Best Exfoliant Scrub – Editor’s Choice 2021

ést.lab LumiWhite Exfoliating Scrub

Best Anti-ageing Mask – Expert’s Choice 2021

ést.lab VitaLift A+ Brillage Face Mask

The Singapore Women’s Weekly Best of Beauty Buys 2021

Beauty routines have always been a reflection of our cultural and lifestyle experiences. With Covid-19, most of us have been divided into two camps when it comes to beauty routines – either doing the bare minimum or doing the most. Whatever the case, it seems as though there’s a collective inclination to look for high-performing products without adding even more unnecessary steps to our routine. 

When it comes to considering which brands and products to add to our vanity, we like to go by the checklist of research and efficacy. ést.lab, a local brand borne out of a collaboration between renowned beauty experts and research institutions, pairs the duality of experience and technology together. The result is a series of high-performance skincare products that have been backed by trusted research and technology. Products which have since earned ést.lab multiple beauty awards – including two from our Best Beauty Buys awards this year. 

1. Effective yet gentle exfoliation for smooth, radiant skin

In case you need a refresher, the ést.lab LumiWhite Exfoliating Scrub had previously won our Best Exfoliator award back in our Best Beauty Buys in 2016. Since then, they’ve reformulated it with new ingredients and improved concentrations. So it should come as no surprise that they’ve once again impressed our panel of judges. Enriched with a trio of Vitamin C, Jojoba Oil, and Fucogel, this exfoliating scrub goes beyond physical exfoliation to hydrate the skin while reducing the intensity of pigmentation and age spots. 

While typical exfoliating scrubs lean on the abrasive side, our editor counters that “This felt gentle as a scrub,” she goes on to share, “I like how my face felt and appeared to be really clean after each use. The exfoliating beads are suspended in a milky emulsion and it leaves my skin brighter.” Using 100 per cent naturally-derived Jojoba Beads, this eco-friendly option helps to remove dead skin cells to keep the skin feeling smooth and radiant. You can also count on the addition of Niacinamide and Pantheol to help hydrate and calm the skin while reducing the appearances of blemishes. In a time where the emphasis for cleansing has been stressed to help prevent maskne, there’s no doubt that this exfoliant scrub goes above and beyond.

2. A face mask that gives you instant results, as well as long-lasting lifting and firming effects

Another trusted essential that made our wall of (beauty) fame this year is the ést.lab VitaLift A+ Brillage Face Mask. Just like the LumiWhite Exfoliating Scrub, this anti-ageing mask is a double-time winner. In a move that distinguishes the brand’s passion and dedication to science and technology, ést.lab recently went under their third reformulation for the VitaLift A+ Brillage Face Mask even though their previous formulation has already won multiple beauty awards – including the Best Beauty Buys awards in 2019.

With its new enhancements, the VitaLift A+ Brillage Face Mask ensures long-lasting hydration with what’s touted as a skincare technological marvel – encapsulated hyaluronic acid. Instead of simply taking on wrinkles at the surface-level, this active reaches the lower epidermis of the skin to moisturise the skin from within and reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Backed by Skinarch, a peptide that helps encourage production of collagen I and II, this mask also helps stimulate the quantity of collagen while smoothening and lifting the skin.

Aside from its anti-ageing benefits, the mask also boasts its sensorial experience with its nano-grade organic fibres. As our expert judge Smita DeSouza, a former beauty editor with over 10 years of experience in the industry shares, “The texture of the mask is soft and smooth and fits well to the face and [my] complexion feels soft after application!” The luxurious feel combined with the soothing effects from the mask’s seven Ecocert-endorsed natural extracts bring about the ultimate pampering treatment.

3. A powerful zit and pore buster that’s gentle on the skin

While most skincare products play a preventive role in our beauty routine, there are a few essentials that should also hold its own in a responsive approach. One of which is blemish treatments. Unlike typical anti-acne solutions that are drying and harsh, ést.lab’s PurClear Anti-Acne Serum is formulated in consideration of those with sensitive and reactive skin. Gentle and non-dehydrating, this serum helps to reduce the appearance of pores on the skin while decreasing sebum production to keep the skin balanced. You can use it before wearing your masks, and even double-up to help reduce the impending doom of breakouts as you need.