All posts tagged: shopping

Shiseido The Ginza: Tokyo must-visit for beauty junkies

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Japan’s most established beauty brand with a strong international presence, Shiseido, turns 145 years old next year. It boasts a rich history: Founded by a former head pharmacist of the Japanese Imperial Navy, Shiseido pioneered the use of skin-softening products with Eudermine lotion in 1897 (still a best-seller today); and skin-brightening concoctions with Peroxide Cucumber (Japan’s first skin-whitening product first launched in 1917). Besides its namesake label, Shiseido is also the parent company of at least 40 brands, including the premium Cle de Peau Beaute, Maquillage to drugstore labels Majolica Majorca, Anessa and Aqualabel. So if you are obsessed with beauty and happen to be in Tokyo, it would be worth your while to head to its flagship store, Shiseido The Ginza  (1F-3F, 7-8-10 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0061; tel: 03-3571-7735; open 11am to 8pm everyday). Set aside at least three hours (or more if you want a pampering facial and spa session) to fully explore this building and Shiseido’s adjacent ones; more details on that below. Launched in 2011 to mark its 140th anniversary, the three-storey Shiseido The …

Lush Holiday 2016 

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You can never miss a Lush store when it is near. Because your nose would pick up the distinct cacophony of scents of essential oils, before your eyes meet a riot of fun colours in the store. And when it is the Holiday season, Lush goes all out with its colourful soap bars, sparkly bath bombs, jelly concoctions, moisturising lotions, potions, and creams. All perfect for pampering yourself or other people as the year wraps up in a couple of months. There aren’t many other happier-looking stores in town when Lush is round the corner. Here’s why:       All that you see here are available at Lush stores in Singapore, now.

Latest multi-label store for your indie beauty fix: Maven at VivoCity, Singapore

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When Maven popped up recently at the tourist hotspot VivoCity (01-01), beauty junkies in-the-know got excited. Granted, some of the brands like Japanese label Koh Gen Do, Deborah Lippman’s nail lacquers, Tangle Teezer brushes, and the fine Italian Accca Kappa may also be available elsewhere in town. But we love the interesting exclusive selection that is put together at Maven. Like the naughty French Etat Libre d’Orange juices; the Hungarian spa range Omorovicza; the sophisticated Suratt Beauty cosmetics; the beautiful scents of Laboratorio Olffativo; the Aussie aromatherapy label Canvas; and the cute Library of Flowers selection.        

The palettes to invest in, now

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Besides the awesome new BeautyKiller palette by Jeffree Star, here are the other face combo boxes you should consider investing in at the moment. Like Star’s, the other two palettes that caught my eye on social media (as they were trending like crazy), are created by self-styled Youtube gurus who hit the jackpot. There’s the Becca Jaclyn Hill Champagne Collection Face Palette. I don’t know Jaclyn Hill, but her gorgeous and literally gleaming face palette caught my eye online and in the store. Made for that ethereal, healthy glow, the compact features five shades inspired by delicious bubbly: Pamplemousse – A deep coral pink blush with subtle gold flecks Amaretto – A tan-terracotta blush Rose Spritz – A rosegold-bronzey confection with iridescent shimmer Champagne Pop – A crisp, gold-based highlighter with iridescent shimmer Prosecco Pop – A slightly frostier highlighter with iridescent shimmer Comes in a beautiful, hefty, gold-speckled casing. Quick tips for using this palette and highlighters in general: To avoid looking greasy and sweaty when wearing highlighters, avoid the T-zone and chin areas, where …

Sephora Singapore re-opens flagship store at Ion Orchard

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When Sephora first threw open its doors at Ngee Ann City in Singapore in late 2008, it revolutionised the beauty retail landscape in the city. Department stores no longer dominated the beauty shopping scene, and a plethora of brands were introduced to the market. By the following year, the LVMH-owned Sephora went on the offensive and opened its then-largest store in Southeast Asia, a 1,200 sq m store in Ion Orchard. Today, there are 11 outlets of the multi-brand beauty superstore; from the swanky malls on the main shopping strips to the suburbs. Over the years, Sephora has kept up its game. It introduced new and exclusive brands every quarter, such as Urban Decay, NYX, Ciate, Butter London, For Beloved One, moonshot, Nudestix, and Living Proof, as well as limited edition sets that were only available at selected Sephora stores. By the middle of 2015, Sephora bought beauty e-commerce site Luxola to ease its transition in selling goods online in Southeast Asia, and launched Sephora.sg earlier this year. To accommodate the re-shuffling of floor space at …

Innisfree on Jeju Island

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If you’re ever in Jeju Island, pop by the Innisfree store to pick up its products and experience its free-spiritedness. Shop the brand’s skincare products; some of which are exclusive to the store. Make and match the ingredients to make your own masks… And make your own soap bars… Or just grab a drink from the cafe. A pretty green tea field where you can learn how green tea is picked and made, is just nearby.

YG Entertainment’s Moonshot in Seoul

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Yes. The Koreans from the South are so good at raking in the moolah. K-pop manufacturer YG Entertainment, responsible for the uber popular Big Bang, 2NE1 and PSY, has its own cosmetics brand Moonshot. So K-pop fans can have a shot at looking a little like their idols (without having to go for surgery). Launched around a year ago, the flagship store is mapped on the Gyeongbukgong area (along the main street of restaurants and boutiques). It’s hard to miss the stylish block. And inside, you will be served by a men-only make-up artist team… The store offers both colour cosmetics and skincare. I got my hands on five of these Jelly Pot eyeshadows that are intensely pigmented and the colours are beautifully shimmery. And how often do you come across metallic magenta and peachy coral shadows? I had to grab them. —- The second floor of the store (above) is designed for classes and workshops. Just so you get an idea of how the make-up looks..here are some screengrabs of a Moonshot xTablo Youtube …