In the blink of an eye, we said goodbye to Christmas and welcomed the new year. Now, we’re scrambling to prepare our homes, outfits, and makeup looks for an early Chinese New Year.
If you want to look your absolute best for CNY and beyond, we’re here to help. Ahead, we’ve rounded up the best products that’ll help your skin get glowing, so you’ll look picture-perfect for your reunion dinners and house visits.
Skincare products to get your complexion glowing
SK-II x White Rabbit 2023 New Year Limited Edition Design PITERA Essence
By now, most of us are familiar with SKI-II’s PITERA Essence and its ability to give us crystal-clear skin. It contains over 90% of SK-II’s patent ingredient, PITERA, which is a naturally derived ingredient crafted from a proprietary yeast fermentation process exclusive to the brand.
Now, this best-selling formula comes in an adorable bottle. In the spirit of the Rabbit Year, they have collaborated with confectionary brand, White Rabbit, to bring us this limited-edition packaging.
Reach for this bottle of “miracle water” and prepare your skin for the festivities ahead. Its formula will also gradually reduce your skin’s excess oil production, as well as the appearance of pores and signs of ageing.
To top it off, its formula boasts vitamins, amino acids, and minerals to reveal a clear and glowing complexion.
SK-II x White Rabbit 2023 New Year Limited Edition Design PITERA Essence retails for S$335, available at Lazada, Takashimaya, Metro, Tangs, and Sephora.
Paula’s Choice Skin Recovery Range
Give parched skin a hydration boost before long house visits with Paula’s Choice’s range of soothing and nourishing products.
Skin Recovery Daily Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 (S$49): Maintain optimal hydration levels for your skin with this moisturising lotion. It even has SPF 30 to protect your skin against harmful UV rays, a great two-in-one product that will give you glowy, supple skin.
Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner (S$39): This hydrating toner will nourish and comfort dry skin, as well as infuse anti-ageing antioxidants into your skin.
Skin Recovery Softening Cream Cleanser (S$36): This creamy cleanser gently removes makeup and impurities without drying your skin out. Formulated with soothing chamomile and hydrating beta-glucan, the cleanser is made for sensitive skin, even skin that’s prone to eczema.
Paula’s Choice Skin Recovery Range is available at paulaschoice.sg, Shopee, Lazada, Zalora, and at selected Unity outlets.
Augustinus Bader The Serum
Augustinus Bader’s products may be much pricier compared to your average beauty products, but after learning about the technology and science behind their formulations, we believe that every cent spent is worth it.
If your budget allows you to splurge a little, we recommend getting The Serum. Its lightweight texture is great for our hot, humid weather, and it contains a potent blend of vitamin C, nourishing rice bran oil, and free radical-fighting pomegranate seed concentrate to give your skin a megawatt glow.
Augustinus Bader The Serum retails for S$535 at Sephora.sg and Sephora’s new Raffles City outlet.
Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 40 PA+++
There aren’t enough fingers on our hands to count the number of times we’ve repeated how important sunscreen is and why it’s necessary to wear it daily – even when you’re indoors!
If you’re looking for a lightweight formula that doubles up as a makeup-gripping primer, try Supergoop’s Unseen Sunscreen, which now comes in limited-edition packaging.
With its soft, velvety finish, your skin will appear poreless and feel prepped for makeup.
Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 40 PA+++ retails for $58, available at Sephora.
Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum
Sulwhasoo’s bestselling anti-ageing serum now has an adorable illustration of rabbits adorned on the limited-edition bottle.
Make this the first step of your skincare routine and you’ll get “glass skin” in no time. It’s a lightweight serum that primes the skin, restores moisture levels, and strengthens the skin barrier, thanks to the JAUM Activator that powers this serum.
JAUM Activator is the brand’s iconic anti-ageing complex that has been carefully formulated with medicinal herbs like peony, rehmannia, lotus, solomon’s seal, and white lily.
Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum retails for S$210, available at all Sulwhasoo boutiques and counters, Lazada, and Shopee from 1 January 2023.
Pixi Glow Mud Mask
The night before the first day of CNY can be stressful for some. Why not relax and indulge in the Glow Mud Mask that will refresh your skin?
It has a mineral-rich formula that absorbs oil and extracts impurities from the skin, clearing pores from impurities and stubborn buildup.
To top it all off, the aloe vera and ginseng in the formula will balance the skin for a soft dewy glow. Leave this mask on for 15 minutes and you’ll see more radiant skin.
Pixi Glow Mud Mask retails for S$38, available at Sephora.
Makeup to complete your CNY look
Espressoh Ohmyglow Foundation
Set the stage with this ultra-dewy foundation. It has a medium-buildable coverage and a lightweight formula, so you’ll barely feel it sitting on your skin.
The thin formula evens out your skin tone and has a natural finish too. Since it’s enriched with caffeine, vitamin C, water sea, and algin, it also hydrates and nourishes your skin.
Espressoh Ohmyglow Foundation retails for S$50, available at Sephora.
M.A.C Extra Dimension Skinfinish
Sculpt your face and impart a luminous glow with this limited-edition Extra Dimension Skinfinish highlighter from MAC.
With its prismatic reflections, you’ll get a soft, shimmery glow that has just the amount of luminosity to frame your face, as well as stun the room with your shine.
Plus, the pan of the highlighter is even embossed with an elegant CNY pattern too.
M.A.C Extra Dimension Skinfinish retails for S$68, available at M.A.C cosmetic boutiques, departmental stores, Lazada, iShopChangi from 1 January, as well as Sephora from 3 January 2023.
Bobbi Brown Luxe Lipstick
A good lippie has the ability to liven up your complexion and the Luxe Lipstick does just that.
You’ll get smooth and supple lips with its moisture-infused formula and satin finish. Plus, it really packs a bright punch so you can stun the room with your bold lip looks.
We’re eyeing the two new shades: Ruby Red, a muted brown-toned red; and Parisian Red, a vivid, cool-toned red.
Bobbi Brown Luxe Lipstick retails for S$58, available at available at Bobbi Brown cosmetic boutiques, departmental stores, Lazada, iShopChangi from 1 January, as well as Sephora from 5 January 2023.
Pixi + Hello Kitty Chrome Glow Palette
When a Sanrio collection or collaboration is announced, you bet the products will fly off the shelves fast.
One Sanrio collaboration piece that’s perfect for CNY would be the Hello Kitty Chrome Glow Palette. Adorable packaging aside, we adore the bright shades that are great for the occasion.
Expect pastel pinks, corals, and mauves, all of which can be used for your eyes, cheeks, and lips. They also feature chromatic finishes for a soft, gentle glow.
Pixi + Hello Kitty Chrome Glow Palette retails for S$30, available at Sephora.
Nudestix Pretty Nude Skin 2-Piece Face Kit (Limited Edition)
You’ll find a pigmented cream blush on one end of this product and a dense, flat brush on the other – how convenient is that?
All you need to do is swipe on the cream blush with one end, then use the other to blend the pigment out. These two shades are also perfect for the festivities.
The shade Body Language is a dusty nude rose, while the other shade Sweet Peach Peony, features a soft peach hue that’s flattering on all skin tones.
Nudestix Pretty Nude Skin 2-Piece Face Kit (Limited Edition) retails for S$71, available at Sephora.
