All I want for Christmas...

Almost Christmas! Last-Minute Beauty Gifts with an Asian Touch

   

   
In need of some last-minute beauty gift ideas? Beauty products always make a great gift, and -living in Singapore or elsewhere in South East Asia - even more so when they have a quirky local relevancy or exclusive regional nature. Don't forget to indulge and spoil yourself too, nothing wrong with some self-gifting on the side as these products are just too good not to try...

Local Hero: Mandy T's Lemongrass + Lemon Body Scrub

     

All products of this local Singaporean beauty brand are made of natural ingredients only. The products are freshly handcrafted in small batches at Mandy T's boutique workshop in Singapore "to ensure the highest quality ingredients and to deliver a powerful and yet natural final product that keeps your skin Fresh, Healthy and Radiant." 

The bestseller amongst the lovely range of body products and scented candles is the Lemon Grass + Lemon Body Scrub - the scent is amazing and this product turns any bathroom into a luxurious spa instantly. If you weren't convinced yet; this product won Singapore Women's Weekly 'Best Beauty Award 2019' in the Body Scrub category.

Mandy T - Lemon Grass + Lemon Body Scrub
Price: 45,90 SGD
Find Stores

Absolutely Asian: Sulwhasoo Camelia Hair Oil

Sulwhasoo = "Korean Herbal Medicine Drawn from Asian Wisdom". At the heart of this brand is Korean herbal medicine, steeped in a long tradition of Eastern holistic philosophy that searches for deeper answers, with a desire to find harmony and balance.

This hair oil is formulated with traditional Korean herbs and natural camelia oil to revive your hair’s natural shine. I love how the bottle looks so traditionally Asian, in fact their entire range has this oriental look. Like!

Sulwhasoo - Camelia Hair Oil, 100ml
Price: 42 SGD
Find Stores

Asian Allstar: SKII

Iconic Brand SKII, originally from Japan, cannot be missed when you live in Asia. Their much-loved and most awarded bestseller, Facial Treatment Essence, is now available as a limited edition that makes the perfect gift.

This product helps improve skin texture and makes the skin feel smooth; simply apply with a cotton pad and dab the product into the skin. Very simple, very effective - and very festive in this edition!

Gift Set with SK-II Facial Treatment Essence Red Butterfly Limited Edition, 230ml and SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion, 215ml

Price: 265 SGD
Find Stores

Singapore's National Flower: The Orchid 

For its resilence and year round blooming quality, the Vanda Miss Joaquim Orchid was chosen in 1981 to represent Singapore's uniqueness and hybrid culture. Although The Face Shop is a Korean brand, they do offer some awesome and wallet-friendly beauty products with our National Flower "The Orchid" as key player. Also, Sephora has some great Orchid skincare products amongst which a Therapy Mask, Sleeping Mask and Eye Mask.

Sephora - Orchid Therapy Mask (5 pcs)
Price: 16 SGD
Find Stores

Absolutely Asian 2: My Beauty Diary Bird's Nest Masks

A cannot-miss in this list: nothing as typically South East Asian in beauty than Bird's Nest.

Read my review of My Beauty Diary's Imperial Bird's Nest Mask here.

My Beauty Dairy (Imperial) Bird's Nest Mask (10 pcs)

Price: 14,50 SGD

Available at a.o. Watsons

Last-Minute Gifting Stress? Quickly head to Sephora for these Gift Sets for every budget

For me, counting down till X-Mas means gifting stress. Each year I promise myself to start hunting for the perfect X-Mas gifts in time, and each year I fail - again. The solution? Just head to Sephora as they have the perfect gift set for your mother, sister, friends, inlaws etc. They're seriously cool sets, not the average perfume plus travel size body lotion but glittery eyeliner sets and perfect eye makeup kits. And for each and every budget. Oh and tackle the gifts for your SO, father, brother etc. right away too. What are you waiting for?! 

SEPHORA COLLECTION - Fox Pouch with Body Wash, Lotion & Loofah

I love Sephora's bath & body products year round. Cute and festive, this clear reusable pouch contains a creamy body wash and lotion in a signature Cotton Flower scent (all Sephora Collection scents are great, but this is definitely one of my favorites), as well as travel-sized mesh flower loofah.

Large Fox Pouch with Cotton Flower Body Wash (260ml), Body Lotion (190ml) and Loofah
Price: 23 SGD
Available at Sephora (online and in stores)

SMASHBOX - Lash + Liner Set

For the cool kids. Smashbox, a makeup  brand born out of a real photo studio - the legendary Smashbox Studios in L.A. - brings us all we need for dramatic Holiday eyes in one set. Amp up your mascara with Photo Finish Lash Primer, formulated to boost lashes and make mascara last longer. Then sweep on big, glossy lashes with Full Exposure Mascara to add natural-looking length and volume as it builds thickness without clumping, flaking, smudging, or spider eyes. Finish with the pigment-rich waterproof formula of Always On Gel Liner, that creates ultimate graphic eye looks without budging, smudging, or flaking.

Lash + Liner Set (Limited Edition) with full-sized Full Exposure Mascara, deluxe-sized Photo Finish Lash Primer and Always On Gel Liner.
Price: 32 SGD
Available at Sephora (online and in stores)

TARTE - "Spice Up Your Stare" Deluxe Tarteist Eyeliner Set

Yay, Tarte! Spice up your stare with creamy, 12-hour color in a waterproof formula that won’t budge. Inspired by the ease of an artist’s palette, this one-of-a-kind, squeezable cream liner offers a seamless application. The unique formula allows for the creamiest texture and smoothest application. The set includes a sketcher-angled bamboo liner brush that easily glides the plush formula along the contours of the eyelid.

"Spice Up Your Stare" Deluxe Tarteist Eyeliner Set (Limited Edition), with 4 deluxe tarteist™ clay paint liners in mulberry, champagne, black, and copper and a double-ended eyeliner brush.
Price: 52 SGD
Available at Sephora (online and in stores)

GLAMGLOW - Volcasmic Set

Let it Glow! The much-awarded GlamGlow, a brand initially founded exclusively for backstage and professional use in Hollywood's Entertainment, Music, Fashion & Award industries, offers a set with radiance-boosting skincare treatments to get that Hollywood glow.

Volcasmic set, with Volcasmic Matte Glow Moisturizer (50ml), GravityMud Firming Treatment (15g), DreamDuo Overnight Transforming Treatment DreamSerum (15ml) and DreamDuo Overnight Transforming Treatment DreamSeal (15ml)
Price: 76 SGD
Available at Sephora (online and in stores)

SK-II - Essential Ritual Set

If you need to bring in the big guns, go for SKII's Essential Ritual Set, a duo of SK-II signature facial treatments in limited-edition packaging. The award-winning Essence combines the power of nature with advanced technology to improve the overall appearance of skin. This pure, lightweight liquid is made of 90% Pitera™ - a bio-ingredient rich in vitamins, organic acids, minerals, and amino acids that work together to support natural skin cell renewal. The ultra-hydrating Gentle Cleanser contains Pitera as well, and creates a fine textured lather to effectively cleanse and hydrate the skin.

Essential Ritual Set (Limited Edition), with Facial Treatment Essence (230ml) and Facial Treatment Gentle Cleanser (120g)
Price: 269 SGD
Available at Sephora (online and in stores)

And what about the boys?

For men, unfortunately, the sets available aren't overly creative and are limited to the classic perfume plus travel size body product. If you're not sure about the fragrance or when you're looking for a less pricey gift, opting for a scented shower gel (like Burberry, Zadig & Voltaire etc) is always a good idea. It rarely goes to waste as everyone uses shower gel and it's a great way to try out a scent.

A Sweet & Cute Christmas with Etude House

Still looking for the perfect gift for someone or ready to treat yourself? Make sure to drop by Korean Beauty brand 'Etude House' for their Holiday 2019 "Snowy Dessert" Collection. My personal favorite are the Ginger Cookie Palettes; one is a two-toned blusher and the other one is a two-toned contouring powder - TOO CUTE! 

The Holiday 2019 Collection by Etude House is inspired by Christmas Candy: think candy cane lip & eye pencils, gingerbread cookie blush and yummy pudding lip tints - all 'topped' with the sweetest layer of Cute-Sauce you find nowhere else but in Asia.

Etude House, Snowy Dessert Ginger Cookie Blusher - 24.90 SGD
Two-toned Blusher, gives a healthy glowy effect.

Etude House, Snowy Dessert Cookie Contour Maker - 23.90 SGD

Two-toned contour powder for sculpted cheekbones.

Etude House is a Korean Beauty brand and has around 16 boutiques in Singapore that feel like candystores anyway; great products that invite to play around with makeup and try something new - the prices are very reasonable (quality is good) so it won't hurt your wallet to indulge yourself. Find stores here.

TriSwim Body Wash - Designed for Spoiled Expats Like Me, Spending Too Much Time in Infinity Pools & Turquoise Seas

One of the luxuries of living in the tropics is the fact that most of us have (direct access to) a swimming pool. The downside of increased exposure to pool water are the negative effects that water and chlorine have on the condition of our skin and hair. I’m therefore testing whether a shower gel that is especially designed to wash-off chlorine and sea water works or is just a marketing trick...

Last February I wrote about how water strips our skin from its natural oils, causing dryness: water evaporates when it comes in contact with the skin externally, and when it does it takes the skin's natural oils with it (read my post here). Chlorine also strips the skin from its natural oils; it not only kills the bad bacteria that can make us sick, but it also kills good bacteria on which our skin relies. This can result in skin irritations like itchy or flaky skin, eczema and rashes. Fortunately, chlorine generally has very little effect on our skin in the amounts that it is present in a swimming pool. Whereas people with a very sensitive skin might react to even the smallest presence of chlorine, but most people will not, unless they are professional swimmers that spend several hours a day in a pool.

I use our swimming pool around 2-3 times a week, and don’t have much issues with chlorine except for my skin feeling drier the more often I swim. I’ve always used a regular shower gel to wash-off and a regular body lotion to restore my skin's moisture balance after swimming. This routine seemed sufficient to me. But when I came across a shower gel especially designed for swimmers, I started to doubt my habits - and the condition of my skin.

TriSwim Body Wash promises to “gently remove Chlorine, odor & salt water”. I never had any issues with chlorine odor after I showered, but the statement about removing chlorine got me wondering whether the chlorine is actually properly and fully removed from my skin by my habitual post-swim bathing routine. A quick round of online research (MD and Dermatologist advice) tells me that as long as I shower right away after swimming, a mild soap should be sufficient, unless your skin is incredibly sensitive to chlorine. The only sources that advice anti-chlorine products to everyone after or before swimming are the websites selling these sprays, gels and creams.

Putting TriSwim Body Wash to the Pool & Sea Test

TriSwim Body Wash promises the following:

TriSwim Body Wash is for everyone who loves to swim but dislikes the negative effects Chlorine and salt water have on the skin. TriSwim’s innovative and invigorating light citrus-scented Body Wash formula gently removes Chlorine, salt water and chlorine odor while moisturizing the skin. TriSwim contains organic Aloe Vera, Vitamin E and pro-vitamin B5. 

First of all, this shower gel won’t win a price for package design, which is a pity because I tend to like a product better if it looks nice (I’m pretty superficial when it comes to that, I admit). But then again, neither is the average shower gel in Singapore, that in general reminds me most of anti-bacterial dish washing liquids.

Your Average Singapore Shower Gel: Can you find the dish washing liquid?

To test and compare the product, I used TriSwim Body Wash twice after swimming in the pool to get rid of chlorine and twice after swimming in the sea (luckily I was in Australia this month, I don't dare to swim in the filthy Singapore sea...) to get rid of salt, as these are the main product promises of the Body Wash.

Thank you Australia, for making this product review possible

The Body Wash itself is chlorine green, has a fluid gel-like texture and is very citrus-scented, especially when you stick your nose directly into the product. Invigorating? Pretty much, but also with a hint of (yup) dish washing liquid. When you lather up the product with water, I must say the scent actually is pretty invigorating. Very fresh in a subtle and pleasant way and makes you feel squeaky clean!

Overall, results are good for this product:

Feel (mental): I feel soooooooo fresh and clean!!!
Feel (physical): Smooth, clean skin
Look: No difference
Smell: No scent of the Body Wash remains lingering on my skin, but neither a smell of chlorine or salt/dirt from the sea water.

In both scenarios, I felt incredibly fresh and clean from head to toe - even more so after I went swimming in the sea because this always makes me feel so incredibly gross and sticky (no matter how pristine turquoise the water is), all glued up in a layer of salt, sand, dirt and sunscreen. I'll definitely keep using the product, especially because I'm curious if I will actually start SEEing a difference on the longer term, i.e. no more dull looking skin after swimming. But so far, worth it!

TriSwim Body Wash, 9 fl oz. / 266ml
Price: 19,90 SGD
Available through Redmart

TGIF! Time to go out and flaunt your best look tonight :)

How to avoid Meltdown Makeup: Urban Decay "All Nighter" Setting Spray

Makeup-wise, one thing that bugs me most about the hot and humid tropics is that after the shortest time my makeup (face, eyes, lips) looks worn out, whipped out and ‘meltdown’. This is the case no matter what amounts of makeup I wear; both light basic daytime makeup and meticulously applied evening makeup quickly don’t look so put together anymore as I would like. Even with the least activity, the temperature and level of humidity make me look like I’ve spent a long night in a club, wildly dancing like there’s no tomorrow. Luckily there's a very easy solution this...

PREPPING & SETTING BASICS

In makeup, there’s quite some tips and tricks to prep and set your makeup to make it look neat and tidy and last longer. Basic rule is to apply your makeup on a freshly cleaned face; after all, when painting a wall you also need to get rid of grease and dirt first in order get the smoothest, even and lasting result. Products that make your makeup last longer can roughly be divided in three categories:

• Primers: gel or cream bases that you apply after cleansing, but before your applying your makeup. There’s full face primers but also products specifically designed to prime your lip or eye makeup before applying.
• Setting Powders: Loose or compact powders that you apply with a brush throughout your makeup routine, to ‘set’ fluid or creamy products like foundation or concealer.
• Setting Sprays: Sprays and mists that you use after you've applied all your makeup and completed your entire look, that you now want to ‘lock down’.

You can use a product from one of these categories or mix of different products, according to your preference or specific need. In this article I will review a setting spray, as these products are generally easiest and fastest to use.

SETTING SPRAYS

Setting or finishing sprays are designed to preserve applied makeup for longer periods of time. Once associated with the entertainment industry (image the challenge of keeping your makeup last and look fresh when doing a Vegas cabaret routine while wearing a wig and an acrylic sequined dress on a stage while exposed to steaming hot showlights), setting sprays are nowadays available to a wide public and quickly gained in popularity. The sprays and mists of today are very easy to use and, more importantly, due to advanced product technology you won't feel the product on your face like glue or a mask. Matter of fact, a good setting spray you don't feel at all after applying. 

There are large differences though between the products available. I noticed that in Singapore not as many products are available as back home in Europe. What is widely available are moisturing and refreshing skin mists (Shue Uemura, Kanebo, , that Beauty Sales Advisors will try to sell to you as a setting spray. It's true that these mists give you a dewy and 'refreshed' look when applied on makeup, but this won't last too long. Moreover, these sprays tend to distribute too much product that you actually feel laying on your face. 

The makeup setting sprays I found available in Singapore are the following:

• MAC Prep + Prime "Fix+". Price: 100ml - 30 SGD.
• Urban Decay "All Nighter". Prices: 118ml - 48 SGD / Purse Spray 30ml - 22 SGD. 
• Makeup Forever "Mist & Fix. Prices: 125ml - 48 SGD / Purse Spray 30ml - 21 SGD.

I've tested all three:

MAC's "Fix+" is called 'fix' but leans more towards the previously mentioned moisturizing sprays. It sets makeup to a small degree, but serves primarily to create a natural finish and rehydrate your makeup to take away a powdery or dried up look. Moreover, the spray distribution wasn't optimal to me; when pressing the spray dispenser,either huge drops of product come out, OR most of the product disappears in the air. 

Makeup Forever's "Mist & Fix" is specifcally designed to set makeup and keep it in place. When using it however, it feels more wet than misty on my face, and a somewhat sticky feeling lasts quite some time.

Urban Decay's "All Nighter" is by far my favorite, and is even across categories one of the best products I've ever tried...

CAN'T DO WITHOUT: Urban Decay “All Nighter” Makeup Setting Spray

Product promise: “Is makeup meltdown ruining your midnight mojo? Mist on this weightless spray to give your makeup serious staying power. All Nighter keeps your makeup looking gorgeously just-applied for up to 16 hours – without melting, cracking, fading or settling into fine lines.”

The Test: I tested this product on a night out with the ladies. We had dinner and drinks in Clubstreet and spent our time between some hot and humid terraces outside for pre-dinner drinks, inside in blazing aircon for dinner and dancing around in people-packed bars for some cocktails afterwards.

Usually my make-up starts to look way less fresh (i.e. shine on forehead, chin and around nose; some make-up stains around my eyes) after about 1,5-2 hours already, but when I checked my face in the bathroom throughout the night my make-up stayed in place, looked very well put together and kept looking fresh for at least the 6 hours that I tested it! Love it! According to the product description, it should last even up to 16 hours.    

The Product: Apart from the awesome result, the product is very pleasant and easy to use. The spray diffuser delivers a micro fine mist and although quite some mist comes out with one spray, it doesn’t feel that way on your face. Some other similar sprays I’ve been trying, felt very wet on the face and made me fear that my applied make up would be sprayed off with the product instead of holding it. Not with this one! The Urban Decay spray dries up very fast, and doesn’t leave a sticky feeling. In fact you don’t actually feel or see that you have used the product at all. As said, similar products can leave a bit of a shine or add a dewy effect, but “All Nighter” is invisible. The clinically tested formula is suitable for all skin types and features patented Temperature Control Technology. What this means is that it actually lowers the temperature of your makeup to keep foundation, eyeshadow, blush and concealer in place – even in hot and humid or cold and windy conditions. The result? Smoother-looking skin and vibrant makeup that lasts all day (or all night).

How to use: So easy!! After applying your makeup, shake the bottle well and hold 20-25cm (08”-10”) away from your face. Mist your face around 2-4 times, in an “X” and “T” formation. The product dries up fast and you won’t even feel that you have used the product – except when you look in the mirror throughout the day and night, and feel all fresh and happy with your makeup.

Where to get it: You can buy Urban Decay’s “All Nighter” spray at Sephora. Find stores here.

The spray is available as a full size product of 118ml (48 SGD), or as a travel size/purse size product of 30ml (22 SGD).

Interested to learn more about setting sprays? This video by Wayne Gosse is very informative and honest. Allthough most of the products he reviews are not available in Singapore, it does give a good impression of the products around and how they vary in their attributes and promises. 

A Quick & Easy Tropical Look with Nailpolish in Splashing Colours

A very easy yet instant tropical touch can be added to your look with nailpolish in colours that emphasize your healthy South East Asian tan. Leaving the tropics behind to celebrate the winter holidays in Europe or the US? Take that happy tropical feeling with you, by painting your nails in these splashing colours upon heading back home to family and friends. Check out these splashing tan-compatible tints, which make everyone envy your healthy bronzed look even more...

1. Orchid Lilac

Sophisticated and delicate like a flower, yet “hard to miss”. Pastel colours like these make your skin look extra bronzed too!

The Face Shop - Trendy Nails Basic Original “PP401”, 7ml

Price: 3,90 SGD

Available at The Face Shop (find stores)

2. Papaya Orange

A juicy colour that you’d want to put your teeth in and indulge…

OPI - “Mod-ern Girl” Nail Lacquer, 15ml

Price: 16 SGD

Available at a.o. Sephora (find stores)

3. Frangripane Pink

Flower power - lovely and sweet like frangipane.

Sephora – “Sweet Baby Shower” Nail Polish, 5ml

Price: 12 SGD

Available at Sephora (find stores) 

From left to right: OPI "Mod-ern Girl", Sephora "Sweet Babyshower", FaceShop "PP401"

Christmas 2019 Limited Editions – The Musthaves

When you are hitting the malls these days for Christmas gift-shopping, don’t forget to treat yourself as well with one of these lovely Limited Editions for the Holidays to look at your best this Christmas!

Burberry Beauty 2019 Festive Collection – “Gold Glow” Luminising Powder

This year, Burberry’s glamorous Holiday look has statement red lip colours and glowing-skin finishers. The absolute Star product (so glam & cute!) in my humble opinion is the “Gold Glow”, a radiance-boosting pressed powder that is delicately scented with My Burberry (the perfume). 

The powder can be used across the face (cheekbones, nose, chin, forehead), shoulders and décolleté to highlight the skin with subtle illuminating particles. Easy to apply, fool-proof – just make sure you use a proper powder brush (like MAC’s large powder brushes) for a natural and dosed radiant glow.

Burberry 2019 Festive "Gold Glow" Perfumed Luminising Powder 

Price: 94 SGD

Available at Tang’s, 310 Orchard Rd, Singapore 238864.

MAC 2019 Nutcracker Holiday Collection – Viva Glam Lip Palette

The award for sweetest, most mouth-watering  Holiday Collection goes to MAC’s Nutcracker Holiday Collection. The brand lets us tumble into a magical land of candy-coated goodies that is, well…a bit nutty. Sugar sweet pinks, plum purples, and magic golds is all we want this Christmas. 

Super Sweet: the playful Lip Palette featuring three of MAC’s most iconic VIVA GLAM shades. And looking good does good for others too, as every cent  of the selling price of VIVA GLAM products goes toward helping women, men and children living with and affected by hiv/aids. 

MAC Holidays 2019 Nutcracker Sweet Viva Glam Lip Compact Palette

Price: 55 SGD

Available at MAC stores (find stores here) 

Lancome 2019 Holiday Collection - La Palette des Reves

Another brand that offers us a variety of pinks this Christmas is Lancôme. The “Parisian Pinks Holiday” makeup look was designed by world-famous makeup artist Lisa Eldridge: 

“Holiday Collections are very often just about red and gold, but when I was designing this collection I was very much inspired by beautiful vintage dusty roses, rich minky purple shades and bright fuchsias.”

I’m in love with the eyeshadow palette in this collection, called “La Palette des Reves” a.k.a. The Palette of Dreams. The palette has 6 eyeshadow shades, from a sparkling white and beige to intense brown warmed by a subtle pink and gold. I love that you can create many different looks with just one palette, from a sophisticated barely-there look for the day to a mysterious smokey-eye look for the night. The two key-looks are easily achieved by combining the following shades:

Paris Lumiere Look:

Apply Beige #1 all over the eyelid as a base.

Apply Or Cuivre #2 under the brow bone.

Apply #3 Brun Clair with the edge of the brush on the crease and inside of the eyelid to intensify your look. Finish the look with Le Duo Khôl in Brun Glace & Grandiôse Extrême Mascara.

Paris at Night Look:

Apply Brun Intense #6 all over the eyelid as a base.

Blend with Brun Clair #3 inside the eyelids for a smokey effect.

Finish the look with Le Duo Khôl in Hotel Particulier and Grandiôse Extrême Mascara.

Lancome Holiday 2019 - "La Palette des Reves” 

Price: 98 SGD

Available at a.o. Takashimaya & Tang's  (find store info here)

Clé De Peau Beauté 2019 Holiday Collection - Holiday Eye Palette

The theme of Clé De Peau’s 2019 Holiday Collection is “Les Années Folles”: Unabashed, Seductive, and Dizzyingly free. The makeup colours and product designs are true pieces of art(deco), based on The Roaring Twenties. 

My favourite: the Holiday Eye Palette with eight geometrically shaped eyeshadows in sumptuous Art Deco colours like Golden Copper,  Dark Maroon, Glossy Primrose and Deep Sea Green.

Clé De Peau Beauté 2019 Holiday Eye Palette

Price: 180 SGD

Available at Takashimaya & Tang’s (find store info here)

Burlesque Star & Women's Activist Sukki Singapora Launches Lipstick Range

I personally wasn't aware of the fact that lovely but conservative Singapore has its own burlesque star, but the Little Red Dot keeps surprising me each time again. She goes by the name of Sukki Singapora, a name that wouldn't be out of place in James Bond movie, co-starring Kissy Suzuki, Honey Ryder and Pussy Galore, and launched a lipstick collection recently.

Mind you, there's more to Sukki than just beauty. This woman is an artist, an indisputable female powerhouse and an activist. She became the first woman in history to perform a full legal burlesque show in Singapore in January 2019 after four years of campaigning. Hooray! Her outstanding achievements lead to various esteemed global nominations, AND a Royal Invitation to Buckingham Palace – the first Burlesque Artist in the world ever to be invited for tea by the Royal Family - firmly securing her position as one of the most trail-blazing Burlesque Artists of our time. Known for her lavish, quirky and elaborate performances and costumes, her lipstick collection promises to be anything but boring...

(c) Karolina Skorek (left) & Patrick Clark (right)

To create her 6-color lipstick collection, Sukki teamed up with global cosmetics brand LASplash Cosmetics. The collection is made up of 3 mattes and 3 glosses, that are specifically formulated to be comfortable and not dry out your lips & stay put all day. Colors range from pretty pinks, a glamorous gold and statement reds, that Sukki created based on her all-time favorites:

- Sukki (Sukki’s signature day-time red)
- Chio Chic (local slang for cute)
- Desi Queen (ideal for bronze skin tones)
- Burlesque Babe (Sukki’s stage lipstick)
- Girl Power (a punchy pink)
- Cupcake Dream (reminiscent of pink cake frosting)

“I wanted to create a line of colors to inspire and empower young women to be themselves" 

Well said, Sukki, and much needed in Asian countries, where self-expression is typically frowned upon. And while this range is definitely inspiring, I am missing a lipstick with LAH, LEH or LOR in its name. "Chio Chic" is such an awesome name for a lipstick, more Singlish please! Girl Power is a bit too nineties anyway, so I propose Sukki to change the name of this punchy pink to "Lady Power Lah!". That would be winning.

Available online (18 USD per lipstick) through LA Splash' webshop. Unfortunately, shipping costs to Singapore are quite high; show us your activist spirit and do something about this Sukki!

Whether it's Makeup, Skincare or Haircare... I'm Sooo Guilty!

Light weight Body Lotions for a non-sticky life in the Tropics

A common first world problem of living in the muggy tropics: body lotions that leave a sticky feeling after application. Why? Because we already feel perpetually hot, sweaty and sticky!!! Given the fact that the tropical heath makes us shower more often, stripping our skin from essential oils, simply scrapping body lotion from our beauty routine isn't the smartest option. Luckily there are some light weight body lotions available that do the trick, giving our skin what it needs without a trace of stickiness.

I've been an over-bather for about 2,5 years now: from the moment I set foot in tropical Singapore, I amped up my habitual shower frequency to at least twice a day. The sticky heat and sweaty humidity just make me yearn for a shower so badly, that I chose to ignore the fact that too much showering is not good for the skin. Dermatologists state that taking a shower twice a week (yes you read that correctly) is more than enough.

Although lots of showering makes us feel clean, too much cleansing can strip the skin and hair of essential natural oils and disrupt the skin’s population of immune system-supporting bacteria. The latter is especially true when you use antibacterial body cleansers, so better ditch that Dettol shower gel and the likes, a category of body wash that I’ve only seen around in mysophobic Singapore anyway.

Regardless of whether you’re just dead scared of germs or, like me, simply can’t deal with the constant damp and sweaty feeling that comes with living in a tropical climate; if you shower a lot, you should really use a body lotion to maintain the right level of moisture in your skin, ideally after every shower. The picks below are my absolute favorite body lotions to use in the tropics: they give the skin what it needs but feel incredibly light and are absorbed by the skin really fast, hardly leaving a trace.

#1: Vaseline Intensive Care - Spray Moisturizer Deep Restore

This product doesn't get absorbed as fast as Vaseline's TV commercial (a girl sprays the moisturizer on her body and immediately dresses herself happily - in reverse, that is, but still) tries to make us believe. However, it's still impressively fast: if you rub the liquid white lotion into the skin immediately after spraying, it takes only about 3 minutes to get fully absorbed. Quick and effective - a highly functional spray. 

The scent is the same as other Vaseline Intensive Care products from the brand's yellow range, a bit shea-buttery. Pleasant and not too heavy. The spray moisturizer contains two key ingredients to repair and hydrate skin, which are Oat Extract to deeply pull moisture into dry skin and micro-droplets of Vaseline Jelly to lock the moisture in, leaving the skin deeply nourished. A winner, if you ask me.

Vaseline Intensive Care - Deep Restore Spray Moisturizer, 190g 
Price: 11,90 SGD
Available at most drugstores (a.o. Watsons, Guardian) and supermarkets (a.o. Fairprice, Cold Storage and Redmart)

#2: Aveeno - Daily Moisturizing Lotion Sheer Hydration

Like Vaseline's Spray Moisturizer, this hydrating, ultra sheer lotion is absorbed in seconds. The lotion contains Active Naturals® Oat. As a skin protectant active ingredient, oatmeal can help restore skin's normal pH and aid in the maintenance of skin's moisture barrier to help prevent and protect dry skin. The lotion goes on feather-light and leaves skin feeling velvety soft. It's unscented, which sometimes result in a stale smell, but not in this case. Great all-round body lotion. 

Aveeno - Daily Moisturizing Lotion Sheer Hydration, 350ml

Price: 16,90 SGD
Available at most drugstores (a.o. Watsons, Guardian)

#3: Fresh - Fresh Life Body Lotion with Vitamins C & E

Fresh's nourishing lightweight lotion provides 24-hours of moisture, infused with a sensual citrus scent. And yes, it IS fresh, both scent and texture. According to the brand, the lotion's scent conjures the freshness of a clear blue sky, sweet morning air, a sparkling sun, and velvety water. My personal associations: crispy clean cotton, a ray of sun on a fresh summer morning. Reminds me of Narciso Rodriguez' Essence perfume. Contains vitamins C and E, shea butter and antioxidant-rich vitamins.

Fresh - Fresh Life Body Lotion with Vitamins C & E, 300ml

Price: 36 SGD
Available at Sephora (online and in store) and Fresh stores (only 2 in Singapore)

#4: Sephora - Nourishing Mousse Body Oil

Last on this list because this product isn't absorbed as fast as above body lotions, however for an nourishing oil (which it is), it's still really fast. I love the mousse texture, which adds to the feather light sensation. It looks and feels like shaving foam, but once you rub the foamy mousse into the skin it becomes a light oil. The scent to me is a mix of sun care and baby care products, which I personally like a lot, but might be too much for some.

Containing castanha oil, it's as rich as most oils, yet it's absorbed by the skin quite fast. It nourishes and moisturizes the skin, leaving it supple, soft, and comfortable. Great product to add to your beauty routine; not for every day for me, but a great option for some extra nourishing pampering once in a while.

Sephora - Nourishing Mousse Body Oil, 150ml
Price: 20 SGD
Available at Sephora (online and in store)