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The latest news from the beauty world this week: SK-II pops up at JEM
If you’ve ever had your complexion analysed at a department store counter and still feel a level of ‘scanxiety’ at all the flaws they pointed out, fret not. SK-II‘s new Mini Magic Scan, available at its Future X pop-up at Jem, is nothing but uplifting. The intimate counselling experience is all about helping you to understand your current skin condition in a positive, proactive manner (read: no skintimidation where pores and fine lines are scrutinised till one feels pressured to buy the store).
This is however, the perfect moment to chat one-on-one with an SK-II advisor about any beauty-related concerns and score tips on how to achieve your skin goals.
Powered by SK-II’s proprietary Skin Science and Diagnostics Innovation and artificial intelligence, the Mini Magic Scan will help to analyse your skin age, signs of health and beauty while also offering you your own personalised Pitera-powered skin regime.
The experience is free to all, and open till 28 February 2023, exclusively at Jem Singapore.
Need to get fit but have no idea where to start? LumiHealth, the nation’s beloved health and fitness app by the Singapore Health Promotion Board by has been motivating everyday folks of all ages to get mindful and moving since 2020. Available on the Apple Watch, LumiHealth just the boost you need to make healthy—and importantly, sustainable—lifestyle changes to your physical activity, sleep, nutrition and more.
For Terence Ng, director for innovation office at Singapore’s Health Promotion Board, it’s about adopting healthier lifestyles through “small, everyday steps that are convenient and attainable” for one’s personal lifestyle.
And now till 14 August, there’s even greater incentive to join LumiHealth. Apple retail stores in Singapore are offering a free $40 Apple retail gift card: Simply purchase a new Apple Watch and sign-up to the LumiHealth program for the first time during this period.
But it gets better. Current participants of the app who refer friends and family to join LumiHealth during this period will be awarded 10,000 bonus points for each successful referral.
When was the last time you held space for yourself? Pandemic burnout, rising inflation and now talks of a global recession may have left many in a state of dis-ease. Soma Haus, a new wellness centre located in Singapore’s East offers all the chance to reset our internal systems by creating the optimal environment for the mind and body to recover from the changing tides of life.
“There are no shortcuts when it comes to looking after our health, especially when we are all still reeling from the ongoing impacts of a global pandemic,” explains Soma Haus’ co-founder and therapist Kathy Gabriel. “Soma Haus has been designed to create the most optimal environment for your body to heal and recover. Our holistic services, ancient practices and modern technology work together to provide you with consistent maintenance, support and healing.”
Guests to this oasis of calm in the heart of buzzy Joo Chiat can experience a curated menu of restorative modalities, from shiatsu and myofacial massage, naturopathy to craniosacral therapy and counselling alongside ice baths, infrared saunas, and sensory depriving float pods. Or if you’d simply like to slow down via sound and recalibrate your Heart Rate Variability (HRV) without talk or touch, Soma Haus also offers gentle breathwork and sound bath sessions to help release stress and anxiety.
Reconnect with your self at Soma Haus, 108/110 Joo Chiat Rd #01-01, Singaore 427401. Open daily from 9:30am to 7pm (Monday to Saturday) and 9.30am to 5pm (Sunday).
July 13 marks World Pitera Day. Just what is Pitera, exactly? Exclusive to SK-II where it’s the star ingredient in the brand’s ‘Miracle Water‘, Pitera is crafted in the Shiga Plant in Japan.
SK-II’s latest PITERA™ 24/7 Skin Fluctuation Study revealed that our skin condition can fluctuate greatly within a day, even looking almost up to 10 years older due to internal and environmental stressors. And the worst time of day for skin? Late at night, when we’re likely to be working late, partying hard, or trying to get our little ones to sleep. However, regular use of SK-II’s Pitera-rich Essence helped to improve on aspects of skin ageing including refining pores, texture, dullness, and minimising redness for a clearer complexion.
To start your journey to crystal clear skin and put Pitera to the test, check out SK-II’s Pitera Power Kit available at Metro, Tangs and LazMall.
Mina, American-born Japanese singer of beloved K-pop group Twice joins SK-II as their newest ambassador. The moves comes as part of their new PITERA™ & Me campaign. In a first for the skincare brand, Mina starred in a self-directed film series while explaining why SK-II’s Pitera Essence resonates with her 2022 goals.
“With Pitera Essence, I want to start a new skincare routine,” Mina shares. “I’ve been very busy since debuting, so my goal this year is to rediscover and take better care of myself, including my skin.”
While filming herself using the cult favourite SK-II product as part of her morning routine, Mina revealed that she particularly cherishes its lightweight texture and easy absorption.
Meet +Sabi AI. Conceived by Skin Inc in collaboration with +Sabi Ai Corp—a company spearheading the advancement of AI in the wellness and skincare industry—the program allows users to take face scans; track their moisture levels based on cutting-edge hydrosensor technology; chart UV and pollution indexes and more. The app will be released in tandem with Skin Inc’s latest Tri-Light + Sabi Skincare Device on 24 March.
A household name for some of the world’s most innovative—and dare we say, life-changing—gadgets we use daily, Dyson has opened the doors to their largest Demo Store in Southeast Asia, at VivoCity. The immersive 178-square metre space is home to its full portfolio of key technologies, displayed in a series of demonstration zones that invite visitors for hands-on discovery of their products, from their iconic vacuums like the V12 Detect and Purifier Cool Formaldehyde air purifier, to, of course, their coveted coterie of hair styling tools like the Supersonic hairdryer.
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This ultimate “try-before-you-buy” retail space comes complete with the Dyson Beauty Lab, a private, dedicated space for all things hair care, with sprawling vanities where you can meet with a Dyson Expert to get complimentary personalised styling appointments to try out must-haves like the Airwrap styler and Corrale straightener for size. Plus, because these products are constantly at the top of gift wish lists, there’s a Personalisation Bar where customers can enjoy complimentary case debossing, packaging customisation and gift-wrapping services with a personal touch.
The new Dyson Demo Store is located at #01-21/22 VivoCity.
The aim of the pop-up is to showcase SK-II’s game-changing new gadget: the Mini Magic Scan. Powered by SK-II’s proprietary Skin Science and Diagnostics Innovation, the global prestige label touts it as the most advanced contactless skin-analysis tool in the market that utilises facial recognition, computer vision and Artificial Intelligence (A.I.).
Said systems work together to detect ‘fluctuations’ in the skin, where they will be able to identify the strengths, problem areas, as well as the true skin age of an individual’s complexion at a pixel level. What’s more, the entire process takes a mere three minutes and also issues personalised product recommendations.
SK-II’s ‘Future X’ pop-up store is open now till 31 March 2022 at The Shoppes @ Marina Bay Sands, #01-09 (near Art Science Museum entrance/exit). Admission is free.
Titled ‘BT21 Meets Kiehl’s in New York City’, it comprises the brand’s cult-favourite Ultra Facial Cream in several different iterations. For the 50ml edition, each product harbours a specific BT21 character—aka the animated brainchild of K-Pop tour de force, BTS: Koya, RJ, Mang, Chimmy, Tata, Cooky, or Shooky posing by iconic New York City landmarks.
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Its jumbo 125ml Ultra Facial Cream, on the other hand, will feature a group shot of all the BT21 characters. Shoppers will be entitled to a BT21 Blind Keychain with every purchase of Kiehl’s BT21 Ultra Facial Cream, and a Kiehl’s BT21 Totebag if they’ve spent $150.
Available at all Kiehl’s boutiques.
Rejoice, skincare savants. The label’s full repertoire will be available at all Sephora stores island-wide and online, with an exclusive set being pushed out in celebration. The Bright Skincare Set includes the Squalene Cleanser, the Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution, the Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG, and the Ethylated Ascorbic Acid 15% Solution.
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Born from 20 years of experience in the hair removal market, Two L(i)ps was ahead of the curve when it debuted as Singapore’s first luxury intimate care brand, presenting skin-loving vulva care products in 2017. Four years and 16 products later, the brand has not only broken taboos and shifted perspectives, but also bloomed into a global brand that now boasts its own flagship boutique at ION Orchard.
“We have always been leading the charge, and pushing the boundaries of vulva care. Who would have thought that vulva care could be here today, not only with 16 effective products but also the first physical store that is dedicated to the vulva in Singapore. It was a bold vision, tackling such a sensitive subject and making it accessible. It took us four years and it’s been almost surreal, but we are finally here,” says Cynthia Chua, founder of Two L(i)ps.
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A sensorial, salmon-pink feast for the senses, the 500-square foot space brings to mind a hammer, with its curvaceous, cavern-like design, antique-pitted mineral clay walls, large, rust-hued porcelain tiles and a huge terrazzo sink as the centrepiece. Inside, the unique ‘curiosity shop’ retail experience is filled with unexpected ‘touchpoints’ that play on the themes of privacy and voyeurism, in the form of interactive, hole-in-the-wall installations, tongue-in-cheek art pieces, and sumptuous textures to stimulate through sight, scent and touch.
Chanel invites all to gaze to the heavens and ask for the moon these holidays in their immersive 18-metre high installation at ION on Orchard Road.
Featuring an abstract galactic-scape of helixes, stars and other emblematic iconography emblematic to the house alongside Chanel’s N°5 L’Eau scent, the space pays tribute to the spirit of the holidays as well as what Mademoiselle Coco Chanel herself described as “a women’s perfume with the scent of a woman”.
And if you’re in town doing you gift shopping after dark, the space also features a daily light animation on the hour from 8pm to 10pm where the installation will come alive in festive lights.
Chanel Holiday Cosmos-sphere is open now till 2 January 2022 at ION’s outdoor plaza, 2 Orchard Turn, Singapore 238801. Monday to Sunday. Admission is free.
Abeille Royale. Aqua Allegoria. Météorites. Whether you’re a longtime fan of the 193-year-old luxury beauty house or you’re part of a whole new generation that gets to discover the magic of Guerlain (did you know for instance, they created the first lipstick bullet in 1870?) you can now discover more at their immersive store located at Tangs on Orchard Road.
The expansive space showcases the best of Guerlain’s skincare, fragrance and make-up offerings in its updated ‘Bee’ merchandising concept.
Designed by LVMH’s store design and architecture artistic director, Patricia Grosdemange, the soft space and enveloping atmosphere is both welcoming and modern, inviting guests to learn more about the brand’s leading franchises through friendly conversation and intimate skincare consults.
If you’re in the mood for some pop and colour, there’s a lipstick bar in which you can customise your Rouge G lipstick: pick your perfect lipstick case, have it engraved, refill it whenever you run out, and call it yours forever. Perfect gift options as the holidays roll around.
Visit Guerlain at Tangs at Tang Plaza, 310 Orchard Rd, Tang Plaza, Singapore 238864. Open daily from 11:30am to 8:30pm.
You know who throws a damn good party? YSL Beauty. Their über cool soirees have welcomed us into the underground realms of the YSL Beauty Club in 2017 and YSL Beauty Hotel in 2019, and this year, the brand is sending those vibes into your homes with YSL Beauty Records, a virtual celebration of beauty and music with a full 3D experience till 31 October.
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Also marking the launch of the new YSL Beauty online e-boutique, this immersive experience fuses music, games and shopping with a Beauty Arcade where you can play Beauty Beats and Couture Chase games and stand a chance to win gorgeous prizes and exclusive discount codes.
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Alongside beauty must-haves like the Dua Lipa-endorsed Libre fragrance are also specially curated playlists by local music lovers and experts from Jasmine Sokko and Ginette Chittick to Rosalyn Lee, but the piece de resistance of this week-long virtual fete happens on 27 October. For that one night at 9pm, the YSL Beauty Recording Studio will open up to local music stars Aisyah Aziz, Charlie Lim, DJ Myrne and street dancer Germain Cheong who will take the stage for exclusive performances that you can watch and party with live.
If you’re ready to party and want to “explore beauty in your own rhythm”, pre-register at https://beautyrecords.yslbeauty.com.sg today.
Don’t panic if you’re on your way to ION Orchard to sharpen your Shu Uemura Hard Formula H9 eyebrow pencil and see that the store isn’t there anymore—they’ve moved downstairs to B2-37. Celebrating their grand re-opening from today till the end of the month, the new flagship stands out with the brand’s ubiquitous high-gloss interiors and its commitment to Japanese make-up artistry and eclecticism. There’s also a gleaming feature wall heralding all the Shu icons—the one and only in the world outside of its Tokyo global store.
Beauty services are also available in store, including their 3D Eye and Brow experience where atelier artists will help you shape your brows and teach you simple but effective techniques to achieve the most ideal arches for your face shape on your own. This freshly minted space is also the first in Singapore to drive the brand’s recycling efforts, where customers can return empty and clean full-sized cleansing oil bottles to receive bonus loyalty points with purchase. There are also exclusive gifts with purchase up for grabs from now till 24 October to celebrate.
And if you’re looking to switch up your make-up routine with something cute and sparkly, the Shu Uemura x Hello Kitty collection, too, just dropped in store. The kawaii star gets the disco ball treatment just in time for the holidays, with glam rock glitters, dramatic lip colours and jewel-toned eyeshadows, crafted to encapsulate the electricity of bold, bright Tokyo nights.
Whether you’re a diehard Lancôme fan or would like to discover the science behind its best-selling Advanced Génifique Serum, you can now do all that and more at the brand’s new e-boutique. The immersive, one-stop luxury retail space showcases online exclusives such as limited edition product launches and e-beauty experiences.
Get in-depth skin tips with online consults with a Lancôme e-beauty advisor, available from 11am to 6pm daily except Tuesdays and Thursdays. Be treated to personalised seven-day sampling kits. Discover your skin’s health with Lancôme’s mobile skin diagnosis tool, the E-Youth Finder, available at the e-boutique. And because everyone appreciates free shipping, the brand not only offers free islandwide delivery but a customised sampling kit with every purchase. That’s on top of tiered gifts-with-purchase that increase with each spend, starting from $150.
And if you’re worried about what your online purchases would mean for the planet, it’s helpful to note that as part of its Global Sustainability Programme, Lancôme will also be using more recyclable materials when it comes to product packaging. Marrying luxury with environmental responsibility, Lancôme’s range of innovative packaging solutions help reduce the environmental impact of its products—by offering product packaging that are 100 per cent recyclable. The brand also commits to manufacturing products with sustainable packaging by using less virgin materials and more recyclable materials such as 100 per cent FSC-Certified paper, glass and post-consumer recycled plastic.
“Lancôme continues to push the boundaries in the omni-retail space and is constantly reinventing customer experiences. We believe that the future of beauty will truly be personal. With our newest virtual flagship, we are integrating our number one leading skincare range, Génifique—pioneered by microbiome science, with a hyper-personalised omni-shopping experience for everyone in Singapore,” shares Lancôme Singapore’s brand general manager, Sher Le Chua.
Best of all, it also gives visitors a chance to give back to society, with the brand partnering with Daughters of Tomorrow. With every registered sample redeemed at the virtual flagship, a $5 donation will go towards supporting underprivileged women in their back-to-work journey.
When Christian Dior opened its doors on the iconic 30 avenue Montaigne flagship in 1947, the Monsieur himself hoped it would be a “haven for wonderful things”. And now from October 7, you’ll be able to get that Dior beauty drip from the comfort of your home with the brand’s online shopping experience.
Dior beauty’s new online store brings the house’s skincare, make-up, fragrance, candles and—importantly for the holidays—gift sets, treasures straight to your front door. Shopping on the new site comes loaded with online exclusives: complimentary Dior gift wrapping, personalised messages on all orders, and impressively, complimentary engraving services on selected items for a limited time. As a cherry on top, all orders to the site will receive five complimentary samples with any order.
But the pre-launch site exclusives don’t just end there. Perhaps Dior beauty’s most covet-worthy item, shoppers on the site can also get their hands on these limited edition products for one week from the 7th October. Take the neo-vintage Rouge Dior Minaudiere, fashioned out of 23 different pieces to create this exquisite clutch, shoulder purse and make-up holder in one.
On the metallic golden case: an engraving of Dior’s 30 avenue Montaigne’s store façade. And within, a refillable lipstick with Christian Dior’s logo engraved on the bullet itself.
And to celebrate the end of year, Peter Philips, creative and image director for Dior Make-Up, remixed the codes of Dior and looked to the flagship aka “Atelier of Dreams” as inspiration for the house’s end of year collection.
From Gustave Courbet to Georgia O’Keeffe and feminist playrwright Eve Ensler, the vulva and vagina have long served as a source of inspiration and discourse in the art world. Throwing its doors open to a first-of-its kind vulva-themed art show in Singapore, Strip and Two Lips, the undisputed leaders in waxing and vulva care present Voyage to the Vulva-verse.
The multi-medium art exhibition features the works of eight artists Amanda Tan, Ashley Yeo, Hee Suhui, Tan Sze Yan, Kimberly Tan, Kristal Melson, Polina Korobova, and Yana & Jun. The original works range from from 3D and digital illustrations to a visual soundscape—with each artist exploring themes around the oft-objectified but rarely honoured body part.
“The Voyage to the Vulva -verse campaign aims to create open and honest conversations surrounding the vulva and intimate care, which is important if we want to continue breaking taboos and changing perspectives,” shares Cynthia Chua, founder of both Strip and Two Lips. “We want to highlight the vulva as a natural and beautiful part of the body, one to be seen as a positive celebration and not one of shame and embarrassment.”
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Voyage to the Vulva-verse art show will exhibit from 10 to 22 September 2021 at Hatch Art Project, 7 Yong Siak Street, Singapore 168644. Monday to Sunday, 10am to 7pm. Admission is free.
For more information and to book a time slot, visit www.strip.com.sg/art-exhibition.
Known for her Parisian chic sensibility, leading make-up artist and beauty influencer, Violette joins Guerlain as its new creative director of make-up. Lending her daring eye to the 190 year old luxury beauty brand, Violette’s vision is truly aligned with the French house as she strives to push the boundaries of innovation and modernity while keeping true to Guerlain‘s exacting standards.
“My story with Guerlain is really the story of my femininity,” shares the make-up artist. “As a little girl, Météorites with its little pastel-coloured pearls for the complexion had a real aesthetic impact on me. I’d stare at the box fascinated, I couldn’t wait to become a woman… I pictured myself at my dressing table putting on lipstick, perfume and dipping a brush into these incredible Météorites. Today, I’ve been invited to write the next chapter in Guerlain’s history as director of make-up. That’s the magic of beauty.”
In addition to her eponymous make-up line, Violette FR, the artist is best known for her past collaborations with Dior and Estée Lauder, where she previously held the post of global beauty director at the age of 33. Now, an exciting new season awaits.
“Guerlain is a woman! A modern Empress… and a Parisienne, right down to her fingertips. I’m so happy to be joining an iconic House with such a rich heritage, where I can pass Guerlain’s values in make-up onto a new generation and share it with those who, no matter their gender, celebrate beauty today and will celebrate it tomorrow.”
As Chanel puts it, they’re not celebrating N°5’s 100th anniversary—it’s her 20th, for the fifth time. History’s most famous fragrance with an inimitable sense of eternal youth and perennial allure, this iconic perfume is getting a fresh new look with Chanel Factory 5, a collection of 17 limited editions inspired by everyday objects—encapsulating how N°5 continues to transform the ordinary, each and every day.
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Fusing the world of consumer goods factory and the codes of a luxury house are products like The Bath Tablets, $103, in a tea canister; The Shower Gel, from $80, in a paint pot; The Body Lotion, $104, in a detergent Doypack, and the one and only N°5 fragrance in a simple laboratory bottle—all functional but coveted collectibles with ultra-chic minimalist design. “By taking popular consumer items out of their context and dressing them up in the aesthetics of N°5, we return to Chanel’s first creative gesture: that of transforming a functional object into a desirable luxury item. That’s what Chanel Factory 5 is all about: offering the experience of luxury in everyday life”, says Thomas du Pré de Saint Maur, Chanel’s Head of Global Creative Resources Fragrance and Beauty.
Available exclusively at Chanel Fragrance and Beauty boutiques and Chanel E-concierge from 15 July 2021
Bees have inhabited the luxurious world of Guerlain since 1853, starting with the iconic Eau de Cologne Imperiale bee bottle. Today, the symbol of the house is celebrated as nature’s great alchemists, with their honey infusing the Abeille Royal skincare line which seeks to repair, regenerated and repair glowing complexions. To coincide with World Bee Day on 20 May, the house will be holding a three-day international fund drive (from 20 to 22 May) where 20 percent of all worldwide sales from stores and guerlain.com will be donated to the Guerlain For Bees Programme. 20 euros will also be donated for every repost of Guerlain’s World Bee Day Instagram image, featuring the hashtags #Guerlain #GuerlainForBees #WorldBeeDay.
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This community engaging programme is linked to six partnerships dedicated to the bees, including the Bee School project operated with the French Observatory of Apidology (OFA), and the Women for Bees programme in partnership with UNESCO—this initiative is fronted by “godmother” Angelina Jolie, and will have trained 50 women beekeepers, installed 2,500 hives and led to 125 million bees by 2025.
By Alli Sim and Dana Koh
Trailblazer Cardi B fronts Vogue Singapore’s July/August ‘Ablaze’ issue.
As one of the world’s most prolific rappers, the Grammy-Award winning Cardi B gets real with Vogue Singapore about the heartrending aspects of motherhood and what self-worth means to her.
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