Do you find that Singapore has been particularly hot and humid in the past month or two? It’s the hottest time of the year, and if you claim that you have never once grumbled against Singapore’s heat and humidity even as your carefully-done makeup melts off your face while you are on your way out – we don’t believe you!
Though our climate is theoretically great for keeping our skin looking younger for a longer time (harsh, cold temperatures and dryness can actually be terrible for skin), it certainly isn’t the most comfortable weather to live with. Furthermore, we find that the hotter the weather, the more irritable we become as well.
Here are some hot weather essentials to get you through this heat wave. You’re not going to want to battle the rising temperature without these by your side!
1. Belif The White Decoction-Ultimate Brightening Bubble Mask
If you haven’t yet caught on to the bubble mask trend, they’re essentially masks that foam up on your face like a foaming cleanser, but which you’re supposed to leave on for a certain amount of time before rinsing them off like conventional face masks.
In order to combat everyday pollutants like micro dust particles, The White Decoction-Ultimate Brightening Bubble Mask by Belif contains moringa extract for purification. It also uses the Root White Decoction Formula that extracts selected herbs from the British Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh to brighten and whiten skin.
The gel formula turns into herbal micro-bubbles when massaged onto skin, stripping impurities and sebum off the skin layer and leaving your skin moist and fresh.
Belif The White Decoction-Ultimate Brightening Bubble Mask should be used after cleansing, and spread as a thick layer on to dry face. Leave it on for seven minutes until the micro foam lathers up. Gently massage into skin and rinse to finish. It retails for SGD 53 at Belif counters.
2. Hermes Eau Des Merveilles Bleue
Imagine a childhood fairytale captured in a fragrance. That is the vision behind the creation of Hermes Eau Des Merveilles Bleue. Christine Nagel, Hermes’ new perfumer, attempted to “illuminate the magic of the ocean and the colour of the sky” with the azure blue colour of the fragrance.
The scent is both woody and mineral, reminiscent of sea spray and yet warmed by the roundness and heat of patchouli. With a strong emphasis on oceans and the seaside, this eau de toilette spray will certainly bring a spritz of refreshing and mood-lifting coolness to your day.
Hermes Eau Des Merveilles Bleue is available in 50ml and 100ml bottles at Hermes stores and counters.
3. Dior Airflash
Think spray foundation is finicky? Think again! Dior Airflash brings together an airbrushed formula foundation with a spray can dispenser. Micro-diffusion technology will disperse the foundation on to your skin in an ultra-fine mist.
The Dior Pro Team recommends that you spray three to four pumps of the Dior Airflash on the back of your hand, before using a foundation brush to buff the foundation on to your face in gentle, circular motions, starting from the center and moving outwards.
Dior Airflash retails for SGD 92 exclusively at Parfums Christian Dior Boutique at ION B2, and is available in eight shades.
4. Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour
The Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colours have long been an iconic formula that has enjoyed popularity amongst makeup artists and beauty gurus in the industry. This year, they are expanding this beloved collection to include matte shades that are easy to wear and blend effortlessly on the lid.
The formula gives an intense colour payoff that’s going to last for up to 12 hours, and is water-resistant and smudge-proof – perfect for holding up against the sweat and heat.
The shades from left to right:
- Au Naturel
- Blossom
- Cobblestone
- Vanilla Kiss
Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colours will be available from August 2017 onwards and will retail for SGD 49 each at Laura Mercier counters in Tangs (Tangs Plaza), Robinsons (The Heeren and Raffles City), and at Sephora.
5. Etude House Any Cushion
This new launch from Etude House (the brand is among the Top 10 most trusted makeup brands in Singapore!) boasts a sweat-proof formula that can last up to 24 hours on the skin – and the Daily Vanity team has confirmed that this is true! Featuring a new roll-spread technology to ensure that the foundation adheres like a second skin, the Etude House Any Cushion claims to be able to be applied without the need for multiple layers.
Better yet, the Etude House Any Cushion also comes with SPF 50+ and PA+++ so you know you’re being well-protected against the blazing afternoon sun!
Etude House Any Cushion retails for SGD 32 at Etude House stores, and is available in six shades.
6. Scinic masks
Scinic is a popular Korean brand that has recent launched in Singapore and is now sold at Watsons stores. They not only contain ingredients that’s going to clean up the dirt and grime on your skin after a day out in the hot sun, but their affordable price is sure to lift your mood too.
All their products are manufactured in Korea, and use botanical extracts to boost your skin’s immunity and naturally re-invigorates your skin cells.
Scinic Feel So Good Peeling Pad
This peeling pad contains AHA peeling essence to scrub away dead skin, minimise pores and the appearance of blackheads, so as to brighten your skin tone. It retails for SGD 1.90 for 1 sheet.
Scinic All Day Fine Pore Peel Off Pack
Containing charcoal and Jeju volcanic clay ash, this peel off pack will remove dead skin cells, excess sebum and other impurities on the skin. It retails for SGD 18.90 for 100ml.
Scinic Intensive Dual Mask Aqua Solution
This mask contains deep sea water and seaweed extract to help moisturise and brighten the skin. It retails for SGD 2.50 for 1 sheet.
Scinic Intensive Dual Mask Pore Solution
This mask contains lemon, tomato, and pumpkin extracts to give your pores the deep-cleansing it deserves. It retails for SGD 2.50 for 1 sheet.
Scinic Intensive Dual Mask Snail Solution
This mask contains snail mucus filtrate, collagen, peptide and red ginseng that will rehydrate and lock in moisture within your skin. It retails for SGD 2.90 for 1 sheet.
7. Shu Uemura Cleansing Oils
Did you know that Shu Uemura launched their first cleansing oil, Unmask, in 1967? It was also the first cleansing oil to be sold in Japan, when people began to pay more serious attention to this overlooked but important step of makeup removal.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Shu Uemura’s cleansing oils, and to celebrate, they have released five new cleansing oils targeted towards different skin concerns so there’s something for everyone here!
The cleansing oils, from left to right:
- Ultime8∞ (brown)
A sublime beauty cleansing oil infused with 8 precious oils from Asian life-energising plants for skin renewal, which will leave a soft, cashmere-like texture. It retails for SGD 65 for 150ml and SGD 165 for 450ml. - Anti/Oxi+ (green)
A pollutant and dullness clarifying cleansing oil with a triad of papaya, moringa and green tea extracts to extract micro-sized particles and protein stains from the skin. It retails for SGD 55 for 150ml and SGD 125 for 450ml. - blanc:chroma (purple)
A brightening and polishing gentle cleansing oil which is Shu Uemura’s first clay-in cleansing, removing dead skin cells containing melanin on skin surface so your skin will look brighter and more luminous. It retails for SGD 55 for 150ml and SGD 125 for 450ml. - POREfinist (pink)
An anti-shine, fresh cleansing oil that not only removes makeup but also cleans excess sebum from within the pores to reveal more refined and smoother skin. It retails for SGD 50 for 150ml and SGD 115 for 450ml. - High-Performance Balancing Cleansing Advanced Formula (orange)
Infused with camellia oil and ginger root oil, this cleansing oil provides gentle cleansing and does not strip your skin of moisture, making for a comfortable makeup removal process. It retails It retails for SGD 50 for 150ml and SGD 115 for 450ml. - Cleansing Beauty Oil Premium A/I (yellow)
This mild-textured oil contains licorice root derivatives and moisturising amino acids to leave skin looking plumper and smoother. It retails for SGD 55 for 150ml and SGD 125 for 450ml.
Shu Uemura cleansing oils are available at all Shu Uemura counters.
8. Bioré Marshmallow Whip Facial Wash
Let’s be real, there’s nothing more satisfying at the end of a long day than washing your face, and even better if your facial wash is the foamy type that somehow feels like rubbing clouds on your face. Renowned Japanese cosmetics brand Bioré has perfected the art of their unique pump technology to create finer, denser micro bubbles that are more stable than before.
Of course, it’s not all about the texture. The foam creates a cushion-like barrier between your fingers and your face, so that you can wash your face more gently without tugging or pulling on your skin like conventional cleansers. The micro bubbles are said to penetrate pores to clean out gunk and impurities as well!
Bioré Marshmallow Whip Facial Wash comes in two types: for normal/combination skin (pink) and for acne-prone skin (green). It retails for SGD 13.90 for the 150ml pump bottle and SGD 10.90 for the 130ml refill pack at all leading pharmacies and selected supermarkets and hypermarkets.
9. RMK Skintuner Cooling Gel
Mmm, doesn’t the name of this product make you feel like getting it already?! This is RMK’s latest Skintuner, a two-in-one toner and moisturiser (any time saved during your nightly beauty ritual can go to getting more beauty sleep) that will condition your skin while leaving a nice, soothing and cooling feeling on it. We can’t think of a better way to wind down after a hectic, warm day!
It’s made with moisturising natural ingredients like their signature Citrus Aurantium Peel extract, Bilberry extracts, as well as the blended extracts of the Miracle Fruit and Job’s Tears Seed.
RMK Skintuner Cooling Gel retails for SGD 49 for 150ml at RMK counters (Takashimaya, Isetan Scotts and Isetan Serangoon).
