Get a glowing visage this CNY with our top skincare picks or opt for a pampering facial. Also, be sure to check out this year's limited edition launches of cult favourites, featuring Mickey and friends as well as Tom and Jerry.
Clean Beauty
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Offering conscious skincare, alche{me}‘s products do not have any harmful chemicals and toxic ingredients. Better still, their packaging is now made from glass, paper and wood and recyclable plastics. Suitable for both men and women, tailor your skincare to your own individual needs via facial recognition technology.
After data collection and interpreting the results, you’ll get an effective skincare solution to improve and enhance the complexion with serums and/or moisturisers (from $60 to $105). Specifically, the eye serum targets crow’s feet wrinkles, eyelid sagginess, dark circles and puffiness. Meanwhile the personalised moisturiser offers weightless hydration. Finally, the personalised serum penetrates the skin at the deepest level so you get visible results quicker.
CANVAS
CANVAS uses a specially concocted cocktail of organic botanical ingredients (97 per cent and up), working in tandem to lighten dark eye circles, erase fine lines and puffiness. The skincare set comprises an oil-free serum, overnight mask and hydrating eye cream. Try the Absolute Age Recovery Firming Eye Concentrate ($112.90 for 15ml), which uses green coffee bean, rose otto, and by far the most interesting ingredient, Dragon’s Blood. Nope, it’s not a mythical ingredient found in Game of Thrones, it’s actually a hydro-glycolic extract from the Croton lechleri tree, made of 100 per cent natural corn sugar.
Following this, use the Rose Otto Overnight Eye Contour Mask (starts from $109.90 for 30ml) that reduces swelling by improving skin regeneration and detoxification. Ingredients in this mask include PatcH2O™ and Superox-C™, which are super hydrating and help improve the skin’s elasticity and firmness around the eyes.
Rooki Beauty
All Rooki‘s skincare products are formulated without nasties like sulphates and parabens, to name just a few, as well as any artificial fragrances. The ingredients use superfoods such as chia seeds, ligonberries, mandarin oranges (perfect for CNY) and ylang ylang. Additionally, other active ingredients include hyaluronic acid, vitamin C and E, and CoQ10.
Get started with the Freshman Year Superfood Starter Pack ($180), which includes Honey Matcha Cleansing Drops, Superfood Saviour Creme and Green Pulp Paste Masque. The first uses honey, chia seeds and organic Uji matcha for deep cleansing, followed by the three-in-one moisturiser, which uses kale, ligonberries and chia seeds. End with a power packed masque that uses five key plant complexes with antioxidants and phytonutrients that fight against free radicals.
Gold Glow Up
Clarins
Combat the signs of sleeplessness and fatigue with Clarins Limited Edition Golden Double Serum ($170). In this special gold bottle is two serums, formulated with active ingredients from 21 natural plant extracts and a ratio of oil and water. Using lipid microdomains from the cell’s membrane, this enables the cells to react to problems in the skin, such as slowed cell renewal, dehydration, and skin losing firmness and radiance and speedily tackle them. Hence, with the Hydric + Lipidic formula, the Double Serum provides skin with an optimal concentration of anti-ageing ingredients.
Comprising two-thirds of water-based ingredients and the other third oil-based ingredients, this ratio is similar to the skin’s hydrolipidic film, and helps the serum to be quickly absorbed. Better still, this serum is suitable for all women all around the world, including those with sensitive skin. Also, the formulation uses organic, certified trade ingredients in the eco-developed double vial bottle.
Bio-Essence
Get a glowing, radiant visage with the Bio-essence Bio-Gold range. Gold protects skin against free-radical damage, thereby slowing down the first signs of ageing. Other benefits include brightening the complexion and improving hydration to achieve plump and glowing skin. Additionally, gold delays collagen depletion and promotes cellular growth for skin regeneration.
Products in this skincare range include the Bio-essence Bio-Gold Radiant Black Mask ($19.90), which removes excess oils and impurities for clear skin. Designed to fit snugly on the face, the mask soothes and rejuvenates skin after a long day. Otherwise, reduce signs of ageing around the eye area with the Radiant Black Eye Mask ($29.90). Together with the Bio Energy Complex™, the 24k Bio-Gold ensures complete and deep absorption for greater efficacy. Moreover, the mask contains charcoal powder which absorbs grease and grime, soothing and refreshing tired and stressed skin.
Other than these masks, which are best used two to three times a week, Bio-essence also has the Bio-Gold Eye Power Illuminator ($36.90), using 24K Bio-Gold, mineral amino acid and rice fermentation essence that reducing under-eye bags and easing eye area puffiness. Yet another step is the Golden Serum ($42). This comprises the light water-based serum with powerful antioxidants, and real 24K Bio-Gold flakes, and high-quality concentrated green tea essence to create super soft and smooth skin.
Anti-Ageing, Hydrating Facials
IDS Aesthetics
Managed to free up an hour away from kids and work? Treat yourself to a pampering facial and look your best during Chinese New Year. One option is the IDS Aesthetics Hydro-Therapeutics Treatment (HTT). The one-hour facial ($198) uses double cleansing, microdermabrasion or water dermabrasion and ultrasonic cleansing to deeply cleanse the skin. After this, an ultrasonic device delivers vitamin C into the skin. Besides deep cleansing, the facial also has benefits like crystal clear skin, increasing collagen production and reducing lines and wrinkles.
Other treatments includes the IDS Aesthetics Electro Infusion (up to $280 for 45 minutes). This treatment uses electromagnetic pulses and LED light therapy to treat skin conditions. Examples of this include increasing collagen and elastin production or brightening skin.
Finally, defy ageing with the 45 min Omega Rejuvenate & Renewal treatment ($345). Using a customised treatment with IPL and LED light, the most suitable wavelength will be chosen to aid in healing and lightening acne marks, and soothing or refining the skin.
EPION Aesthetics, Multi-Nutrient Glow
To get an enviable, natural glow, try the 90-minute Multi-Nutrient Glow ($300) treatment at EPION Aesthetics. Start the treatment with an ultrasonic deep clean, which thoroughly exfoliates and removes ashen and dull skin cells. Next, infused into your skin are three all-star serums, containing brightening botanical extracts, vitamin C and retinols.
Not only does the ultrasonic technology help in the permeation of these serums, it also aids in thermal lifting and tightening. Other added benefits include moisturising the layers within, so you look fresh-faced and dewy. Completing this treatment is a warm revitalising mask that seals in the nutrients. The result? Amazingly glowy skin that might distract your relatives from asking awkward questions this Chinese New Year.
LG Pra L. Derma LED Mask
Don’t have time to head to the spa for a facial? Mums, we hear you. Try LG Pra.L‘s home beauty devices like the Dual Cleanser ($449), Total Lift Up Care ($699), Derma LED Mask ($1,349) and the Galvanic Ion Booster ($529). Of these, mums just need one – the Derma LED Mask.After using this for twice a week over six weeks, test participants saw improvements in skin tone and inner skin density.
The only Korean-made product of its kind to be cleared by the US FDA, it uses 80 red and 80 infrared long and short-wave lights to enter the skin at different depths. Moreover, the Derma LED Mask comes with an eye-shield design made from soft silicone, which diminishes the LED lights’ glare. With the Sensing Detector, the mask only works when it’s put correctly on the face.
Better still, multi-tasking mums can still see through the transparent visor, so they can carry on with other tasks while doing the treatment. Even better, the device can last up to seven days on a single charge.
Related Reads: Check out Skin Inc’s luxurious, anti-ageing facial treatment on Day 10 of our previous Christmas giveaway!
Red Hot Beauty
This Lunar New Year, brands have launched limited edition scarlet packaging of some of their best-sellers.
New PITERA™ Essence Limited Edition - Mickey Mouse
The world’s most famous mouse and the renowned PITERA™ formula come together for a super cute SK-II Facial Treatment Essence Mickey Mouse Limited Edition ($300 from Tangs). Not only is this packaging super cute, the Facial Treatment Essence has won more than 300 beauty awards. Its benefits include smoothing the skin’s texture, get a brighter glow, with more supple skin, less obvious wrinkles while preventing spots.
More adorable mouse-themed skincare and makeup: Mickey & Friends, and Tom & Jerry
Clé de Peau Beauté Collection Rêve de Kimono
The limited edition Collection Rêve de Kimono is a joint collaboration between Clé de Peau Beauté, Tachibana and Ayana Otake. Comprising this collection are two lipsticks, one eyeshadow quad, pressed powder and the Radiant Multi Repair Oil.
Of course, the products feature stunning, intricately designed floral prints. Prices start from $92 each for the red and pink lipsticks up to $200 for the multi repair oil. Shop online at Tangs.
Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray Lunar New Year (Limited Edition)
Want your makeup to last through visiting several relatives’ homes, even in the hot weather? Try the 118ml Lunar New Year limited edition Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray ($48). Simply spritz on your made-up face and your makeup will last through the day. Better yet, the brand is 100 per cent cruelty-free and this formulation is vegan.
Hourglass' Nº 28 Lip Treatment Oil
Vegan and cruelty-free, this Nº 28 Lip Treatment Oil ($82) from Hourglass is an advanced lip treatment with a splash of brick red colour, Nocturnal. Named for the 28 ingredients that work together for deeply hydrated and soft lips, these ingredients include 14 essential oils, 10 lipid-rich plant oils and four nourishing vitamins. Hence, lips are moisturised, appear more voluminous and wrinkles are reduced.
Additionally, with the new shade, you get a glossy oil, perfect lip colour and a touch of luxury – the product is dispensed via a 24K gold-plated, anti-bacterial palladium tip.
Relevant Reads: Celebrating CNY this year? Here’s where to dine and what to wear, as well as yusheng phrases and steps.
