A bottle of liquid foundation is the beauty equivalent of the little black dress – every woman owns more than one. Especially when the latest formulations promise to stay budge-proof for 24 hours. Estee Lauder’s Double Wear Nude Water Fresh Makeup SPF30/PA++ ($62) has an ultra-fluid texture and boasts specially formulated pigments that are said to adhere to skin for hours of coverage. There’s also YSL Beaute’s All Hours Foundation ($98), which has an ultra-absorbent polymer to absorb moisture, and keep your game face intact in Singapore’s humidity.
24/7 MAGIC
A bottle of liquid foundation is the beauty equivalent of the little black dress – every woman owns more than one. Especially when the latest formulations promise to stay budge-proof for 24 hours. Estee Lauder’s Double Wear Nude Water Fresh Makeup SPF30/PA++ ($62) has an ultra-fluid texture and boasts specially formulated pigments that are said to adhere to skin for hours of coverage. There’s also YSL Beaute’s All Hours Foundation ($98), which has an ultra-absorbent polymer to absorb moisture, and keep your game face intact in Singapore’s humidity.
One-pack Wonders
We all know travel wreaks havoc on our skin. One easy way to look fresh on the road is the single-use mask. For parched, winter-chapped skin, slap on Sulwhasoo’s Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Creamy Mask ($148 for five sheets), which is packed with ginseng actives for additional moisturising goodness. To eliminate heat-induced shine and clogged pores, use Garnier’s Pure Active Matcha Deep Clean Blackhead & Pore Purifying Clay Mask ($2 for 2 packs), which has kaolin clay and matcha extract to dislodge grime and absorb excess sebum in a jiffy.
THE GOOD STUFF
No one wants a greasy complexion, but oil-based skincare? That’s different. Japanese skincare and makeup brand Three has built a cult following for its botanical oil-infused products, from Balancing Cleansing Oil ($68) to the Flawless Ethereal Fluid Foundation ($75) made with argan and tea seed oils to impart a natural glow. For an overnight oil-based serum, there is Skin Inc’s dual layer Serum-infused Night Oil ($98) with yuzza seed, olive and lavender oils to boost skin repair while you sleep.
Red Not Dead
The launch of Reputation , Taylor Swift’s new album, this month might mean that the old Taylor is dead, but one signature Tay Tay look we predict she will hold on to is the classic red lip – a look that is universally flattering, provided you pick the right shade. Chanel’s Collection Libre 2017 makes this easy with its streamlined Numeros Rouges lipstick range of four classic reds ($52 each), each with a specific undertone to match different complexions. The collection also comes with a range of complementary makeup, including a smoky eye palette ($102), blusher ($72) and lip gloss ($48) to complete the look.
For a more lived-in smear of crimson, pick a shade from Bobbi Brown’s Crushed Lip Color range ($41 each). The balm-like moisturising texture and semi-matte colour pigments leave a long-lasting, just-kissed finish for low-maintenance days.
WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED
Up till the 1980s, New York brand Kiehl’s was a true-blue apothecary that dispensed handmade personalised skin remedies. This quaint service may no longer be available in stores, but its tailor-made Apothecary Preparations Serum ($155) does bring back a little of its old-school approach to beauty. Customers first undergo a detailed skin consultation with a Kiehl’s adviser, before two skin-specific Targeted Complexes (eg for wrinkles, dullness etc…) are prescribed. Everything is packaged in a box with the customer’s name, details of the personal formula, and directions for use, just like how a traditional pharmacist would. Available only at Ngee Ann City and Tangs at Tangs Plaza.
“Influential” has become somewhat of a divisive word these days. With “influencers” aplenty self-claiming the title, what makes one truly influential? At Female, we like to think it’s people who’ve made a tangible impact beyond “likes” and the odd Twitter war. The 12 local talents – from fashion, beauty, art, design and culture backgrounds – we’ve highlighted in this issue have done exactly that in 2017. Some are established faces, others might be new and unfamiliar, but all of them have one thing in common: They’re game changers. Likewise, we take a trip (not literally) to Canada, the oft-overlooked land of the two Justins (Trudeau and Bieber), to spotlight its bountiful crop of fast-rising names, all set to be the next power movers. Championing that same pioneering spirit are the new Resort ’18 collections, where a touch of the wild, wild West is heralding a whole new vibe, one of exploration and adventure. Perhaps it is time we explored new lands. – KYS
Founder of Japanese-influenced lifestyle goods label Polkaros (@polkaros), designer Ros Lee whipped up this custom creation of ceramic glaze tiles for Female. Of the risky and time-consuming act of firing up these tiles, Lee says she believes “in order to create anything good, you need to not be afraid of trying, and possibly failing, before you succeed” – much in line with the spirit of the people we’ve profiled in this issue.
Text: Karen Tee / Model Photos: Showbit.com
