The fifth-generation Guerlain Orchidée Impériale Cream taps into the regenerative prowess of two resilient orchids: The Gastrodia Elata and the Dendrobium Fimbriatum, which flourish even in the most extreme of conditions. At its heart is the new active ingredient Orchid Totum, an extract derived from the two that works to optimise skin renewal by targeting an enzyme responsible for cell longevity, thereby helping to improve and preserve the youthful look and feel of skin. The Imperial Triad complex works in tandem to plump skin, with the luxuriously rich cream forming a comforting veil over skin as the actives work their magic.

Buy it here.

Retinol has the reputation of being harsh, irritating, and redness-inducing. However, Drunk Elephant’s upcoming A-Gloei Maretinol Oil, which includes 0.5 per cent vegan retinol, is formulated with A-Gloei to ensure a gentle and non-irritating time. It targets the appearance of lines, hyperpigmentation, sun damage, and blemishes to even out skin tone and acts as a skin-smoothing treatment.

Suitable for both new and seasoned retinol users, this product is also rich in antioxidant- and omega-rich virgin marula oil that replenishes essential moisture and returns your skin to its youthful state. Ceramides are also used to improve skin elasticity and to strengthen the skin’s barrier.

This retinol treatment is free of essential oils, silicones, and fragrances.

Launching on 3 February 2022, exclusively at selected Sephora stores and online.

Tea tree oil is a widely-used ingredient in skincare. It has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties and reduces the appearance of scars and we can’t name a brand more well-known for its Tea Tree line than The Body Shop. Their line includes fan-favourite products that many swear by. If you are one of them, then keep a lookout for these two recent releases:

The Tea Tree All-In-One Stick ($31) is a limited edition solid balm that you can use on the go. Naturally-derived salicylic acid is used to smooth uneven skin texture and give the face a clarified and mattified look. Yet, the skin will still feel hydrated and refreshed all day long. To use, apply it on the face in a dabbing motion as the last step of your skincare routine or the first in your makeup one.

Have oily hair? The new Tea Tree Purifying & Balancing Hair & Scalp Scrub ($31) helps to balance oily hair and scalp without stripping you of your natural moisture (and leaving your scalp and strands dry). For a feel-good scalp exfoliation, the scrub has exfoliating salt crystals that will leave your scalp rejuvenated and fresh.

The scrub is available in all The Body Shop stores as well as all their online platforms. The solid balm is only available in stores and online at PandaMart and Grabmart.

The latest addition to SK-II’s repertoire is the Skinpower range, which consists of four products at the moment: the Skinpower Airy Milky Lotion, Cream (pictured), Essence and Eye Cream.

Its USP: SK-II says it discovered that the skin can fluctuate from youthful and glowing, to dull and tired, in a single day, due to known external stressors such as UV rays, pollution, lack of sleep or temperature changes in the environment (for example, when you travel from one climate to another).

This results in visible and acute pore ageing in skin which amplifies the visibility of pores and emphasises lines. To combat that, the Skinpower range features what the brand calls “InfinitPower Technology” which includes extracts from herbs and plants such as the calla lily, dokudami (a Japanese herb) and peonies to keep the skin at optimal health.

From $153. Available at SK-II stores and Sephora.

The new Rouge Dior Natural Balm is infused with more than 95 per cent natural-origin flora formula with ingredients like shea butter and pomegranate flower, red hibiscus, red peony and fig blossom extracts to keep your pout soft and kissable for up to 24 hours. The balms come in three finishes– satin, velvet and matte, and 12 irresistible shades that leave lips with a flattering wash of colour.

Buy it here.

Lip balms aren’t the only new releases from Dior. They have also recently launched their limited-edition Eye-Reviver Patches that prep the eyes before makeup. The patches are paired with the Capture Totale Super Potent Eye Serum which has a milky and refreshing texture that is instantly absorbed into the skin.

When applied under the eyes for 10 minutes, the eye patches with the serum give an instant hydration and radiance boost that leave the eyes looking illuminated.

Each box of the Dior Eye-Reviver Patches contains two pairs of single-use eye patches and a miniature Capture Totale Super Potent Eye Serum.

Available exclusively on Dior Beauty Online Boutique. Buy it here.

Pixi is back with another limited-edition collection and it’s inspired by all things Hello Kitty. The collection features two stunning palettes – the Chrome Glow Palette ($22.86) with pink shades that can be used all over the face and the Eye Effects palette ($27.94) that includes pigmented shades perfect for a night out.

Another product in the line is the Anywhere Patches ($27.94). Apply the patches anywhere where you are experiencing irritation or dry skin and it will cool, refresh, and calm your skin.

There are also a wide variety of other products to choose from. Think eyeliners, highlighters, a face mist, lip glosses that react to the pH level of your lips, and Vitamin A sheet masks.

Buy it here.

Another recently-released product from Pixi has the whole beauty world wanting to try it out. The Clarity Mist ($20.32) is an oil-balancing and soothing mist that will not only give you a boost of hydration but will also purify the skin. It combines Hyaluronic Complex, Cica extract, and botanicals to create a mist that calms and cools the skin – perfect for days when the skin is looking a little dull.

It is versatile and can be used on many different occasions. Use it before makeup to hydrate and soothe; after your skincare routine at night to seal in the moisture, and any other time your skin could use a pick-me-up.

Buy it here.

For luxurious products rooted in both modern science and traditional Asian medicines, take a look at The History of Whoo. The South Korean brand has recently launched their Cheongidan Radiant Soft Foam Cleanser ($132) and Cheongidan Radiant Regenerating UV Protection Cream SPF50+/PA++++($226), both of which are products inspired by beauty secrets passed down from the Royal Joseon Courts.

Both skin care products aim to give the face an illuminating glow with the brand’s signature ingredient: CheonGiBiDan.

The cleanser is an Amino Acid cleanser that is mild yet effective at the same time. If you are worried about foam cleansers’ bad reputation for stripping moisture from the skin, this one moisturises at the same time so you don’t have to worry.

The UV Protection Cream is a sun cream that not only protects from the sun, but also brightens, plumps, and smoothes flaky skin. You can also say goodbye to sticky skin from sunscreens with this product!

Available at The History of Whoo counters and boutiques as well as on Lazada. Buy it here.

Now there’s a new option to keep skin well-hydrated thanks to the La Mer Hydrating Infused Emulsion. Packed with the brand’s iconic cell-renewing Miracle Broth along with nutrient-rich kelp and soy, and antioxidant-rich lime tea concentrate, its ultra-fluid texture instantly hydrates the skin yet doesn’t leave it feeling sticky – perfect for Singapore’s hot and humid weather.

Makeup Revolution has listened to its audience. Making its debut is the Banana Brighten Baking Powder with a radiant finish. This baking powder is different from the brand’s original Banana Baking Powder. Instead of giving a matte finish, this newly released version has light-reflecting particles that give the skin a radiant glow.

This loose powder makes your makeup last longer, absorbs excess oils so you don’t look oily, and has a crease-free texture that won’t bring out the fine lines on your face.

Buy it here.

Everyone knows that retinol is the holy grail of anti-ageing. However, it gets a lot of bad press as it can often leave skin dry, tight and peeling. But here comes the good news: The new Kiehl’s Dermatologist Solutions Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum uses a precise daily-dosage formula that combines retinol, ceramides and peptides to give you all the benefits while minimising the uncomfortable side effects often associated with traditional retinol use. Say goodbye to fine lines, wrinkles and sagging and hello to a youthful-looking you.

Buy it here.

Say goodbye to acne and say hello to clear skin this 2022 with Caudalie’s Vinopure Purifying Mask. This five minutes mask reduces the appearance of blemishes, enlarged pores, blackheads, and oily skin to help you achieve mattified skin.

It makes use of green clay and zinc, both of which are natural origin ingredients. Green clay is well-known for its ability to clear the pores, heal blemishes, and exfoliate dead skin cells. Zinc, on the other hand, is an anti-inflammatory agent that smoothes the skin.

The mask has launched in Sephora e-stores and you can get it here. It will be released in physical Sephora stores from 27 January 2022 onwards.

Bring the spotlight back to your eyes and recreate Lisa’s futuristic look with M.A.C Eyeshadow shades in Haux and Cranberry—highly pigmented powders that glide effortlessly across your lids. Here’s how according to Regan Rabanal, MAC’s Education Director for Asia Pacific: “Start your look with Eye Shadow in Haux, sweeping across lids with a 224S Brush to tint the eyes and form a saucer-like shape. Tap Eye Shadow in Cranberry into the centre of your shape and blend outward with the same brush to create a glimmering effect.” Complete your look by whipping those eyebrows into shape.

Available at M.A.C

The legendary clay mask by Glow Recipe is back and better than before! Featuring the star ingredient, the Hyaluronic clay, the Watermelon Glow Hyaluronic Clay Pore-Tight Facial is one mask you’ll want to add to your cart during your next visit to Sephora. What’s great about this particular mask is that it doesn’t just purify your skin while absorbing excess sebum, but it also works to infuse skin with hydration too!

Buy it here.

The world is stressed and Givenchy Beauty knows it. The brand recently launched Ressource, a moisturising and anti-stress skincare range that aims to correct the effects of psychological fatigue on the skin and rebalance its moisture content.

Designed to be compatible with all skin types and sensitive skin, the range contains at least 96 per cent natural ingredients.

Must-try products include the Soothing Moisturising Treatment Lotion ($70), Fortifying Moisturising Concentrate Serum ($98), Velvet Moisturising Face Cream ($98), and Rich Moisturising Face Cream ($98), for dry skin. All come in recyclable glass or plastic.

Buy it here.

Giving you one less thing to worry about, home-grown skincare label Two Halves offers up two products that cater to the Singapore woman’s busy lifestyle and our tropical clime: Better Balance Soothing Hydration Essence and Better Balance Nutrients Networking Water Cream. The former is a watery gel designed to calm and hydrate while reducing irritation, thanks to sodium hyaluronate and botanical ingredients with soothing, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The latter, meanwhile, works to lock in moisture and strengthen the skin’s barrier. Formulated for sensitised and sensitive skin, both boast a lightweight texture that is absorbed easily sans sticky residue.

If you want radiant, healthy-looking skin, keeping it well hydrated is a must. ést.lab’s LumiWhite 10% PHA Resurfacing Glow Serum’s hero ingredient, poly-hydroxy acid (PHA), serves as both exfoliant and humectant to help keep skin looking plump and radiant. PHA is gentler than AHAs, which makes this serum suitable for even those with sensitive skin.

Buy it here.

Facing skin irritation that causes redness and skin sensitivity? Local brand ést.lab combines the traditional methods of wellness with cutting-edge research technology to bring us the ActivCalm Quick Soothing SOS Serum.

With the idea that the state of your mind influences how your skin reacts, this product contains mood-enhancers that soothe the mind and the skin to reduce skin irritability by up to 60 per cent in an hour.

The ingredients used in this good-for-the-mind-and-skin product include the patented and COSMOS-certified 10% Alkaline Amino Acid Extract that soothes inflammation and limits skin reactivity. French Polynesia Alteromonas Ferment Extract is also used to work as an anti-pollution shield against environmental factors.

The serum is good for all skin types, including eczema-prone, dehydrated, and hyper-sensitive skin. For mothers who are pregnant or breastfeeding, you’ll be glad to know that it’s completely safe to use as well!

Available in all Estetica Beauty studios island-wide and online. Buy it here.

It’s not just dull, tired skin that needs a reset – anyone would benefit from a boost so that their skin works better. This double-action concentrate gives gentle exfoliation using AHAs, yet offers skin a hydration boost at the same time, using camellia yeast extract.

Derma Lab’s anti-ageing product line means the launch of serums and creams that will keep the wrinkles and age spots at bay. All the formulas are clinically proven to reduce signs of ageing and are backed by research to work well on our Asian skin.

Products in the collection include the Double Power Retinol Concentrate ($79.90), the Lipo Firming Serum ($69.90), and the Pro-Collagen Restorative Cream ($69.90). All three promise to help you achieve firm, smooth, and radiant skin that will make you look like you haven’t aged a day.

Available exclusively at Watsons stores island-wide and online. Buy it here.

Launched in 1983, Danish skincare brand OLE OLEHENRIKSEN focuses on helping people achieve the signature #OleGlow—pure radiance from the inside out. Injecting some fun and joy to skincare, founder Ole Henriksen employs vivid, cheerful hues in all his packaging and scents his products with a deliciously fruity aroma. To perk up dull complexions, look to the Truth Collection, which is anchored by vitamin C and includes the Banana Bright Eye Crème, a cult favourite that helps reduce the appearance of dark under-eye circles.

Buy it here.

Steeped in science and aromatherapy, luxury British brand ELEMIS offers products powered by nature. If maintaining a youthful look is your goal, try its award-winning Pro-Collagen range, which is driven by a myriad of algae plants and plant actives that deeply hydrate skin for a plumping effect, thereby reducing the look of fine lines and wrinkles.

Buy it here.

Established by French doctor Michel Tordjman in 1978, Laboratoires FILORGA prides itself on its NCEF (New Cellular Encapsulated Factors) formula, a complex that encapsulates active ingredients to help them reach depths usually achievable only with injectables. Those looking to bump up moisture levels can reach for its star product, the NCEF-Essence. It has more than 50 active ingredients to improve hydration, including polysaccharide, which also has anti-pollution properties to help counter free-radical damage.

Buy it here.

Text by: Arissa Ha, Shazrina Shamsudin & Vanessa Chia/Harper’s Bazaar. Additional reporting: Terri Kue

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