If you’re a K-pop fan, you would have seen actor, singer and global ambassador of Parfums Christian Dior Cha Eun-Woo in town last month to help launch Dior’s latest perfume – the summery Dioriviera – which is inspired by the idyllic Provence region in the south of France. Ahead, here’s what you need to know about the perfume and other beauty releases.
Named Code Couleurs, this limited-edition range demonstrates Chanel’s playful side. Code Couleurs consists of a series of makeup accessories: mirrors ($59), nail files ($40), and a brush set that comes with a zipped case containing three brushes (a blush, foundation and eyeshadow – $268), all outfitted in nine different colours ranging from pastels like sage green, pale pink and lilac to darker shades like burgundy and navy blue.
Mix and match colours as you wish – items can be purchased separately. Five colours will be available in Chanel stores (Premiere Dame, a orange-y coral; Ovni, a tangy yellow; Cavalier Seul, a sage green; Diva, a fuchsia pink; Rouge Noir, a burgundy), while the remaining four are online exclusives (Ballerina, a light pink; Fugueuse, a midnight blue; Immortelle, a lilac; Incendiaire, a reddish orange).
Available now at Chanel Fragrance and Beauty Boutiques and the Chanel online store
Clarins is launching a special limited-edition collection of skin and body products to mark the 80th anniversary of Le Petit Prince – the classic novella written and illustrated by French aristocrat, writer, and military pilot Antoine de Saint-Exupery. While styled as a children’s book, Le Petit Prince is known for exploring more adult themes of loneliness, friendship, love, and loss. And mirroring the novella’s motif of caring for living things, Clarins’ signature trio of Treatment Essences ($78-$118) and its Hand and Nail Treatment Cream ($17), each with formulas inspired by the natural world, now come in specially designed packaging that nods to the book.
Available now in Clarins boutiques and the Clarins online store
The French maison’s long-running Pasha de Cartier perfume collection was first launched in 1992 with the iconic Pasha de Cartier, a classic fougere fragrance of lavender and patchouli (and yes, it’s named after the watch of the same name). Now the family welcomes its latest and fifth addition, the new Pasha Noir Absolu ($192 for 100ml) an amber vanilla fragrance for men created by the maison’s in-house perfume Mathilde Laurent with key notes of charcoal and caramelised sugar.
Not only that, the Pasha Noir Absolu’s sleek domed bottle (pictured) is also emblematic of the new design applied to the entire Pasha range – which Cartier says is meant to prioritise lightness and minimise environmental impact. All Pasha perfumes are now refillable (an initiative that will eventually be applied to all of Cartier’s fragrances), while the weight of the glass bottle has been reduced by 20 per cent, and an overall reduction of 65 per cent use of plastic. The domed bottled cap is now made of 80 per cent recycled aluminium.
Available now at all Cartier boutiques and the Cartier online store
Dior has an extensive body of perfumes but the La Collection Privee Christian Dior can be said to be the brand’s most artisanal and exclusive – fragrances in this collection La Collection Privee Christian Dior are all directly inspired by the history and heritage of the maison and its charismatic founder.
The latest to join the La Collection Privee Christian Dior family is the Dioriviera ($215 for 40ml; $435 for 125ml; $645 for 250ml), a floral fruity fragrance for women and men created by Dior’s new Perfume Creation Director, Francis Kurkdjian.
The Dioriviera fragrance is said to be inspired by the south of France – or specifically, Provence – a region close to the late Dior founder’s heart (he maintained a residence in Provence named Chateau de La Colle Noire). Designed to be a light, contemporary fragrance with a “sun-filled” touch, the Dioriviera boasts key notes of rose and fig (both found in the Provence region) and hopes to “convey the love affair between Christian Dior and the French Riviera,” says Kurkdjian.
Available now at La Collection Privee Christian Dior Ion Orchard Boutique and the Dior Beauty online store
Home fragrances have been on the rise in recent years and Alexander McQueen is the latest to join the game. But as you’d expect from the English house, they tend to do things a little differently. Their first home fragrance range consists of various candles, each conceived by a different perfumer tasked to interpret the strength-meets-fragility DNA that’s intrinsic to McQueen.
The result: a trio of poetically-titled candles ($650 each) – Ghost Flower (which contrasts fresh freesia and peony with earthy patchouli); Pagan Rose (which plays on the tension between wild rose and earthy peat); and Savage Bloom (which has a head of tuberose and a heart of oud).
Each candle is encased in an exquisite egg-shaped lacquered glass vessel that come with a metal lid; the glass is protected by a mycelium (the vegetative part of a fungus) shell and presented in a wooden crate. All the candles are made from a mix of black mineral waxes and rapeseed wax for a cleaner burn.
Available now at Alexander McQueen stores
If you’re a fan of Gucci Beauty’s vintage-tinged makeup line, rejoice: the maison has added new shades across its lipstick and blush collections. For lips, there are 12 new shades ($65 each) in total, across each of the different formulas – the Gucci Rouge a Levres lipstick collection that provides intense color with a long-lasting satin finish, sees the addition of 115 Bertha Blossom (a delicate pink); 219 Mary Mauve (a fresh light pink); 208 They Met In Argentina (a coral); and 220 Suzanne Sunset (a light warm brown).
The Gucci Rouge a Levres Voile lipstick collection that provides sheer colour with a lightweight, moisturising texture, gets 221 Candace Rose (a fresh red-pink); 208 They Met In Argentina (a coral); 505 Janet Rust (a deep pink-red); and 214 CaII It A Day (a mauve pink), while the Gucci Rouge a Levres Mat lipstick collection which creates a creamy, matte finish, gets 312 Frances Fire (a warm orange); 308 Lucy Dark Orange (a burnt rust); 217 Valeria Rose (a warm auburn); and 519 Pauline Red (a burgundy brown).
Lastly, the Gucci Blush de Beaute collection, the house’s first powder blush ($95 each), receives three new shades in 07 True Pink (a pastel pink); 08 Soft Red (a light coral); and 09 Intense Plum (a plum pink).
Available now at all Gucci Beauty stores
Last year was a big year for Chanel Beauty – the maison launched the Nº1 de Chanel collection, an entirely brand-new skincare and makeup range that’s focused on taking a preventative approach towards ageing and boosting your skin’s vitality, with extracts of the camellia flower (aka Gabrielle Chanel’s favourite) serving as the hero ingredient.
The Nº1 de Chanel collection appears to have been a hit, as the maison is now offering an extra-large option for the star product: the Nº1 de Chanel Revitalising Serum (bottom left) in a new 100ml size ($315). The reason behind this? Chanel has measured the efficacy of the serum over a substantially long period of six months and found that its efficacy on fighting what the brand sees as the five key indicators of ageing (visibility of pores, wrinkles, the “plumpness” of the skin, elasticity and radiance) continues to improve over time.
On the makeup side of the Nº1 de Chanel collection, the range now offers primers (top right), or what Chanel calls the Red Camellia Skin Enhancer. It’s infused with red camellia extract and oil, as well as plant waxes and hyaluronic acid to smooth out and restore the complexion’s natural radiance. The skin enhancers are available in three subtly pearlescent, apricot-hued shades ($98 each) that are said to be suitable for all skin tones.
Lastly, for those who are on the hunt for exfoliating cleansers – the new La Mousse Clarifiante (top left) is an option to consider. Described to be a lightweight lotion that transforms into a foam, this cleanser gently removes dead cells, refines the skin texture and reduces the appearance of pores.
Key ingredients in the La Mousse Clarifiante cleanser ($77) include hydrating camellia water, two exfoliating acids (tartaric and citric), while a marine-derived exopolysaccharide helps stimulate skin renewal. And finally, camellia yeast extract guards the skin barrier in order to keep skin hydrated and protected.
Available now at all Chanel Fragrance and Beauty boutiques and the Chanel online store
Those looking for body skincare travel options should look towards Dior. The maison has just released a group of Miss Dior-branded products. These a shower oil, an exfoliating shower milk and a shimmery body gel, which all come in handy portable tubes.
The Rose Shower Oil-In-Foam ($86) transforms into a light foam when in contact with water, while the Rose Granita Shower Milk ($86) is a gentle body exfoliator, and the Shimmering Rose Sorbet Body Gel ($86) adds a subtle pearlescent sheen anywhere you apply it. All are infused with centifolia rose water (known for its soothing properties) and subtle notes from perfumes within the Miss Dior family.
And if you’re a solid bar kind of person, look out too for the new Miss Dior Solid Soap ($49), which comes in a playful pink hue and the house’s famous houndstooth check on the sides.
Available now at all Dior Beauty Boutiques and counters and on the Dior Beauty online store
American sunscreen specialist Supergoop! is best known for its wildly popular, primer-like Unseen sunscreen – just see the thousands of reviews on Sephora – and so it makes sense that the brand finally introduced a body version. Named the Unseen Sunscreen Body SPF 40 ($68 f0r 100ml), the body version is described to be scentless and completely invisible. It comes with broad-spectrum protection and a more glide-able (as compared to the original face version) gel formula that spreads easily for quick application on the body.
Available now at all Sephora stores
Tom Ford launched Tom Ford Beauty back in 2006 on the strength of his now-iconic Black Orchid – and for the first time since, a flanker has joined it. Simply named the Black Orchid eau de toilette (right), the new fragrance is a blend of dark accords (black truffle, plum, orchid and violet), as well as notes of ylang ylang orpur, blackcurrant and rum absolute. “Black Orchid eau de toilette ($125 for 30ml; $180 for 50ml; $250 for 100ml) is a more luminous, decidedly different interpretation of my extreme rare Black Orchid,” says Ford.
Another new entrant to the Tom Ford olfactory universe is the Azure Lime eau de parfum ($420 for 50ml) which is meant to evoke the poolside glamour of a Mediterranean summer. Azure Lime (left) is described to be a citrus chypre fragrance with key notes of lime water, South African buchu and sandalwood.
Available now at all Tangs at Tang Plaza, the Tangs online store, Takashimaya Department Store, and selected Sephora stores
Text: Keng Yang Shuen/Female