A day in the life of local star, Szes
Ever gazed at Instagram, marvelling at how some people manage to do it all; gorgeous young stars with full-time jobs, fabulous hobbies and busy social lives – yet they always look impeccable? Plus, they make it look oh-so-easy too. Hmph. This is exactly what crosses our minds when we flick through Szes Zhang’s blog. Graphic design whizz by day, Instagram celeb by night, the 25-year old is a stylish girl on the go who has heaps of beauty tricks up her sleeve. This week, we decided that it was about time she revealed her beauty fail-safes with us. What better way to discover how she crams it all in than by following her around for the day with a camera?
Szes’ morning routine? A cup of green tea and failsafe products to get her ready for the day
Hi Szes! You’re a graphic designer by trade, a social media star on Instagram, mum to the adorable Loki and you’re planning a wedding! Impressive. How do you possibly have the time to look flawless with this schedule?
The truth is that I hardly have time! Being active on social media certainly keeps me busy – whether it’s working overtime, coming up with creative content on my blog, shooting beautiful photos for Instagram or walking my pup Loki. Because I don’t have lots of time to apply make up, I take steps to look after my skin in order to remain fresh faced when I’m au naturel. A slick of mascara and a touch of lip balm go a long way if I can get to a monthly facial (if not, I apply a hydrating face mask at home – with cucumbers for relaxing the eyes and everything!). Plus, I never leave the house without applying Ultimune Eye by Shiseido. Avoiding dull-looking skin, dark circles and wrinkles is key when you’re as busy as I am! Carving out a minute each day to apply an effective anti-ageing product is so worth it.
Wrinkles and dull skin? But you’re only 25!
(Laughs) It’s never too early to start prepping your skin against the effects of ageing – especially here in Singapore where skincare can be a struggle. It’s what my mum taught me; sunscreen works even more wonderfully if you start early and the eyes need special attention with specific products, because the skin is so delicate around them. You know what they say about the eyes being the window to the soul – my mum has invested in looking after hers and she’s aged so elegantly.
Szes loves walking her adorable pooch Loki (which is why sunscreen is crucial!)
Come on then, give us your best inside tip to looking good?
I swear by drinking cup of green tea with lemon every morning – it’s packed with powerful antioxidants and helps with digestion, plus it’s a pleasant ten minutes of the day when I’m not staring at a screen. Never underestimate the power of a good eight hours of sleep every night, plus cleanse, soften and moisturise religiously day and night. I actually took the Skin Immunity Test by Honeycombers and Shiseido this week and scored a seven, because I try to remember to protect my eyes where I can (it’s the one feature that people look at most!). It made me realise that I work in an air con environment and stare at my laptop too much, but I hope that being kind to my skin makes up for it in the long run!
Perfect for work and play: Szes at one of her fave hangout spots, Da Paolo
What’s your beauty philosophy?
As cliché as it sounds, I believe that beauty really does come from within. It’s probably why I try to start from the inside, and enjoy products like Ultimune Eye that boost the body’s natural immunity.
Who are your favourite Instagrammers?
So hard to pick just a few! But my absolute fave is Olivia Lsr: she has impeccable style and her artsy photos never fail to inspire me. Into The Gloss is another great Instagram account that brings out the beauty junkie in me. I’m also pretty obsessed with Plato The Frenchie: he is just too cute and looks just like my French bulldog, Loki.
You’re always rushing around time, generally being fabulous! What are your favourite hangout spots in Singapore?
For drinks with the girls, I am a big fan of Loof, Bitters & Love and Sugar Hall. For date night, South Bridge is really pretty, plus the food at FOC is good for sharing. If I’m in need of a good dance, Zouk is the place to go. My all-time favourite local grub? Din Tai Fung; their wantons are out of this world! When it comes to my perfect weekend, I take Loki to Bishan Park Dog Run – he’s an active dog and it’s the perfect place for him to play to his heart’s content. I also love chilling out at Chip Bee Gardens and Holland Village: they have such a laid back vibe and great cafes like Baker & Cook, Sunday Folks, and Monocle.