We raided the beauty shelves of three self-confessed beauty junkies.
We raided the beauty shelves of three self-confessed beauty junkies.
Jemimah Wei 24, Host/Influencer/Post-graduate
@jemmawei
How did your love for all things beauty come about?
I’ve been a choir girl since 13, and we needed to do our makeup for the performances, so I’ve been using cosmetics from a young age! Putting on makeup with your friends is a very communal thing and it’s also super fun.
What’s your best piece of beauty advice?
Clean off all your makeup properly, and use sunscreen! Actually, I only started using it about a year ago, and I can tell you, there’s a noticeable difference.
If you were stranded on a deserted island and could only have three beauty products with you, what would they be?
Facial wash, a heavy-duty sunscreen and… can I say water? I would bring an endless supply of water because staying hydrated helps to keep your skin in good condition. And I say this from personal experience, because when I was staying on campus, I didn’t drink enough water and it showed on my skin.
What are some beauty items you can’t live without?
As an influencer, I do get sent quite a few things, so for me, a good gauge for whether a product is worth the hype is if I’m willing to put money down for it. So I really love the LANEIGE Brush Pact, which is a matte finishing powder. It’s $42, but for that price, you get a powder and a really good brush. The way it’s designed makes it so easy to do touch-ups on-the go-too, so I buy it as a gift for my friends who run around a lot. Another item I really love is Urban Decay’s Bad Blood lipstick. I’ve gone through three of them already. Oh, and Bobbi Brown’s bronzer! It’s quite costly at $80, but it’s really worth it.
Valerie Lim 25, Assistant Marketing Manager
@val.lim
You do PR and digital marketing for a global beauty brand. Was it always your dream to work in the beauty industry?
Yes. I studied marketing in university, so a lot of us were looking at established companies we could work for when we graduated. I naturally gravitated towards a beauty brand because it’s aligned with my interests – it would be hard for me to market something I’m not very passionate about!
Do you go to work with a full face of makeup every day?
I usually only have concealer on and my brows done when I go to the office! I know, people think the beauty industry is very glamourous, but it’s a lot of hard work too and I value that extra 15 minutes of sleep. Of course, I’ll put on more makeup when I have to attend events, or if I have work meetings. I always have a makeup pouch with me just in case.
What’s your favourite beauty trend of the moment?
Baking (a technique where you let a generous layer of translucent powder sit on your face before dusting it off), because it really helps to set your makeup in place. I wake up around 7am, and sometimes, I don’t get home till midnight, so I need my makeup to last. Besides that, I also like highlighters – my makeup look is usually very basic, so I like to pay more attention to my skin and make it look more radiant.
What’s your skincare routine like?
When I come home from work, I’ll remove my makeup, followed by cleansing. Then I’ll put on Lancôme’s Advanced Génifique Serum, followed by the eye serum and cream from the same range. I know it’s an anti-ageing line, which might seem odd for someone my age, but with skincare, it really just boils down to what your skin needs. For me, I’m concerned about my eye bags and dark circles, so these work for me.
Any beauty wisdom to impart onto our readers?
Good makeup starts with good skincare. For example, lipstick won’t look good on dry or chapped lips. And as much as there’s a ton of products out there tailored to make you look good, it’s still hard to beat a natural radiant glow!
“I’m concerned about my eye bags and dark circles, so these work for me.”
Grace Lim 25, Stylist
@gracelsyy
What are some of your fave items on your beauty shelf?
I like using the Avene Eau Thermale Spring Water as a facial mist because it’s hydrating but doesn’t clog my pores. I also love my Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray – it’s very useful on days when I’m shooting so I don’t need to stop for touch-ups too much.
Do you deliberately coordinate your makeup look with your outfit?
What I wear affects how I do my makeup. One big difference is in my choice of lipstick. For example, if I’m wearing an all-black outfit, I’ll put on a dark red lippie. If my outfit is more on the feminine side, I’ll use more orange tones. My fallback is a good pink lipstick.
When you’re styling a fashion shoot, do you plan the makeup look with the outfit as well?
Yes, we’ll come up with a mood board before the shoot. But sometimes we make changes on set as well – it depends on the lighting and whether everything looks OK when put together.
Can you tell us more about your evening skincare routine?
I’ll remove my makeup and double cleanse. That’s followed by toner, eye cream, serum, and moisturiser. I’ll also mask up once or twice a week – I especially love sleeping masks because they’re so convenient!
“Here are some of my fave scents, and a cheek palette I use regularly. I wear blush very often, because people always think I’m sick when I don’t wear it!”
Photography: Nyen / Text Compiled By: Sophie Hong.
