This January, beauty brands welcome us to the New Year with hydrating skincare formulas to brighten our complexions. Included are eyeshadow palettes in various finishes and tinted lip glosses for that extra shine.
Instead of feeling stifled by the mounds of new skincare and makeup products, have a look at some of our fresh favourites, tried and tested.
What is it: A night cream infused with Super Lotus to hydrate, boost radiance, and deliver antioxidant protection for younger looking skin.
Why I like it: My skin was slightly irritated by a new chemical exfoliant I’d been testing, so this cream formed a soothing blanket of nourishment to restore its barrier.
What I don’t like about it: The texture is a little heavy but it doesn’t bother me much since it’s meant for night time use.
Rating: 4/5
What is it: A moisturising lip gloss in 10 vivid colours.
Why I like it: The glossy texture isn’t tacky and the colours are saturated. As someone who isn’t a fan of liquid lipsticks, this is a good alternative as it leaves a flattering stain without drying my lips.
What I don’t like about it: The fruity smell is quite overwhelming.
Rating: 3/5
What is it: A pinkish nude and bold red lipstick locally crafted with 100% organic ingredients.
Why I like it: Both colours are flattering on skin with yellow undertones like mine. The lipsticks contain a number of moisturising oils, waxes, and butters to moisturise my parched lips without accentuating dry patches.
What I don’t like about it: The formula could be a tad creamier so it drags on my lips less.
Rating: 3.5/5
What is it: A multitasking skincare trio created by local beauty brand Sigi Skin to minimise the number of steps in a beauty routine.
Why I like it: The cleanser smells refreshing while the sunscreen and eye cream bear light textures that sink into the skin fast. The sunscreen takes the cake as it doubles up as a day moisturiser.
What I don’t like about it: Eye creams shouldn’t contain fragrances or aromatic essential oils because the eye area is delicate. This has a soothing scent, but the formula stung around my eyes.
Rating: 4/5
What is it: A 9-pan eyeshadow palette and a face palette for blush, highlight, and contouring.
Why I like it: I’m partial to coral, orange-tinted eyeshadows, so the summery, copper tones in the ‘Shady Beach’ Palette are my new go-tos.
What I don’t like about it: The highlighters in the ‘Bread & Butter’ Face Palette aren’t as pigmented as I hoped they’d be.
Rating: 3/5
What is it: An 8-pan limited edition eyeshadow palette and a liquid eyeliner—both inspired by Kat Von D’s best-selling ‘Lolita’ shade.
Why I like it: If you’re going for a smokey eye, the rosy hues in the palette are an ideal alternative to traditional brown or black eyeshadows. Each shade blends easily and stays on for hours on my oily lids.
What I don’t like about it: The Ink Well liquid liner was too difficult to remove; even my oil cleanser had trouble dissolving it.
Rating: 4/5
What is it: A 10-shade eyeshadow palette in classic matte neutrals, eye-catching shimmers, and opalescent metallics.
Why I like it: These are the most pigmented eyeshadow formulas I’ve ever tried. Each shade goes on buttery smooth with excellent colour payoff and longevity. The metallic red ‘Blitz Flame’ is a favourite, along with a colour-shifting green called ‘VR Fire Opal’.
What I don’t like about it: The glitter pigments aren’t closely packed, so they tend to migrate to my temples and cheeks after a while.
Rating: 4.5/5
What is it: A moisturising lip gloss in a soft pink shimmer.
Why I like it: The thick gloss doesn’t feel tacky and makes my lips look more plump. The shea butter in the formula conditions my dry lips too.
What I don’t like about it: The peach-vanilla scent can taste a little cloying after several applications throughout the day.
Rating: 3/5
When Sephora Singapore announced the arrival of Pat McGrath Labs, I went ballistic. In fact, I threw my money at this S$189 eyeshadow palette the day it launched online.
Having worked in the beauty industry for nearly 3 years, I’ve gone through heaps of eyeshadow formulas. Pat McGrath’s are unlike any other. The shades glide on silky smooth, and you only need a small amount for a pigmented swipe that lasts for hours on my oily lids.
These matte and metallic colours won’t crease or fade easily, so they’re able to withstand Singapore’s year-round humidity too. The shimmers in the palette can be messy to apply, so protect your under eye area with a piece of tissue beforehand.
Since these 10 shades came into my life, the metallic crimson ‘Blitz Flame’ has become a signature shade, along with a colour-shifting green called ‘VR Fire Opal’. This palette has encouraged me to be more experimental with my eye looks, and it’s worth every penny.
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