Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2018 i Her World Singapore

It’s an exciting time in beauty. The start of summer opens doors to new innovations, new products, and new ways of using old products. For those of us who live where heat and humidity reign all year round, the season is not so much about getting a beach-ready body or soaking up a tan. Rather, it’s a reason to get on top of trends, especially in makeup. And good things are happening this July. Take new innovations. The house of Dior has created a new (and its first) face and body foundation as part of the Dior Backstage range (page 71). It’s not just any foundation. It’s foundation inspired by runway and backstage needs, made for the pros but also a cinch for everyday women to use. It’s easy flawlessness…

It’s so important to be yourself. DO YOU ENJOY LIFE NOW MORE THAN YOU DID 10 YEARS AGO? Absolutely. I just know myself better and I know what I don’t know. It’s such a pleasure to not know things and to learn or relearn. I feel like I’ve really bloomed and grown in this era of my life. Ten years ago, I would think, “How come, I don’t know?” Now, that pressure is gone. WHAT PRINCIPLES DO YOU STAND BY, NO MATTER WHAT? I always check in with myself. How does this feel to you? Is this what you really want? Is this who you really want? Is this speaking to your inner truth? I’m a person who loves everybody and I want my heart to always remain open, so…

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Pro Makeup for Everyday Women Two things matter when it comes to makeup: skills and tools. Since not everyone is a makeup artist, we need products that bring the flawless looks of the runway into real life. Dior’s new Backstage makeup line is made for both pros and everyday women, and consists of foundation, brushes, and face, brow, eye and lip palettes. It’s an extension of the brand’s Backstage Pro line introduced in 2012, and the brainchild of Peter Philips, the creative and image director for Dior Makeup. “I redesigned all the indispensable items in my makeup bag, both for makeup artists and for every woman who wants a professional result with intuitive products and easy-to-use tools,” he says. Key to Backstage is the Face & Body Foundation. It comes…

Lia Tan may only be 20 years old, but this Nanyang Technological University (NTU) undergraduate, who’s studying public policy and global affairs, is ready to “run the world”. Not only is she passionate about helping fellow young Singaporeans foster positive cultural changes and creating spaces that are more conducive for people to ›ourish in, she is also a fervent advocate of self-care. It’s no surprise, then, that she has been chosen as the new face of NIVEA. Read on to find out what this means to her. Q . How does it feel to be the NIVEA Girl for this year? What does it mean to you? I feel incredibly blessed and thankful to be chosen as the NIVEA Girl. Being a NIVEA Girl means being comfortable in your own…

The superhero moisturising ingredient holds up to 1,000 times its weight in water. And it’s in a lot of skincare. But it’s not the same in every product. The molecular weight, or size of the hyaluronic acid (HA) molecules, matters. The higher the molecular weight, the larger the molecules. Sothys says larger HA molecules sit on top of skin, so the hydrating effect can be seen right away, while smaller molecules sink into skin, so the hydration lasts longer. The brand uses both molecule sizes in its Hydra 3HA Hyaluronic Acid range. The Intensive Hydrating Serum for all skin types has low molecular weight HA. The two moisturisers (Hydrating Comfort Youth Cream for normal to dry skin, and Hydrating Youth Cream for normal to combination skin) and the Hydra-smoothing Mask…

It’s a known fact that stress lowers your body’s immunity. In the same way, says Shiseido, stressed skin has lowered immunity. This makes it look rough, dull and less firm. In 2014, the Japanese beauty house launched its Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate, a pre-serum that claimed to boost the ability of the body’s Langerhans cells to help skin immunity. Better defences would mean smoother, more supple and radiant skin. But stress also reduces the number of Langerhans cells. So Shiseido developed the new Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate N, which now includes reishi (lingzhi) and iris root extracts to help skin produce new immunity cells. What this means for your skin: N works harder to boost its defences, so it remains supple, smooth and radiant even when stressed – whether it’s…

QI am in my early 30s and use a pore-minimising primer to conceal my enlarged pores every day. Is there a better, longterm solution to this? – Mirabelle Cheng A Pore minimisers work temporarily. In the long term, you need to manage your skincare and lifestyle. Keep your face clean, and never go to bed with makeup on. Pores look larger when they’re clogged with dirt and oil. Exfoliate regularly. Avoid makeup that has comedogenic ingredients such as acetylated lanolin, benzaldehyde, algae extract, lauric acid and stearic acid. And choose water-based products over oil-based ones. It also helps to exercise regularly, eat a balanced diet and stay hydrated. Aesthetic treatments which may improve enlarged pores include chemical and laser peels, and fractional CO2 laser resurfacing. The Fotona 4D laser peel…

If you have sensitive skin, you’re likely to experience itching, dryness and redness often throughout the day. Such discomfort can be triggered by a variety of factors, from household detergents and stress, to certain foods and fabrics, and haze-related airborne pollutants. Certain soaps can also irritate sensitive skin, so if you’re looking for a mild and gentle cleanser that is free of skin irritants and will not strip your skin of moisture, try DermaVeen Soap Free Wash pH5.5. DermaVeen Soap Free Wash has a pH of 5.5 so it’s gentle on skin. Its active ingredient is colloidal oatmeal, made from finely ground oat grains that enable ready absorption of liquids. When combined with a liquid, this special form of oatmeal acts like a colloid to coat and protect the skin.…

An interview with Suzanne Santos, the 60-year-old co-founder and now product advocate of Aesop, doesn’t really feel like an interview. She offers few neatly packaged soundbites – not because she isn’t eloquent or forthcoming, but because she takes time to consider each question before answering, often in detail and with a slightly philosophical tone. Answers are interspersed with her own questions. And topics can veer into the unexpected – she asks if she may see baby photos, offers kindly advice on raising kids, gives her take on reading which, contrary to doomsayers, she reckons has been rediscovered. She speaks at length on issues she feels strongly about, which are many. These range from social inequality (“I can’t bear the fact that we still pretend there aren’t many people struggling”) and…

What it is: Listen to your body and eat when you’re hungry. “It’s about learning to distinguish between biological hunger and emotional hunger,” says Bonnie. Like not reaching for a tub of ice cream because you had a horrible day. Ask yourself before you eat something: “Do I really want to eat this? Will I really taste the food?” Choose food that makes you feel good – not just what you feel like having. For example, a healthy meal of vegetables and lean meat is likely to invigorate you, whereas a high-fat one will make you feel sluggish. How it works: Studies show that intuitive eating is more effective than conventional dieting, resulting in weight loss and better mental health. There is no guilt about eating unhealthy foods, so you…

MILLENNIAL SPEAK: “We started dating after he slid into my DMs.” TRANSLATION: “We started dating after he sent me a direct message on Instagram and introduced himself.” Making the first move has long since stopped being gender-specific. And we’re totally for Instagram when it comes to doing this. Well, at least until we check out Facebook’s new dating feature that’s yet to launch. See, with dating profiles, you only have a handful of pictures (who knows when they were taken?) and a self-written bio to go on. Sure, Instagram has its fair share of curation, but it’ll give you a better picture of whether this is someone you’d be down to date. 1. You’ll know a lot more about him Besides his own posts, you’ll see photos his friends tag…

Make your profile public Duh, if your profile is private, he’s not going to bother replying, because there’s nothing for him to check out. And once the two of you have started a conversation, you can be sure he’ll be taking a closer look at what you post. So amp up the Instastories to give him fodder for conversation. Get on his radar Susan* sets things up by liking the posts of guys who catch her eye. “It’s the easiest way to bait them – it gets their attention first,” she says. She also leaves comments, but makes sure they’re not too flirty since they’re public. By the time she sends her first DM, the guys recognise her Instagram handle and are more receptive. Use the intel Lazy introductions like…

1. Find a comfortable place where you can sit down. 2. Flex your feet, pull your toes towards you, and feel the tension in your calves. Hold for five seconds, then relax. 3. Pause for 10 seconds, then tighten your thighs, press your knees together, and hold for five seconds. Release and pause for 10 seconds. 4. Repeat this process with the muscles in your bum, stomach, lower back and shoulders. 5. Finally, smile widely, feeling your mouth and cheeks tense. Squint until your eyes are tightly shut and hold for five seconds, then release. 6. Imagine a wave of relaxation spreading through your body from your head all the way down to your feet. Feel the weight of your body. Then take three slow breaths in and out. 7.…

You meet a great guy, sparks fly like someone shoved a finger into an open socket, then for some reason, he drops off your radar. Yup, you’ve been ghosted. Why? Be warned, the reasons mostly aren’t good. He just wasn’t that into you. It’s a cliche, but it’s true. Sometimes we meet great people and want them to like us as much as we like them – but it just doesn’t happen. You read the signals as more positive than they really are, and assume he’s being sincere and enthusiastic when actually, he’s simply being polite. But it’s no big deal – not everyone has to love you, right? Which brings us to the next reason – there’s another girl in the picture. Some guys fish with one line, others…

Eva* doesn’t know how much she spends every month. Or if she’s busted her budget. Or how much she’s got in her spending account. She depends on her bank statement to tell her. Out of the $3,600 salary she takes home every month, she reckons she saves $200-$500 – but that figure is down to chance rather than an active desire to save. Eva admits she’s got “bad spending habits” – she takes holidays every two months, and loves to shop. “Whenever I’m bored or waiting for someone, I kill time by shopping,” she confesses. “This applies to online shopping too. It doesn’t help that I like luxury goods.” I wish I could say that Eva’s attitude is foreign to me. But even as I’m writing this story, I’m buying…

“MY HUSBAND COULDN’T HOLD DOWN A JOB, AND TREATED ME LIKE AN ATM” – Kaye*, 33, project manager “Here’s the thing about me: When I like someone, the logical part of my brain shuts down, and I become blind to red flags. I think that’s why I stayed with my lazy, ineffectual husband for as long as I did. Kyle* and I met when I was just 21. He was charismatic, confident and good-looking, and I was attracted to him. But for a long time, our relationship stayed platonic as he didn’t seem keen. To my surprise, he made the first move after things didn’t work out with his then-girlfriend. We dated for three years, and got married when I was 27. Kyle had big dreams of being his own…

Introduced at the beginning of the It bag era, this didn’t seem intended for a long runway. Not because it wasn’t good-looking or useful (it is) but because It bags were designed to hold women’s interest for a year or two – not 10 years. Designed by Silvia Venturini (the brand’s creative director of accessories and menswear, and the third-gen and only remaining Fendi at the fashion house), the Peekaboo is10. Keeping it relevant to diverse women, in a very crowded bag market, is no small feat. How did she do it? With as many interesting iterations as possible. The only thing that hasn’t evolved is its raison d’etre: The bag remains practical, with two main compartments, whatever its size.…

Unless you book one of its private rooms, you are not likely to get a table for more than four at Madame Fan at the refurbished NCO Club. That’s because Alan Yau – the Hong Kong-born restaurateur, and founder of Asian food chain Wagamama in Britain – has prioritised intimacy and interaction in his first South-east Asian establishment. “At big Chinese restaurants, the huge tables mean there is no dialogue among the guests, except those next to you,” Yau says. “That’s not the point of a dining experience.” For Yau, who has an Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to the restaurant industry in Britain, the best Chinese dining experiences were in the 1930s, the jazz age – an era that Madame Fan has brought back in…

It has happened to all of us: forgetting the code for unlocking our suitcases and having to try every possible combination for what seems like an eternity. The difference between us and Kabir Sidhu, 30, is that the hassle made the Australian wonder why travelling with luggage isn’t less stressful, and do something about it. In 2014, he created Airbolt (he’s now the CEO of the brand), a lock which pairs with its smartphone app. How it works: The lock syncs with your mobile via Bluetooth when it’s within range of your suitcase. This means you don’t have to remember the lock code. All you need to do is press the left button on the Airbolt to unlock it. It also uses a crowdsourced GPS to track your checked-in luggage…

Stay uncomfortable. WHAT’S THE BRAVEST DECISION YOU’VE EVER MADE? Leaving my job as a radio DJ. Being paid to play music and talk is such an amazing job. It was a very privileged position, I did it for 14 years and I really enjoyed it, so it was very difficult to leave that security behind. I was worried that if I left, I might become irrelevant or nobody would hire me. I consider myself to be a very strong person and very focused, but it took me a long time to make the decision. I just think it’s more important to live a life. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO YOUR YOUNGER SELF? I wouldn’t do anything differently! But I would say, when I was younger I would spend a…

Big on Brazil Online store Sol Searching Brazil (www.solsearchingbrazil.com) has a thing for Brazilian brands – which are not only made for our equatorial climate, but defend against it too. “Our primary focus is on innovative apparel that has gone through vigorous tests and certifications to protect against the region’s harmful UV rays and mosquitoes,” says co-founder Jeremy Lim. The star is H.Sun, which specialises in lightweight fabrics with the highest possible ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) 50+, which blocks out 98 per cent of both UVA and UVB rays. They have also been treated with a repellent – certified by WHO – that keeps the Aedes mosquito away, yet is non-toxic to human skin. Made into tees, hats and caps, the UPF50+ is permanent, while insect repellency will last 40…

Dry, itchy, sensitive, or easily irritated skin is compromised skin. A lightweight moisturiser isn’t made for it. “The skin barrier is imbalanced due to a lack of lipids in the hydro-lipid film,” says Doreen Chia, brand general manager of Korean beauty label Hera. “This film protects the skin surface, which is vital for keeping bacteria and pollutants out and keeping moisture in.” That’s why it’s crucial to rebuild the skin barrier “by using a more emollient product that will help restore lipids, lock in moisture and prevent skin inflammation”, says Chia. Sensitive-skin specialist Aveeno has the same take. The brand’s country director for Malaysia and Singapore, Prashant Mahalingam, says keeping dry or eczema-prone skin comfortable and hydrated often requires rich moisturisers with a higher proportion of oil to water than…

It’s not a case of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. It’s more a case of these products arriving at their ideal formula with their very first iteration. One reason for an unchanged formula: It’s still relevant. Women then and now have found that Albion’s Skin Conditioner and Sisley’s Ecological Compound work on multiple concerns, such as dryness, dullness and irritation. Brands like Bio-Oil and Clarins say they’ve not found new ingredients or scientific innovations that can better the original Bio-Oil and Tonic Body Treatment Oil, which both target stretch marks and loss of skin elasticity. It’s the same for SKII’s Facial Treatment Essence. Pamela Camargo, SK-II’s Asean communications manager, says that more than 90 per cent of the essence is Pitera – the yeast-derived ingredient the brand is…

3-IN-1 REFRESHING CLEANSING WIPES FOR: Normal and combination skin WHEN: Weekend workout session Listen up, gym and sports enthusiasts: If you love to work up a sweat but want to stay fresh, use these wipes. Formulated without alcohol and infused with the goodness of vitamin E, lotus extract and Hydra IQ (an exclusive NIVEA ingredient), they remove makeup and dirt thoroughly. The lotus extract aids in skin healing and renewal while rebalancing sebum production. MAKE UP CLEAR CLEANSING WIPES FOR: All makeup users WHEN: Red-carpet party So many parties, so many looks. You love channelling your inner Hollywood star with full-on makeup, but hate spending time taking it off. These wipes should be a godsend, as they effectively remove both light and heavy makeup in a flash. They are formulated…

Lacquer: Liquid lipstick. It comes in a tube and in different finishes, from matte to glossy to vinyl-shiny. Use it when you’re gunning for a highly polished, sophisticated look. Tint: Also called a stain. Product forms vary – some come as a tinted balm, others as a light cream or ink. It gives a sheer or light wash of colour that sometimes remains on lips even after the product has come off. Best for a casual, effortless look.…

Q I’ve noticed that my pores appear larger when I’m on my period. I’ve always suspected it’s due to my hormones. What can I do to prevent them from looking bigger? – Isabel Toh A A surge in luteinising hormone during ovulation, and progesterone and testosterone near menstruation, can stimulate the sebaceous glands. Skin becomes more oily, leading to period pimples. Oestrogen and androgens (male sex hormones) also enlarge pores. Switch to oil-free makeup and moisturiser at these two times of the month. What you eat also affects your pores. Eating lots of high glycaemic index (GI) carbohydrates, refined sugar, and omega-6 fatty acids (found in flaxseed oil and pumpkin seeds) overstimulates the sebaceous glands. If you have oily skin, eat more dark green leafy vegetables, dried beans, fruits and…

Eating right and exercising regularly aren’t always enough to give you the figure you desire. Saggy skin and pockets of stubborn fat are often difficult to get rid of, no matter how well you eat or how often you exercise. And if you’re considering traditional liposuction or other invasive forms of cosmetic surgery, it’s important to know that there are serious risks involved. From Beaute Hub comes LPG Alliance Face and Body Slimming Treatment, a non-invasive form of therapy that promises to reduce fat, while improving skin quality. Beaute Hub is the first and only LPG Alliance Lab in Singapore offering this innovative treatment that is said to be painless with no side effects. The body treatment uses the Alliance Skin Identity sensor. How this supposedly works: It stimulates the…

Parsley Seed skincare range “It’s a self-driven range. I applied the Parsley Seed Serum the other day and looked at my face, and I have to say that I really get why people love this.” Lucent Facial Concentrate “We always predicted it would be popular. You can see its effects and it’s really magic.” Blue Chamomile Mask “It’s really a product of our times. You can cleanse your face, put it on, then go to bed. It has a skin-softening effect, and is great if you sleep with air-conditioning.” In Two Minds skincare range “Created for combination skin, this has found a home in Singapore. Many of us spend a lot of time in this region, and we know the frustration of not having products for customers with this skin…

1. Birch water comes from, well, birch trees Or rather, what you’re drinking is clear sap drawn from these trees. Birch trees – which grow in temperate forests in Nordic countries – are only tapped once a year in spring, when the sap is rising through the trunks. The process is carried out over a period of just two weeks. The sap is then pasteurised so it can be kept for longer and drunk all year round. 2. It tastes like Japanese sake. Kind of. Pure sap has a similar mouthfeel to water, but with a tinge of bittersweetness that’s similar to Japanese sake. It’s best drunk chilled. If that’s not your thing, Tapped, which distributes birch water here, also offers it flavoured with elderflower, apple and ginger, as well…

1. Use Instagram’s algorithm The Explore page is your friend – it curates accounts according to the people you follow. Say you’re big on rock climbing and follow a lot of fellow climbers; chances are, climbing accounts will pop up on Explore. So don’t scroll through the page mindlessly – someone might catch your eye. 2. Get hashtagging Just attended the Laneway music fest? Search the hashtags to see which other music lover was jiving to your favourite performance. 3. Look for friends of friends See a post of your friend with a cute guy? If he’s tagged in the picture, no one will fault you for doing some cyberstalking.…

You’re excessively and unreasonably anxious in social situations You obsess for days, weeks or even months before an important social event. And if you convince yourself to show up, you feel really self-conscious and can’t help thinking that other people are judging you negatively. You feel unwell Uncomfortable social situations make you sweat, literally. Your heart races, your muscles tighten, you have trouble breathing, and you might even feel nauseated or dizzy. You need coping mechanisms to get through parties You avoid situations that scare you. For example, you might fake a headache to miss an important networking session – even though you know it could benefit your career. At social events, you end up drinking a lot to calm your nerves, or even biting your nails. GET OVER IT:…

Dipa Swaminathan has the contact numbers of between 20 and 30 migrant workers stored in her mobile phone. That’s because she freely gives out her details to them, and urges them to call her if they run into trouble. And they do. Dipa has received calls asking for advice about unpaid salaries, injury claims, and even run-ins with the law. When this happens, she contacts employers and writes to authorities to get these workers the help they need. You could say that Dipa became an advocate for migrant workers by accident. In 2014, while driving her son to tennis practice on a rainy afternoon, she passed a construction site where a group of workers was wearing garbage bags for raincoats. A supervisor stood in a sheltered area some distance away,…

STEP 1 Find out how much and how often you can save Track your spending to determine a pattern. If you’re mindlessly spending $150 a month on coffee, try reducing this and see if you miss the money. Do the same with non-necessities, and slowly increase the amount you save until you’ve reached a point where you feel strapped for cash. This will give you an indication of what your saving limits are. Suddenly carving out a lump sum to save will only cause withdrawal symptoms. STEP 2 Create small goals Have goals that span the next three, six, 12 and 18 months. Rather than thinking “I want to be a millionaire by 50”, go with “By the end of this year, I would like to have saved $5,000”. It’s…

Women give a bad relationship a second chance for many reasons, and one of these might simply be low self-esteem. “In dysfunctional relationships, a person tends to have an underlying insecurity of wondering if she is deserving of love,” says Neo Eng Chuan, principal psychologist at Caperspring. In Veronica and Dave’s case, the fact that he was so affectionate and attentive in the early days of their relationship didn’t help. “When a partner responds in a way that makes this person feel like she is desired, it’s overwhelming. It becomes unthinkable to pull away,” adds Eng Chuan. Add that to Veronica’s history of dating men who treated her badly, and Dave’s attention would have been a welcome salve to her wounds. Eng Chuan also suggests that women like Veronica “place…

1 Arrange a private picnic Order a hamper full of treats from the resort’s restaurant and get a boat out to a small island nearby. The resort team takes care of everything. You literally just have to show up. 2 Catch a sunset The Dodo Bar, perched at the top of the island, offers balconies, sweeping views, and an extensive list of spirits and wines. 3 Don’t bring your tech While the resort has Wi-Fi so you can stay contactable, you won’t find phones, TVs or desktops. Tech kills the laid-back vibe, so tell your boss you won’t be checking in. Leave the laptop at home. 4 Skip the visit to the money changer Prices here are all in Singapore dollars, so don’t worry if you’re keen on a gift…

NEAPOLITAN: One for the pizza purists, this favourite from Naples has a charred, pillowy crust. Expect simple and fresh ingredients such as basil, olive oil, tomatoes and mozzarella. It’s usually served whole and folded in half. ROMAN: The base is drizzled with olive oil before baking, so you get a crust that’s crisp, yet able to withstand weighty ingredients without collapsing. It’s sold in rectangular slabs and usually eaten as a quick takeaway meal. SICILIAN: The pie has its origins in Palermo, a city in Sicily. Known as the sfincione (“thick sponge”), it has a fluffy and spongy bread base topped with meatless tomato sauce, then covered with breadcrumbs and grated cheese. NEW YORK-STYLE: This was inspired by the Neapolitan, after early Italian immigrants entered the United States. The crust…

If a fashion label launches a collection, and no one is there to ’gram it, does it happen at all? Moncler wants to make sure that people do, now that it has done away with its twice-a-year Gamme Rouge and Gamme Bleu launches. In their place: a monthly capsule that involves multiple big names and up-and-coming designers. The large-scale project – which took two years to prep for – is the brainchild of CEO Remo Ruffini, who explained to news website The Business of Fashion that “you cannot talk to your customer every six months, you need to talk every day”. Moncler Genius brings together seven designers and one stylist – Valentino’s Pierpaolo Piccioli, Simone Rocha, Craig Green, Noir’s Kei Ninomiya, Fragment’s Hiroshi Fujiwara, Palm Angels’ Francesco Ragazzi, Moncler Grenoble’s…

When it comes to shoes, the opening line of Max Ehrmann’s Desiderata, “Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence”, captures the essence of Manolo Blahnik, whose footwear is a quiet comfort in the current scream of look-at-me designs and look-more-at-me proportions. Over the designer’s 45-year career, including his works for Vetements and Rihanna, a pair of Blahniks has always been beautiful, not trend-led, gaudy or trite. His nearly five-decade-long oeuvre is a journey of originality and delight – something that’s not lost on the fashion and art worlds. Some 212 shoes are displayed in Manolo Blahnik: The Art of Shoes, an exhibition which has toured four cities (Milan, St Petersburg, Madrid and Prague) and is now at its last stop, the…

Bora Aksu Who he is: The London-based Turkish designer has won four consecutive New Generation awards at London Fashion Week in his 15-year career. His fans: Rita Ora, Ellie Goulding, Elle Fanning, Marion Cotillard, Keira Knightley and Sienna Miller. Designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana even purchased pieces from his 2002 Central Saint Martins MA graduate show collection to use as inspiration. Queen Elizabeth II also invited him to Buckingham Palace in 2010 for his contributions to the British fashion industry. What he’s known for: “I like to call my style ‘demi-couture’, because despite making ready-to-wear, my DNA lies in handcraft, layering and texture contrast, muted colours and volume forms, all of which are fabricated with a similar level of care and attention as couture,” says Aksu. “It’s romantic, but…

An eight-piece capsule of clothes, accessories and shoes inspired by the art that dominated the streets of ’80s New York City, it also celebrates today’s street-influenced fashion. “I started my company in 1981, at a time when uptown and downtown were really colliding,” says Kors. “Uptown girls partied downtown at the Mudd Club and Club 57. Artists like Fab 5 Freddy and Jean-Michel Basquiat showed their work at PS 1, yet you’d be just as likely to find their signatures on the side of a building in the Lower East Side or your subway car. Today, that mix of high/low is everything.”…

For Corporate Takeovers: Girard-Perregaux’s Laureato Chronograph When Girard-Perregaux says 2018 is the year of its Laureato – known for its distinctive octagonal-shaped bezel and cool elegance – it means it. The Swiss brand has launched two of them, and this one, the second, is the first chrono in the range. It’s powered by a self-winding chronograph movement with a 46-hour power reserve. In either 38mm or 42mm steel or pink gold, with a steel bracelet or alligator strap, and three dial colours – silver, black or dark blue. $19,200-$41,700. For Mixing Business and Pleasure: Hublot’s Classic Fusion Chronograph Berluti The Swiss watch brand brings its technical know-how, and the Italian fashion brand its leather expertise, for one sexy collab. Berluti first engraves its signature Venezia Scritto calf leather with writing…

You can use a leave-on overnight mask every night. In fact, you should. The reason is simple: Everyone’s skin needs moisture. And no one’s skin gets enough of it. What does an overnight mask do? It gives your skin a big moisture boost, so it looks healthier, plumper and more radiant when you wake up. Now, who doesn’t want that? Don’t stick to the same one every day. Use what best fits your concern for that day. Besides moisture, the new masks have added bonuses, such as firming or calming effects. So, a firming mask if you have a special event the next day. A brightening one for added glow. A calming one to soothe redness or splotchiness. Some of these masks can replace your night moisturiser, saving you a…

Bronzers are less pigmented than sculpting powder, making them easier to apply. Bronzers also come in shades that blend with skin – unlike blushers, which are purposely coloured to stand out. And they don’t have the shiny strobe-light effect of highlighters. That’s why they can make us look better in three ways. 1. “A bronzer lends warmth to the skin,” says local makeup artist Melissa Yeo. This means a pale and ashen complexion will look healthier right away. 2. A light dusting of bronzer over the face, using a fluffy powder brush that has loosely packed bristles, helps create a more even finish. 3. It can even out skin tone differences between the face and neck. Yeo recommends a light beige bronzer in a cool tone (not orangey or coppery),…

Subtle: the new smoky eye Chanel’s Eye Collection 2018 balances dark midnight blues with rosy-pearl ivory and emerald green to add a pop of colour to the usual dark smoky eye. In the collection are four retractable eyeshadow pens (a first for the brand), two four-colour palettes, two powder and two cream eyeshadows, an eyeshadow base, and a mascara. $53-$94 Bolder: the new brights Kakuyasu Uchiide, Shu Uemura’s international artistic director, wanted “colour with attitude”, so he paired bright colours with muted ones. The #eyelovecolor collection has 36 Pressed Eye Shadows, 16 Hard Formula pencils, 13 Brow:swords, six Brow Unlimited brow mascaras, and eight Waterpaint:ink eyeliners for any look, from edgy to fun. $25-$56 Liquid-free Fragrance Our gripes about perfume are #firstworldproblems, we’ll admit. Even if it comes in easy-to-tote…

La Mer The Luminous Lifting Cushion Compact SPF20 has the brand’s iconic Miracle Broth – made from fermented sea kelp – which plumps, hydrates and smooths skin. Humidity- and sweat-resistant, the foundation has buildable coverage and a semi-matte finish In 12 shades, $160 each. La Prairie Skin Caviar Essence-in-Foundation SPF25/PA+++ has caviar water, distilled from caviar, to hydrate and firm. The foundation offers light to medium coverage with a natural finish that blends into skin. In 11 shades, $365 each. CNP Laboratory Propolis Ampule in Cushion SPF50+/PA+++ has propolis – a bee by-product used in hive-building that’s said to be anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial. The foundation also has gold, which diffuses light to give lustre to skin. It offers medium to high buildable coverage. In two shades, $54 each.…

What it is: A bubbly toner that instantly cools skin. It forms a film that “hardens” and conforms to your facial contours. This is supposed to help makeup last longer, and prevent sebum oxidation and enlarged pores. How to use: Apply after moisturiser. Shake well, hold upright, spray onto a cotton pad, and run it over your skin. You can also use it as an intensive mask by placing the cotton pad over enlarged pores for 30 seconds. Verdict: “The astringent effect worked. The cooling sensation felt like I was running an ice cube across my face, but afterwards, my makeup didn’t budge even though I was outdoors for most of the day. The film had a barely-there feel but flaked around my nose as I tend to rub this…

ALBION The luxe Japanese brand defines beautiful skin as translucent and supple. And its makeup wants to give you the same translucency its skincare aims to. Albion co-created a cosmetics line with European fashion brand Elegance in 1986. But only in 2016 did it bring its award-winning bestseller, Elegance La Poudre Haute Nuance Face Powder, to Singapore. The water- and oil-resistant pressed powder, which brightens skin, became an instant sellout. Now, Albion has extended its makeup range to include blushers, lipsticks, lip glosses, lip balm, eyeshadows, eyeshadow primers, eyeliners, eyebrow pencils, mascaras and eye makeup remover. $24-$188 ASTALIFT Japanese photo giant Fujifilm owns Astalift. Its signature ingredient is astaxanthin, an antioxidant and red pigment found in algae. It’s the same algae flamingoes eat that gives them their distinctive red/pinkish hue.…

“Most fad diets carry risks, including nutrient deficiencies, low blood sugar, increased risk of certain cancers, and eating disorders. If you insist on trying one, talk to a doctor to ensure you’re equipped to deal with downfalls and mitigate them as much as possible – whether by taking multivitamins on fasting days or ensuring that you have adequate protein intake to prevent muscle wasting,” cautions Bonnie.” Ketogenic Diet What it is: This diet – developed in the 1920s – practically eliminates carbs, allowing them to make up just 5 per cent of your daily calorie intake. That translates to between 90 and 100 calories from carbs. For perspective, a bowl of white rice is 200 calories. If you’re new to this, dietitian Bonnie Lau of digital health company Holmusk suggests…

Fulvic Water The inky colour is from fulvic acid, a substance found in soil and plant sediment. Drinking this supposedly enhances your health. Protein Water An alternative to protein shakes. Each bottle contains a whey protein isolate blend which offers more protein and less carbohydrate than a protein shake. Alkaline Water Contact with natural minerals or using a water ioniser changes the pH of water from neutral to alkaline. Fans claim that it helps neutralise acidic blood. This ups oxygen levels and improves energy and metabolism, as well as prevents acid reflux. Coconut vs Birch: Coconut water has 6g of sugar in each cup, while birch water has 2-3g.…

Hannah’s* boyfriend came across her profile under the Explore page. “He first messaged me when he saw my Instagram story of a crowd in my neighbourhood playing Pokemon Go,” she recounts. His message was succinct: ‘LOL’.” A week later, he DM’ed her after she posted a story on a solo movie date. She had drawn a stick figure in the empty seat next to her and captioned it “movie date with bae”. To which he responded: “Creative way to make a bae”. Hannah was taken by his cheekiness. “We spent the entire night direct messaging on Instagram.” A date was fixed, and the rest is history. So what did her guy do right? “The others who slid into my DMs either couldn’t carry a conversation, or tried too hard with…

It’s great that you’re enjoying yourself, but what about me? I’ve been seeing this guy I met on a dating app a few weeks ago. He seems perfectly nice and ticks all the right boxes – he’s considerate, pleasant, and has a good job. Thing is, I’m not feeling the sparks – though I suspect he’s more into it than I am. Should I give him a chance? Sparks don’t mean anything – unless you want a big, bright, burning fire that you can see from space. Wait! Don’t you want a relationship you can see from space? Lots of relationships start without the sparks, but they can develop over time, contrary to what Hollywood tells you. Give it a go and see what happens – but if the sparks…

1. Know that people want to give more than just money It’s more meaningful to give something besides money. For example, It’s Raining Raincoats sends a message of sustainability by repurposing food items and stuff that might otherwise get trashed. People like to know they can align themselves with a meaningful message. 2. Use social media to broaden your reach – big time. Facebook is how most of It’s Raining Raincoats’ 100 volunteers came on board. The Starbucks food distribution has been running for two years now, and not once – even on Chinese New Year’s Eve or Christmas – have they missed a food drop. Social media is also how this movement gained traction and went viral. 3. Tap an insider’s network Whether it’s a government body, a non-profit…

1 If you’re sad, don’t ignore it When you ’re deeply entrenched in a bad relationship, it can be hard to take a step back and acknowledge that you ’re being mistreated. Eng Chuan suggests that one way of cultivating self-awareness is to treat your emotions as you would your physical body. “When you feel unwell, you know your body is telling you that you are sick and need to see a doctor. The same goes for your emotional well-being, ” Eng Chuan adds. “When you feel pain and sadness from a consistent source, it’s a signal telling you to pay attention. ” Don’t ignore the signs – look at where they are pointing, and acknowledge them. That’s the first step in understanding that you need to make a change.…

1. Vivanta By Taj - Rebak Island From Singapore: two-hour flight to Langkawi, followed by a 20min boat ride Just off the coast of Langkawi in Malaysia is this 158ha plot of land taken over by Indian hotelier Vivanta by Taj. Watch the sunset by the Andaman Sea on a private yacht, or enjoy dinner by the Moon Deck cabana on the edge of the island. Rates start at $178 a night. 2. Nihi Sumba Island From Singapore: two-hour flight to Bali, followed by a one-hour flight to Sumba and a jeep ride The island, roughly the size of Massachusetts, is a popular location for surfers or snorkellers. Stay at Villa Rahasia, the only accommodation situated miles away from the main resort with its own private beach. Rates start at…

Think of this eight-episode Netflix series as a love letter to comfort food. It’s helmed by David Chang, chef and owner of super-famous New York eatery Momofuku. The first episode looks at pizza and its origins. You’ll learn that, according to the Associazione Vera Pizza Napoletana – an organisation that champions the true Neapolitan pizza (yes, really) – only the marinara and margherita are recognised as the real thing. But David has an alternative take. “It’s not that I hate authenticity. I hate that people want this singular thing that is ‘authentic’. There are people making Italian food that is more Italian in its idea and thesis than anyone in Italy is making – because they’re not using anything that’s imported. They’re using anything that’s around them,” he says. The…