender notes and nutmeg essence coloured by … orange blossom at its heart…Warmed by tonka bean absolute with its accents of tobacco…enveloped in a suggestive woody-ambery accord. The supple leather of notes of the styrax essence meld … with praline sweetness.”    My thoughts: I did not get a single whiff of freshness. What hit me immediately is a heavy tonka bean, and ambery sweetness. With just the slightest hint of tobacco.  This eau de parfum is not made for the faint-hearted man; you would need enough confidence and sophistication to wear it. And for sure, it is made to be worn with at least a shirt and pants. This is not your T-shirt and jeans fragrance. And because this perfume …

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Micro Cleansing Balm and Foam

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 Estee Lauder completes its Advanced Night Repair Serum range with two new non-stripping cleansers.  The Advanced Night Micro Cleansing Balm ($56) is made for dry skin and to remove make-up. Uncap the jar of balm and it gives off a calming lavendar and chamomile scent. A pre-bedtime luxury.  Apply the balm on dry skin with fingertips, and it turns into an oil when rubbed onto a warm face.  Add water and you get a thin, milky emulsion. Rinse. It left my skin soft and supple. But for extra cleansing – because I’m particular about keeping my combination skin clean after a long day with make-up on, like that – I follow up with the Advanced Night Micro Cleansing Foam ($52). This watery milky lotion – also scented with lavender – foams up thinly so skin is not stripped of oils while ot is being cleanses.  That is why it perfectly complements the balm as a two-step cleansing regime for those with combination skin, and wear makeup regularly 💋.    Launching at Estee Lauder counters in …

Hugo Boss Woman Extreme

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To be honest, I don’t usually like the bottled juices of run-of-the-mill luxury labels. They pretty much all smell the same if you ask me. Just because the marketers only want the perfumers to make tried-and-tested accords that they know (or think) will sell, based on past successful blockbusters. Anyway back to Hugo Boss’ latest offering.  It is actually quite good for a regular department store juice. An EDP, here’s what it says on the box: “A boost of freshness and feminity where floral notes collide with revitalising black tea.  Top notes: boosted boysenberry and Himalayan red grass Heart notes: revitalising black tea and jasmine Base notes: feminine osmanthus” — My thoughts: Light and youthful floral with a berry accord that is not sickly saccharine sweet. Probably because a hint of the tea accord lends it some earthiness. Smells better when sprayed on clothes; relatively long-lasting.

Kat Von D Cosmetics soon available in Singapore?

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A little bird told me. Actually, three little birds told me separately.  Like a true (former) journalist, I decided to share this bit of info after checking with three independent sources. Kate Von D, the queen of tattoos, eyeliner and lipstick, is purveying her line of cosmetics in the Little Red Dot.  Later this year. (April 27 update: Kat Von D confirms Southeast Asia launch. More details soon!) Her best-selling lipsticks and liners are always sold out. So, if you don’t know who she is and why you should care (especially when you are a beauty junkie), here’s some info for you to get up to speed. 1. She’s like burlesque dancer Dita Von Teese with her bold lipstick, wing-tipped liner, and bang-bang body. But with tattoos up to her face and neck.    2. The 34-year-old American tattoo artist shot to fame when she starred in the tattoo shop reality TV show Miami Ink in 2005. She has been pricking skin since she was 16.          3. Her make-up line is a manifestation …

Estee Lauder Double Wear Cushion BB

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Now that cushion compacts – liquid foundation or BB cream soaked in a sponge for no-spill on-the-move applications – are a legit (and presumably profitable) category of cosmetics,  Estee Lauder has its own.     This version feels more like a foundation with full to medium coverage. It is rather pigmented and has a creamy texture, so a little bit is all you need for the entire face.  The Double Wear has a matte finish; great for those who dislike the greasy-dewiness on their skin. This formula also feels rather lightweight on the skin, and is long-lasting. Once you grasp the concept of a BB cushion because it is so convenient, you’re never going back to a cream or powder compact.  Most offer light to medium coverage, and can leave oily skin looking greasy. So if you are a conservative  – because you like your foundation matte with full coverage – Estee Lauder’s Double Wear Cushion is a good place to start. It has SPF 50/PA+++ for additional sun protection too   

Is colour-correcting make-up for you? 

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Colour-correcting make-up isn’t new. It has been around since the make-up artists of the ’80s improvised and used dabs of red lipstick and foundation around the eyes to correct dark circles. Or at least since Guerlain created its signature multi-coloured Meteorite pearls to make the skin look more even, and brighter with a subtle glow. But with the democratisation of the delicate art of make-up – through the countless Youtube makeup tutorials and Insta-clips available online – beauty brands think it is time to unleash pigmented colour-correcting cosmetics that used to be the domain of the pros, on the masses.  To be used as a primer, these colour-correcting base make-up are to be worn under foundation. Inspired by this NYT article on the latest colour-correcting make-up trend, The Beauty Gazette gives you the lowdown on how to get it right. Celebrity make-up maestro Clarence Lee dishes out the tips. He has more than two decades of experience below his makeup belt, and has worked with stars such as Gong Li, Li Bingbing, Liu Wen and Zhang Ziyi. …

Air pollution and your skin

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The air is clean, crisp and fresh in Singapore; most of the time.  But when the neighbouring countries practise irresponsible burning of the forests, my lung and skin suffers from the grey smog that hits. Like now. It’s a problem you would face too if you live in cities such as Shanghai, Beijing, New Delhi.   In such dreary conditions, my skin flares up easily if I don’t take precautions.  Here’s how I keep my skin balanced when air pollution literally hits me in the face:  1) Stay healthy; the skin is a reflection of inner health So eat well, sleep well, and drink enough water. Because when your body’s immunity is down, your skin will be affected too. 2) Give skin more vitamin shots than usual To deal with aggressive pollutants, I take extra care to slather my skin with more antioxidants.  I use the lightweight serum oil, Estelle & Thild Super Bioactive Repairing Oil Complex, to soothe and pamper my skin. Then I seal it all in with Allies of Skin 1A All-Day Mask, which …

#Kfever: Laneige makeup on Descendants of The Sun

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It’s happening again. The new K drama Descendants of The Sun has everyone’s eyes strained from watching too much TV.  According to news reports, Descendants has been played more than 670 million times on Chinese video site iQiyi. This new K drama is clearly on its way to surpassing the popularity of the red-hot drama of yester-year, My Love From The Stars. The winning formula is there, as usual.  Man and woman meet.  Man and woman fall in love. Man and woman pretend to not be in love with each other. Man and woman argue. Man and woman fall out. Man and woman meet again in a strange land. The story continues. Add to the mix a hunky baby-faced South Korean actor (this time round, it’s Song Joong-ki), and Kimchi Land’s fave actress (Song Hye Gyo).    Ms Song happens to be the face of Laneige, the flagship label of K Beauty superpower Amorepacific.  And so naturally, you get special makeup appearances 💄💄💄  While prepping for her first date, the female lead whips out …   …