All posts tagged: skincare

Fresh picks from Lush

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In a sea of mass-produced, natural ingredient-based skincare products, British brand Lush stands out. For the simple reason that each bottle, tub, or tube comes with a sticker that tells you who made it, and when. Like how the tub of Salted Coconut Hand Scrub delivered to me was made by Vendula, a big-haired blonde lady (I know, because a cartoon rendering of her features is on the label) on January 20 this year. This personal, handmade touch just makes the product that little bit more special. It also helps that Lush has always been known for its “fresh handmade cosmetics” with a relatively short shelf-life; giving me the idea that real people, instead of cold hard machines, are stirring the formulas in vats. The Salted Coconut Hand Scrub is blended with fine sea salt, glycerine, fresh lemon infusion, organic silken tofu (!!), argan oil, cupuacu butter, extra virgin coconut oil, neroli  oil. While the grains of salt gently exfoliated my skin, the oils thoroughly moisturised it too. The scrub left my hands feeling soft, …

Aesop Parsley Seed Anti-oxidant Facial Hydrating Cream

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Aesop’s new Parsley Seed extension, the Facial Hydrating Cream is a rich formula made for drier skin types. Or for keeping the skin supple in chilly weather. Contains aloe leaf juice, glycerin, shea butter, sweet almond oil, lavender oil, camellia leaf extract, matricaria flower oil, cistus extract, as well as parsley seed oil. All to soothe, hydrate and protect skin from harsh conditions, free radicals and pollutants. Though thick, the cream sinks easily into the skin. It aroma, like all Aesop products, is calming, refreshing and reminds one of a relaxing spa. Best used with the other formulas from Aesop’s signature Parlsey Seed range. Like the Facial Cleanser blended with lactic acid (that softens and gently exfoliates), skin-brightening liquorice root, as well as blackcurrant seed (anti-inflammatory, anti-ageing). It lathers well and does not leave skin feeling tight and dry.      

Clarins Extra-Firming Mask

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Your nightly beauty ritual should be more than just a chore or a mindless routine. When you have the time to do it right, the nighttime routine is a perfect way to unwind after a long day. That is why the skincare products in your nightly skincare ritual should be more than just functional. Like this Clarins Extra-Firming Mask which has a cocooning gel-cream texture, as well as a soothing and calming scent. It contains Organic Green Banana and Lemon Thyme to help boost skin firmness and elasticity, and an ingredient called Palmitoyl Glycine which is said to visibly reduce stress lines and wrinkles. In the blend, there acerola seed extract is also added to lend skin radiance, while jojoba, mimosa and sunflower wax nourishes and soothes the skin. The mask also comes with instructions on how to melt the tension away from your face with its “Pressure Point Method”: 1. Gently but quickly tap fingertips all over face to stimulate the skin for absorption of the skincare 2. Place a blob of mask between …

Advanced Night Repair Intensive Recovery Ampoules

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You’ve had a crazy week. Back-to-back meetings, then on to a night out with friends. Important board meeting the next morning, and you have to look fresh, polished, and alert. Repeat this hectic routine, five days in a row. And you wish there was something that could keep your skin looking supple, clear, and dewy the next day (even when you have had very little sleep, and running on adrenaline and caffeine). Such a beauty potion probably doesn’t exist. But then, Estee Lauder’s Advanced Night Repair Intensive Recovery Ampoules ($196 for 60 capsules), comes close. I’ve been a long-time fan of Estee Lauder’s iconic Advanced Night Repair (ANR) serum. It perks my skin up and makes it look like I had eight hours of sleep the night before. So I had high hopes for these ampoules which are “fast-acting”, help to soothe skin, support the its nighttime repair functions, while boosting its resilience. Each capsule dispenses just the right amount of serum which has a dry oil texture (not greasy, absorbed by skin really quickly, …

Save our skin: Skincare to deal with air pollution

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Hazy days are here again in Singapore. The clear skies turn yellow and brown, as the smog and dust from the burning forests in the neighbouring regions hit the island. Aesop’s Bitter Orange Astringent Toner is a good option for humid and polluted environments. This refreshing astringent toner is a blend of bitter orange, witch hazel and rosemary leaf. Soak a cotton pad with it to wipe away pollutants on the skin surface. Like most Aesop products, this toner has that relaxing spa-like scent to refresh the mind. The Oil-Free Facial Hydrating Serum is a viscous, gel-serum moisturiser with plenty of antioxidants to combat the free radicals caused by pollutants. Made with aloe vera gel, Ylang Ylang and panthenol (vitamin B5 and a humectant), it is suitable for combination, oily, or sensitive skin. It leaves a thin film on skin which keeps it supple. I  also love this combination for days when my skin feels oily, and just needs a lightweight serum/ moisturiser to perk it up. This duo is also a great addition to a man’s skincare …

Clarins Anti-ageing Treatment Essences

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Clarins’ new Treatment Essence lotions are good fun. They come in three different textures to treat various skin types. The Super Restorative Treatment Essence Smoothness (red bottle) is for mature skin, or those with dull and tired skin. It is blended with pueraria lobata extract which nourishes while  firming the skin. Ginseng and green coffee extracts are also added to re-energize the skin and boost its radiance. This product also has exfoliating properties to gently sweep away dead skin cells on the surface for smoother skin. The viscous texture of the lotion keeps skin extra supple; I have to say this my favourite of the three (although my skin is not that mature…)   The Multi-Active Treatment Essence Vitality (the pink bottle) works particularly well for those who are under 25, and prefer something lightweight. This milky lotion leaves a satiny-matte finish on the skin. It is refreshing, smoothening, and helps to keep skin lightly hydrated. It contains teasel extract, and acerola seed extract to boost skin radiance and cell rejuvenation.   While the Extra-Firming Treatment Essence …

Shiseido Vital-Perfection Wrinklelift Cream

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True story:  Lines, and dry, crepey skin around your eyes give your age away.  So I always invest in a good eye cream to smoothen the appearance of fine lines near the peepers. (The other areas to take note for overall youthfulness too: the neck, and back of hands) Shiseido’s new Wrinklelift Cream is multi-tasking. While promising to minimise the appearance of wrinkles, it also claims to brighten and smoothen the skin. The star ingredients: Retinol, and Shiseido VP8 (which includes the brand’s signature brightening ingredient 4MSK).  Retinol – derived from Vitamin A – is known to be one of the most effective anti-wrinkle agents around. Shiseido says its version is more stable, potent, and hence, even more effective. It boosts cell turnover and the skin’s natural moisture levels.  Shiseido VP8 is a blend of Plant extracts with anti-ageing benefits: improving the appearance of sagging, dullness, fine lines, age spots, roughness and dryness.  4MSK improves skin tone by exfoliating off excess melanin. The texture of the cream is rather watery and easily absorbed. Almost immediately, …

Estee Lauder Genuine Glow Collection

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Exclusively at Sephora Estee Lauder counters, the new Genuine Glow collection is inspired by the signature dewy-skin glow of the K-Beauty trend. The five products in the collection are all made for giving you that effortless, fresh-faced, au natural make-up look. Wear these to the gym, or just to look like you just hit the gym. These fuss-free products are easy to carry around and apply on-the-go; some are even multi-tasking. The Reviving Oil Lip Tint comes in a click-pen that dispenses the glossy gel-balm through a silicon applicator. The product is easily absorbed, and does not leave behind a greasy after feel. It made my lips feel soft and just ever so slightly poutier due to the minty formula. This product is also a lip tint, which left my lips with a natural-looking, just-bitten pink.   The Priming Moisture Balm leaves skin with a silky finish, so your foundation sits better on the skin, and lasts longer. While it is hydrating, wear this primer over lotion, serum and moisturiser for best results. It also …

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 …

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 …