This November, glitter makes an official return by way of shimmery eyeshadows and pearlescent highlighters. When it comes to skincare, there’s a focus on exfoliation in the form of a bubbling lip scrub and mask.
It’s easy to get inundated by this huge beauty playground, so to help you sift through the countless drops, I took each product out for a spin. Have a look at the treasure trove of pampering delights below.
Apart from inducing nostalgia with its 4-in-1 pen design, Benefit’s latest brow innovation is the multitasking product I never knew I needed.
The pen features four different shades to achieve a gradient brow look with one handy item you can fit into any handbag. Here’s the recommended way of using this product.
As I’ve jet black hair, I used only the darker shade to fill in my brows. To avoid looking like an Angry Bird, I then used a spoolie to blend the shade out—something the pen doesn’t come with but is available separately.
Rochelle Paz, Benefit’s National Brow Artist, also revealed a hack: you can use the definer shade as an emergency concealer. To brighten tired eyes, I’ll also apply the arch highlighter on the inner corners of my lid.
Price: S$60
Where to buy: Sephora stores, Sephora.sg, and Zalora.sg
Sugar-based scrubs feel amazing on the face, but your body could use some TLC too.
I’m not one for sweet floral scents, so I opted for Crabtree & Evelyn’s Lavender & Espresso Calming Body Scrub. Lavender and coffee make an unusual olfactory team, but the warm combination soothes my mood after an exhausting day.
This sugar scrub contains crushed lavender petals and ground coffee seed powder to exfoliate, while the blend of meadowfoam, coconut oil, avocado oil, and shea butter blanket my skin with hydration.
Tip: This rinses off with a slight residue, so you can skip the body lotion altogether.
Price: S$50
Where to buy: Crabtree & Evelyn stores
Innisfree has given its bestselling anti-aging Jeju Orchid range a recent upgrade. The new formula now contains a higher concentration of active ingredients which boost collagen levels to firm and smooth out fine lines.
As a 26-year-old, I’ve started looking into anti-aging skincare, and what stood out most from this trio was the eye cream.
I used this for a week, but only in the evenings because of the thicker consistency. Hyaluronic acid and Jeju green beans hydrate the delicate skin, and the lines under my eyes looked slightly softer after seven days.
If you’re prone to getting milia, small bumpy cysts under the skin, use the cream sparingly. The formula contains emollients like macadamia nut oil and shea butter, which could clog up pores if slathered on too generously.
Price: Jeju Orchid Eye Cream (S$43), Jeju Orchid Skin (S$34), Jeju Orchid Gel Cream (S$43)
Where to buy: Innisfree stores
I never used highlighters for fear they’d make my oily face look even more like a glazed donut. But the new Marc Jacobs’ O!Mega Glaze All-Over Foil Luminizer changed my mind.
When brushed on my cheekbones, this pearlescent powder lends a warm, peachy gold radiance that looks natural when applied with a light hand. It’s a buildable formula, so you can adjust the intensity based on how extra you’re feeling.
To transition my makeup from day to night, I dab the See-Quins Glam Glitter Eyeshadow in Glamethyst on my lids. The glitter particles scatter easily when applied, so protect your under eye area with a piece of tissue beforehand.
Price: O!mega Glaze All-Over Foil Luminizer (S$69), See-Quins Glam Glitter Eyeshadow (S$38), Enamored Hi-Shine Gloss Lip Lacquer (S$42)
Where to buy: Sephora stores and Sephora.sg
Similar to 3INA and Milk Makeup, Chinese brand Marie Dalgar is an advocate for creative expression, evident in their campaign visuals.
Known for creating the world’s first grafting mascara, they’ve launched a limited edition holographic makeup collection at Sephora.
Along with a semi-matte brown and peach pink shade, the It’s Holo Mini Lipstick Kit features four shimmery lip toppers. I lightly dab on a coat on top of lipstick, ensuring it doesn’t take the colour off my lips.
For your year-end office party, you’ll also find a glitter-filled 10-pan eyeshadow palette and a 3-pan highlighter palette in the collection to shine your way into 2019.
Price: It’s Holo Mini Lipstick Kit (S$49), It’s Holo Eyeshadow Palette (S$58), It’s Holo Highlighter Palette (S$49)
Where to buy: Sephora stores and Sephora.sg
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Though the brand is discontinuing their first Naked Palette, we now have the Naked Cherry Eyeshadow Palette to play with.
From mattes to metallics, the twelve nude to berry shades are so easy to work with, I even created a quick Halloween makeup look with it.
When I want to add drama to my eyes, I reach for the Naked Cherry 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in ‘Love Drug’; a shimmery plum that complements any hue from the palette.
Price: Naked Cherry Eyeshadow Palette (S$83), Naked Cherry 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil (S$33), Naked Cherry Vice Lipstick (S$31), Naked Cherry All-Nighter Makeup Setting Spray (S$22)
Where to buy: Sephora stores and Sephora.sg
Matte lipsticks are notorious for leaving lips dry and flaky, but the YSL Rouge Pur Couture lipstick does none of that.
Its velvety, weightless cream formula glides on and doesn’t accentuate dry patches. The square bullet, inspired by the iconic Yves Saint Laurent Couture House, makes drawing precise lines easier too.
The only drawback for me is the lingering grape Hi-Chew scent, so if you are sensitive to fragrances, visit a YSL Beauté store or counter to try the product first.
Price: S$54
Where to buy: YSL Beauté counters and stores, and Tangs.com
The Bubi Bubi Lip Scrub, Unpa Cosmetics’ bestselling product, is a lip exfoliator which bubbles up to gently exfoliate the lips. Unlike physical scrubs, papaya and grapefruit extracts in this formula slough off dead skin cells without any abrasive action.
After applying a pea-sized amount of product on my cracked lips and leaving it on for 3 to 5 minutes, I felt the gel formula foam up and subside. Using my finger, I massaged the residual product all over my lips before rinsing it off.
I was skeptical at first, but this product did remove dead skin after a few minutes, and it left my lips soft and supple. The Bubi Bubi Face, a bubbling peeling gel, also uses papaya extract to exfoliate the face.
Price: Bubi Bubi Lip Scrub (S$19.90), Bubi Bubi Face (S$33.90)
Where to buy: Selected Watsons stores and Watsons.sg
Since I have Sebum™ to thank for that daily glow, I’ve always given highlighters a pass. Marc Jacobs’ O!Mega Glaze All-Over Foil Luminizer, however, changed my mind.
From its golden lid to the large built-in mirror with aesthetic ridges, it’s hard to resist trying this foiled highlighter. Within seconds of holding the product, I left five unsightly fingerprints on the lid, so for those with OCD, do handle it with care.
Using a fluffy brush or my fingers, I apply the powder on my cheekbones and take it up to the brow bone in a C-shape. The result is a soft, gold metallic sheen that brackets my eyes. It blends easily, so you can build the pigmented powder into an intense gleam with more layers.
If you’ve been searching for a highlighter that doesn’t have visible glitter particles, this is it. A little goes a long way, so don’t go overboard unless you’re going for ‘C-3PO chic’.
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