Happy New Year, beauty junkies! We hope you’ve been religiously removing all that holiday makeup the right way. 2019 has been really good to us with endless launches and products that are now staples in our skincare routine. As we enter the new decade, we’re excited to see what it has in store for us. For starters, we’ve kicked off 2020 with a bang by reviewing one of the most OTT face masks in recent times. We’re also introducing a swanky new Beauty News column for all the latest happenings in the scene. Read on for some real cool stuff…
Solos Cosmetics MyLiner Felt Black Liquid Eyeliner
My daily makeup routine is simple. Concealer, setting powder, eyeliner and I’m ready to go. So it’s crucial that my eyeliner has to feature the trifecta: It needs to be waterproof, smudge-proof and have an intense black colour that’ll stand out on my brown skin. I thought I had found my holy grail but boy, was I wrong. Enter Solos’ eyeliner. This product is the perfect dupe for all your liquid eyeliner needs. Extra points for the vegan and halal-certified formula. Oh, and did we mention it’s only $8? What a steal. I’m using the regular-sized felt tip but you can opt for the micro-size tip for more control.
Solos Cosmetics MyLiner Felt Black Liquid Eyeliner, $8, available online and at Zerrin @ The Social Space, #01-03, Marina One Residences, 5 Straits View, Singapore 018935
– Nicole Nithiyah, Senior Lifestyle Writer
Fresh’s Rose Face Mask
Before I begin, I have to say that this mask smells heavenly. It’s like I’m submerging my face in a pool of roses. It states that they use two-and-a-half roses per jar and a “smart” algae that is able to deliver moisture to areas that need the most hydration. Well, that this is one brainy algae. In 10 minutes, my skin feels plump and fresh (no pun intended) – maximum benefit with minimum effort!
Fresh’s Rose Face Mask, $38, available online and selected Sephora outlets.
– Venkat Gunasellan, Lifestyle Writer
LG Pra.L Derma LED Mask
I’m sure there were many oohs and ahhs when LG launched its beauty tech collection last year. I mean, just look at this technological marvel. Even Iron Man’s got nothing on this futuristic piece. There’s ample reason to geek out on the Derma LED Mask – it holds 160 red and IR LED lights with specific wavelength spectrums to tackle beyond the surface. This power mask also promises to rejuvenate and plump up the skin, improve elasticity around the eye rim and reduce pigmentation and pore size – all in nine minutes.
However, you gotta be patient. There are no visible immediate results, but after using it religiously over eight weeks on alternative days, I’m left with a more even skin tone (save for stubborn scars) and smaller pores. I pop it on every night after moisturiser and end off with a face mist. My only gripe is that the mask was not the most comfortable. It weighed down on the bridge of my nose, leaving a slight dent after each use. But hey, anything for porcelain skin, amirite?
LG Pra.L Derma LED Mask, $1,349, available online and at Tangs.
– Nicole Nithiyah, Senior Lifestyle Writer
Lagom Cellup Gel-to-Water Cleanser
As someone with oily skin, gel cleansers are my go-to. Lagom’s gel-to-water cleanser is lightweight and just enough to remove my skincare products from the night before, without stripping away moisture. After all, it is formulated DermaFluxTM – an ingredient that activates aquaporins. TL;DR: It basically hydrates your skin cells with adequate moisture. Fair warning, if you’re using this as a night-time cleanser, best to pair it with the Micro Foam Cleanser to really remove all excess makeup and gunk.
Lagom Cellup Gel-to-Water Cleanser, $28, available online.
– Nicole Nithiyah, Senior Lifestyle Writer
The Inkey List Kaolin Clay Face Mask
You know, one of those days where your skin looks oily enough to fry an egg but you’re too lazy to use peel-off masks (which take ages to dry and not to mention they can be a total b**** to remove). C’mon, nobody has time for that. That’s when The Inkey List clay mask comes in. It takes just 10 minutes to suck out the excess oils on your face and it washes off easily. And no, it doesn’t harden, so you don’t feel like a statue that’s about to crack. It actually leaves your skin feeling fresh and clear – almost like a blank canvas, all ready to absorb the good stuff you’re going to lather on after. And at $12, this is a total steal!
The Inkey List Kaolin Clay Face Mask, $12, available online and at selected Sephora outlets.
– Venkat Gunasellan, Lifestyle Writer
Remescar Eye Night Repair
We all know that eye creams are a vital step in everyone’s skincare routine. I’ve been using a gentle eye cream for both day and night until I got my hands on this baby. The Remescar Eye Night Repair promises visible results for eye bags and dark circles, crow’s feet and saggy eyelids in just 28 days. With all the binge-watching going on during the holidays, I haven’t been good to my eyes so I had to put this to the test. I’ve been using it for two months and I must say, my crow’s feet have faded ever so slightly. I spend some time dabbing the cream on my lids and around the contour of my eyes. Of course, clocking in enough ZZZs is also crucial.
The Remescar Eye Night Repair, $56, available online and at Guardian, Watsons and Unity stores.
– Nicole Nithiyah, Senior Lifestyle Writer
Beauty news: Get all the latest happenings right here!
Atelier Swarovski’s Spring/Summer 2020 collection presents new designer collaborations that benefit environmental causes
BRB, we’re currently obsessing over Swarovski’s new collab with jewellery and womenswear designer Catherine Prevost, filmmaker and conservationist Susan Rockefeller, and actress and Atelier Swarovski brand ambassador, Penélope Cruz. Each collection is inspired by the environment: Think botanicals, earth and sea. Vibrant colours, fine cuts and elegant pieces aside, each collection will also give back to a related organisation – Cruz’ botanical jewels collection will benefit The Nature Conservancy, Rockefeller’s bold earth collection aids The Nature Conservancy, and Prevost’s sea life collection helps the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Environment Fund.
Atelier Swarovski Spring/Summer 2020 collection, available in Swarovski stores and online.
Clarins Skin Spa relocates to Ion Orchard
Newsflash: Clarins Skin Spa will be moving a few steps away from its Wheelock Place location this January. Wanna take a break from all that shopping around Ion Orchard? Recharge with an express facial or treat yourself to a spa treatment with Clarins PRO formulas at the new spot. More details are underway, so stay tuned!
Clarins Skin Spa, opens January 2020, #04-19, Ion Orchard, 2 Orchard Turn, Singapore 238801
Clean skincare brand Alche(me) introduces new environmentally-friendly packaging
Local beauty and customisable skincare label Alche(me) takes it up a notch by introducing new eco-friendly packaging. It was previously using recyclable plastic skincare bottles but it’s now moved on to glass jars and bottles with wooden caps, still retaining the iconic vibrant blue colour, of course. They look absolutely chic, don’t you think?
Alche(me), available online.
Fenty Beauty launches a mascara that does it all
She may not be releasing her much-awaited album anytime soon but Rihanna’s gifting us beauty junkies with yet another key product from Fenty Beauty. This time, you’ll have poppin’ lashes for days with the new Full Frontal Volume, Lift & Curl Mascara. The wand features a unique fat and thin side so every single lash gets a slab of this long-wear, water-resistant formula.
Fenty Beauty Full Frontal Volume, Lift & Curl Mascara, $39, available from 16 Jan online and at Sephora stores.
Need more Honeycombers in your life? Head this way…
The post Our best beauty buys in January: Liquid liner dupe, face masks galore (including that $1,000 one!) & hot beauty news appeared first on Singapore.
