The Subversive Eyeliner

It’s a beauty breakout.

Portrait of Tammy Strobel

It’s a beauty breakout.

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Kick-start the New Year with a bold beauty look.  Draw zigzag lines with an eyeliner above or below the eyelids. Express your unique style by experimenting with the size and placement of the design. A good spot is on the outer corner of the eyes, whether above or below the lash line. Keep the rest of your makeup barely-there with minimal colours.

Shu Uemura Lasting Soft Gel Pencil in Intense Black, $37
Shu Uemura Lasting Soft Gel Pencil in Intense Black, $37
Kose Esprique Gel Liquid Eyeliner in BK 001 Black, $32
Kose Esprique Gel Liquid Eyeliner in BK 001 Black, $32
Hourglass Voyeur Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner, $56
Hourglass Voyeur Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner, $56
Urban Decay Perversion Waterproof Fine Point Eye Pen, $35
Urban Decay Perversion Waterproof Fine Point Eye Pen, $35
Kate Quick Lock Liquid Liner WP in Glow Black, $17
Kate Quick Lock Liquid Liner WP in Glow Black, $17
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“A woman is most beautiful when she smiles.” – Beyoncé

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Vanessa glams up an everyday look with a perfect cat-eye flick.
Vanessa Hudgens @vanessahudgens

TOP SHELF

Dear Skin, Sorry for sacrificing you in the name of a good time all of December. Please accept these delicious new masks as an apology…

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AprilSkin Mummy Mud Mask, $7 per sheet
Is there anything more satisfying than a good peel-off mask? This one from new-to-Singapore K-Beauty brand AprilSkin is definitely worth a try.

Himalaya Herbals Neem Face Pack, $8.95
Turmeric is having a moment thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties. If you don’t fancy tinging your pillow cases and sink yellow from the powder, try this pack instead.

Allies of Skin Promise Keeper Blemish Facial, $159
Packed with AHAs, enzymes and probiotics, slap this on and let it work on your problem areas while unclogging pores and brightening the complexion. It also strengthens the skin's natural barrier – all while you snooze!

L’Oréal Paris Pure Clay Masks, $14.90 each
Unveil a purified and detoxified version of your face with a little help from these guys. This mask range comes in three varieties, Anti-Pores, Detoxify, and Illuminating; which promise to remove blackheads and minimise pores, dissolve impurities, and brighten your skin, respectively.

From Work To Party

Look good for New Year parties with these pro tips from Felix Nguyen, Bobbi Brown’s APAC Manager of Education and Makeup Artistry.

Felix Nguyen
Felix Nguyen

THE GOLDEN KEY

“The first thing [you need to have] is concealer, 'cos when you get off work, you’re tired [and have] dark circles, so conceal under the eyes or wherever you need to make yourself look fresh.”

THE NEW SMOKEY

“For eyes, matte nude smokey eye [is the hottest trend]. What you do is use a creamy brown-toned eyeshadow that you wear around the eye, and then smoke out the liner.”

SPARKLE AND DAZZLE

“If you already have eye makeup on, just layer on a cream eyeshadow with your finger, and then press some sparkle on top. If you’re looking for something more low-key, just softly line your waterline. This adds impact to any look without overpowering your natural style.”

THE NYFW TRICK TO LONG-LASTINGLIP COLOURS

“First off, prep your lips well. If you have dry lips, put a heap of lip balm on, leave it on for five to 10 minutes, and let it soften your lips. Then get a tissue and remove the excess – this takes off excess skin as well. Then do this trick we use at New York Fashion Week all the time: grab a powder brush and press it into your powder, place a tissue onto your lips, then press the brush onto the tissue. [The inner part of the tissue] takes off any excess lipstick, [and on the outer side,] the powder penetrates through and softly mattifies the lips.”

Still-life Photography Vernon Wong. Some prices unavailable at press time.

Gi-force
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We should have seen this coming, but the Gigi X Maybelline collection completely blind sided us.The good news? It was a happy surprise! 

Much like Gigi’s living situation, the collection is divided between New York (East Coast Glam, with an edgier colour palette) and LA (West Coast Glow, for the effortless Cali girl vibe). 

“I have always believed great makeup doesn't have to cost a fortune,” said Gigi. “I was empowered to create something that I couldn’t find before, while also making sure it was a full set at an affordable price point.”  

The range has been a year in the making and the shades are named after her best friends, her astrological sign (Taurus) and places and memories from her childhood.

Our faves are the Eye Contour Palette in Cool (available January 1) with its subtle smoky tones, and the matte lipstick in Austyn. 

Try one of Gigi’s top tips and create extra dimension by applying a lip liner over the top of the lipstick.

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Lipstick in Austyn, $16.90
Lipstick in Austyn, $16.90
Eyeshadow Palette in Cool, $26.90
Eyeshadow Palette in Cool, $26.90
At your service
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What: Sugar K Facial Peel
Where: Sugar K Organic PeelBar, #03-83 Clarke Quay Central, Tel: 6904 4161
How much: $55 per session, $425.40 for six sessions
Now, we can finally say sugar is good for you. This 20-minute treatment involving a cleanse, peel, neutraliser and skincare application doesn't take very long, but packs a pretty intensive punch. Derived from sugar cane, the all-natural glycolic peel acts as a powerful exfoliant with minimal irritation, making your skin look brighter in just one session. We'd still suggest doing the recommended four sessions for a really evened out skin tone. 

New Year New Face
Adwoa Aboah
Adwoa Aboah

You’ve probably seen the phrase “watch this face” a million times, but you really, really should watch this one! Model and activist Adwoa Aboah has just been announced as the new face of Marc Jacobs Beauty (MJB), joining the likes of Edie Campbell and Kaia Gerber. When she’s not busy being in MJB campaigns,she runs Gurls Talk, an online community that encourages women to share their stories about mental health, sex and social media.