Innholdsfortegnelse for May 2019 i Her World Singapore

Why should women still feel guilty – even in this day and age of #metoo and gender equality – about prioritising themselves over others? To have life goals is a wonderful thing. And if they deviate from the social norms expected of them as women, they should know that it is more than okay. Every person (regardless of gender) should be entitled to think and feel “me first”, and have the freedom (within the limits of their principles) to exercise their choices and rights. That’s why our feature this month on #mefirstmums (page 102) – our nod to Mother’s Day – is vital. The women featured (see some of their pictures above) may or may not be career-driven, but they do know exactly what they need in their lives in…

Italian fashion magnate Brunello Cucinelli has always done things in new-school-meets-old ways. He was one of the first to embrace a more humanist yet progressive way to build a global lifestyle brand (most of its wares are made in a 12th-century hamlet in Solomeo, Italy, by local artisans), and he opts for handmade products instead of mass production. His first fine-jewellery line, Aurum (say “or-rem”), is a 13-piece, 18K gold collection designed in a graphic style for modern-day versatility, and is handcrafted by in-house Italian artisans using lost-wax casting, an eco technique used to create detailed or complicated metalwork. (According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica, this technique dates back to the 3rd millennium BC.) Twelve of the 13 items – ranging from a ring to necklaces, bracelets, cuffs and earrings –…

About a year ago, a local entertainment magazine had He Ying Ying on its cover, touting her as the next big thing and “the new Joanne Peh”. By coincidence, Joanne was on our cover two months ago, and now, this bubbly 24-year-old graces this month’s. No longer a neophyte, she already has a Best Newcomer win in the 2018 Star Awards, and a nom for Best Supporting Actress (A Million Dollar Dream) in this year’s edition. Not too bad for someone who originally had no intention of entering showbiz. Ever since she joined the industry in 2015, this National University of Singapore alum has been every bit the rising star. She jokes, though, that she might be in this writer’s position if she had continued on the career path her…

It’s been six months since Ariana Grande dropped her Thank U, Next music video and we’re still amazed by how pouty and shiny-juicy the singer-songwriter’s lips looked in it. Lip gloss is back, and we’re not the only ones in love with it. Market research firm Euromonitor reported that the global market for glosses grew for the first time since 2014 (when matte lips became the in thing), hitting US$2.94 billion (S$3.97 billion sales in 2018. The big draw? Shine. Full, supple lips are linked with youth and vitality – both desirable traits driven by consumers’ growing obsession with wellness and, well, Tinder (its users rated plump, juicy lips as being more attractive). What has changed: no more goopy, oily, sticky mess on your lips or hair. The new-gen lip…

Using vitamin-C derivatives 1 Clarins White Plus Targeted Spot Brightener, $60. 2 Lancome Absolue White Aura Regenerating Whitening Serum, $420. 3 Allies of Skin Vitamin C 35% Collagen Rebuilding Serum, $185. 4 Peter Thomas Roth Potent-C Targeted Spot Brightener, $94. Using botanicals 5 Kanebo Illuminating Serum, $190-$280. 6 Chantecaille Blanc Gardenia Whitening Essence, $310. Using a natural skin compound 7 SW1 Super White, $107.…

Tired of taking a trial-and-error approach with skincare products, only to find that they don’t work for you? Since no two persons are completely alike, it makes sense that your skincare products should be specially tailored for you. Enter alche{me}, a revolutionary skincare concept that takes into consideration each individual’s uniqueness to combat specific skin concerns like acne, hyperpigmentation and wrinkles. Founded on the belief that skincare should be customisable and efficient, the brand was born to provide a sound skincare routine that would effectively combat your top concerns. Furthermore, alche{me} formulates each product to suit each customer’s unique needs, thereby eliminating the need to go through fussy skincare steps. BESPOKE SOLUTIONS And if you think that you will need to go through a tedious consultation to generate your personal…

The most effective strategy for guarding skin against pollution particles that accumulate on it over the day is as simple as cleansing your skin every night. Three women with different cleansing concerns have ›nally found a common solution in Bioderma’s Hydrabio H2O micellar water. Concerned about clogged pores and pollutants on her skin EMMA LIM, 27, MARCOMS MANAGER Skin type: Dehydrated, oily on T-zone only Review: “The micellar waters I tried previously never felt hydrating enough for my skin. They didn’t come across as effective cleansers – my pores were still clogged, I would get the occasional pimple, and I was getting worried as I read about the effects of pollutants on skin. I had not tried Bioderma products before this, and I am glad to report that the Hydrabio…

I confess: I’m the beauty writer who slathers on sweat- and water-resistant sunscreen before my hot yoga class. Yet, using the mat farthest away from the window still doesn’t seem far enough from the damaging UV rays I always try to avoid. Shiseido’s latest range of sun protection, however, ups the game for sporty women. It has four cool, high-tech factors going for it that make working out outdoors safer for your skin. • An ionic mineral sensor and an ionic mineral powder in the sunscreen bind with sweat to create a defensive film against UV rays. This means that the more you perspire, the stronger the sun protection gets. • It helps perspiration evaporate faster. The sunscreen forms a hydrophilic (water-loving) veil on the face that spreads out perspiration…

The “block” refers to digital pieces of information. Imagine you’ve just bought something from an online merchant: 1 Blocks store information about transactions, say, the date, time, and dollar amount of your purchase. 2 Blocks store information about who is participating (you and the merchant), but instead of using your actual name, your purchase is recorded without any identifying information, using a unique digital signature (for example, Wonderwoman88). 3 Each block stores a unique code called a “hash” that allows us to tell it apart from every other block. (A single block on the blockchain can actually store a few thousand transactions.) And the “chain”? “Chain” in this context refers to the public database. In order for a block to join the blockchain, the following must happen: 1 The transaction…

$1k-$2k A young artist. Instagram is a good place to hunt for up-and-coming talents, follow their works and go to their shows. Pick a print. It may be hard to get an original work at this price point, but you could get a print from a more established artist instead. Buy with your heart. Don’t stress out over research or value. Just look for a piece you really love. $5k Light research. Get to know the basics about the artists you’re interested in – who they are, what region they’re from, techniques they use and where they’ve been represented in the world. Buy local. And regional. With a little effort, you can find a few gems by local and South-east Asian artists within your budget. $20k or more Big picture.…

“THE BOOK... QUESTIONS ALL THESE EXPECTATIONS WE HAVE FOR OURSELVES BECAUSE OF SOCIETAL NORMS.” Impractical Uses of Cake We all know that old axiom about how everyone says they’ve always wanted “to be a writer”. The only difference between people who spout that tired line and actual writers is that writers write. Which is what Jo-Ann Yeoh did. Her manuscript, Impractical Uses of Cake, won the Epigram Books Fiction Prize (2018) – and it was the competition’s submission deadline that was the catalyst she needed to propel her childhood dream to take flight. “It was one of those things I never quite made time for. I’d always dreamt of being a novelist as a child, but what I didn’t know was how life gets in the way. And the thing…

Andalusia: Cazon en Adobo Adobo, a marinade rich in spices, oil and vinegar, is used across the Iberian Peninsula and South America to enhance the flavour and preservation of food. In Andalusia, adobo is frequently used to marinate and soften cazon – a small shark known as dogfish – which has an almost meat-like texture. The marinated meat is cut into chunks, battered and deep-fried. The result? Tasty, spicy fried fish that pairs well with Jerez sherry. Galicia: Empanada Empanada is one of the region’s most typical culinary preparations. The fillings of this pie reflect the rich landscape, from the Atlantic coastline to green pastures. Empanadas (roughly translated to “that has been put in bread”), can be made using a variety of meats, fish and seafood. Traditional recipes include stewed…

Love Beauty and Planet (LBP) didn’t start in the traditional, profit-over-integrity way. It was incubated by a group of like-minded British and Dutch staff of Unilever whose mission was to create a haircare and body-care brand that would do good in every possible way. “To serve consumers better now, we have to show respect for our planet, be accountable, and reduce waste and our carbon footprint,” says Piyush Jain, LBP’s global vice-president. Calling themselves the kind of people who stay back to clean up after themselves at the end of a music concert, the people behind LBP have an ethos that revolves around five “labours of love”: • Using only 100 per cent recycled plastic for the bottles (which are then recycled again). That’s why not all the bottles are…

The last time Cartier introduced a line of accessible jewellery was two years ago, with Ecrou. Now it has Clash, which is priced lower than Juste un Clou (JUC) and is, according to the brand, as gender-neutral as Love and JUC (we do differ where its earrings are concerned, though). It also has diamond pieces. From $2,920 for a small pink gold ring to $18,900 for bling pink gold earrings. The second Clash de Cartier drop will be in September, and will include a diamond bracelet and white gold rings.…

RACHEL LIM LOVE, BONITO As one of the names on Forbes’ “30 under 30 Asia” list in 2016, Rachel Lim, founder of Love, Bonito, creates her own definition of success. She and her friends, Viola and Velda Tan, launched a blogshop a decade ago when they were mere teenagers, to sell imported clothing at a time when e-commerce was still finding its legs in Singapore. Just four years later, they’d developed Love, Bonito into one of the most recognisable homegrown fashion labels. The brand focused on providing clothes for Asian women who had difficulty finding the right fit and cut with international sizes of clothing – a smart move that satisfied the needs of many customers. “We sought to fill the gap in the market for trendy, well-made and well-fitting…

YSL Beaute’s Touche Eclat Radiant Touch changed the way women used makeup when it launched in 1992. The highlighting concealer, a sheer, gently illuminating product that brightened skin and added a glow, gave us the original no-makeup makeup look. The French girls loved it. But everyone else – who didn’t have perfect French-girl skin that needed only light concealing action – wanted higher coverage for blemishes and dark circles. Enter this new chapter for the well-loved beauty classic: Touche Eclat High Cover. As the name promises, the concealer delivers enough coverage to take on dull, unevenly-toned skin – under the eyes, on eyelids, and over scars. It comes in 16 shades (five more than Radiant Touch), in colour-correcting tones that neutralise blue, violet and red undertones. Everything else we love…

Sheer Shimmer Hello, grown-up glitter eyeshadow. It’s more sophisticated, less disco, and doesn’t emphasise the fine lines around your eyes. Any colour works – blue, pink, purple, brown, even teal green. We recommend a light hand for a soft shimmery wash over the lids, but feel free to build the colour for more edginess. We like Nars Duo Eyeshadow in Kuala Lumpur ($52). Gold Accents Just dab a gold hue on the inner corners of your eyes. It’s not as stark as white highlighter, but still brightens and adds dimension to your eyeshadow. You can even dust a light layer on your Cupid’s bow and over the centre of your lips. Try Tarte’s Seaglass Eyeshadow in Golden Hour ($32). Glossy Lids Gloss on the eyelids? Why not? It’s unexpected and…

Thirteen years ago, Sylvie Chantecaille, founder of New York-based luxury beauty brand Chantecaille, found herself puzzled by the dwindling number of monarch butterflies in her rose garden. It was September – the month when the garden should have been bustling with the winged creatures – but she welcomed only a handful of them. Turns out, the milkweed flowers that the butterflies normally feed on after they emerge from their cocoons were blooming earlier because of global warming. This led to many of the butterflies starving to death. Their migration stops were vanishing too, with the destruction of pine trees in Mexico – the destination of their migratory route from Canada. The monarch butterflies were becoming an endangered species. It inspired the now 74-year-old beauty mogul to launch a series of…

If you travel to South Korea to stock up on K-beauty essentials, you’ll already know of new-to-Singapore brand Ryo. It’s a haircare label that shouts its Asian roots from its name down to its packaging and formulation. While many haircare brands believe that a healthy scalp equals healthy hair, few are as wholly committed to that principle as Ryo. The name itself implies “earth” in Korean because it views the scalp as the ground for hair. The Amorepacificbacked brand has been studying Korean ginseng to combat hair loss for almost five decades. According to its findings, ginseng boosts hair follicle cells, strengthening the entire strand from root to tip and restoring shine. These effects of ginseng are said to delay signs of scalp ageing, which is why it is used…

37 #ColleenFrancisca Founder of Francisca Dessert Parlour and a skincare formulator, mother of two WHY IS BEING #MEFIRST IMPORTANT TO YOU? Balance is important to me, as being a mum and having a business on the side can get overwhelming at times. I liken it to filling up my cup first, so if my cup is full, then the family is happy. If it’s running low, what do I have to offer anyone else? WHAT DO YOU NEED TO BE A #MEFIRSTMUM? I’m an introvert, so it takes a lot of energy for me to be out there in the world with the kids. I really appreciate the little slots of time throughout the day that I put aside for myself. Something I’ve changed in my routine is trying to…

“DISAGREEABLENESS IS OFTEN FROWNED UPON IN A YOUNG WOMAN, BUT HOW ON EARTH WILL YOU MAKE THE HARD DECISIONS IN BUSINESS IF YOU AREN’T WILLING TO DO THE HARD THINGS?” At six years old, when other children were perfecting their ABCs, Wendy Chen was learning about data structures from her father. He wasn’t intentionally grooming her into a tech wunderkind. Rather, it was his creative solution to help her learn English. (The family had just uprooted from China to Canada.) “He used to write computer programs to teach me things. So my relationship with computer programming and artificial intelligence has always been very personal,” shares 33-year-old Wendy. “My dad (who has a PhD in computer science) always talked about coding in terms of algorithms and the design of the systems…

Cook & Tras Social Library (2 Cook Street) This library-themed bar inside the Six Senses Maxwell hotel isn’t playing around: It has 3,000 tomes, mostly on architecture, art, design, history and photography – a true browsing paradise. So order that Boulevardier cocktail and settle in. Book Fairies They’re invisible and communicate with us through Instagram. Books are left around Singapore by these “fairies”, who update the latest locations via Instagram posts (@bookfairies_singapore). You can be a fairy too: Find ’em, read ’em and pay it forward. Looksee Looksee (267 Beach Road) Another interesting space by the Lo & Behold group, this is a reading room-cum-tea salon filled with coffee-table books produced by our local creatives. Local speciality tea company A.muse Projects oversees the menu, which changes every month. Curl up…

Going away is fun, but since we are not all Marie Kondo, packing can really suck. What’s gonna make it suck less: the combination of Vago’s vacuum bags to pack stuff in and its handy baggage compression device. The latter, like a portable vacuum cleaner, sucks out the air trapped within clothes to free up to 50 per cent more space – regardless of whether you’re using a backpack or suitcase. How Vago works: Screw it onto the nozzle of the plastic vacuum bag, plug it into the mains or a portable battery pack, and wait a few minutes for its built-in smart sensor to detect the pressure inside the bag. It automatically stops when all the air has been sucked out of the bag. The vacuum bags come in…

Dreamy, girlie, poufy, romantic and couture-like are not adjectives commonly associated with Danish design. But what makes Bahnsen’s (say “ban-surn”) juststepped-out-of-a-Hans-Christian-Andersen-book, childlike styles more Nordic than frou-frou are their minimalist lines and sculptural shapes – think Cristobal Balenciaga meets Comme des Garcons CDG. An LVMH Prize finalist in 2017, Bahnsen worked with John Galliano and Erdem Moralioglu prior to launching her own label two years ago. What she wants is for her customers to feel feminine and empowered without much effort. “Romantic, but with that Scandi aesthetic I grew up with – that is how I think the Scandinavian woman and any woman wants to feel,” says Bahnsen. Exclusively at Dover Street Market Singapore, from $700 for a pair of shorts to $3,100 for a skirt.…

This is skin that’s glistening, glowing, shyly flushed, created by blending liquid foundation, face oil and liquid highlighter, topping it with light concealer on blemishes, then applying cream blusher or bronzer. To pull off this look in our climate, makeup artist Larry Yeo says to skip the face oil (too greasy) and liquid highlighter (too unforgiving on not-perfect skin). Start with a radiance-boosting primer to lightly smooth pores and add a subtle sheen. Layer on a foundation with a glowy finish. Last, use a big, fluffy brush to dust powder over the oilier parts of your face.…

There’s a difference between skin brightening and lightening. Brightening skincare works on making your overall complexion more luminous, translucent and even-toned. Lightening skincare, on the other hand, refers to targeted dark-spot treatments whose function is, well, to fade the darkened patches. When it comes to tackling dark spots, there is no need to be politically correct: You need to lighten them to regain a clear complexion. “Lightening is the term used when a product’s effect is clearly to lighten darkened patches such those that might appear on the underarms, for example, or to lighten other areas with hyperpigmentation,” says Dr Low Chai Ling, medical director of SW1 Clinic. Take its SW1 Super White, a 15-minute treatment mask that uses cysteamine, a new lightening ingredient that is found in human cells…

BRAIDS “You need some grease to control the shape of the braid and add shine,” says Mervyn. BUN “Pulling hair into a bun hides greasiness and keeps it away from the face so it doesn’t cause breakouts,” says Dennis. PONYTAIL “The grease makes it easier to pull a ponytail up into a sleek, chic and flattering style,” says Annie Lam, stylist at Kim Robinson. BEACH WAVES “A beachy style needs some grease to accentuate the waves. Tie your hair into a topknot and release it later to give it volume and texture,” says Victor. Women fall into two camps: those who wash their hair daily and those who shampoo on alternate days (or stretch their shampoo mileage as long as possible). “How greasy your scalp and hair get depends on…

You’re busy, we get it. With responsibilities from juggling work deadlines to family duties, women today are stretched in countless ways. But that doesn’t mean you should neglect your well-being; caring for yourself is just as important. The Senze Awakening Facial is just what you need. A pampering 90min facial, it combines advanced light and microcurrent technologies with an infusion of active ingredients to breathe new life into dull and tired-looking skin. The facial begins with a calming aromatic ritual to ease tension, then the skin is cleansed and prepped with the spa’s signature Triple-Cleansing, Steaming and Extraction. This is followed by a facial massage to prime the skin for the next step that uses WishPro patented advanced technology combined with encapsulated active ingredients to treat various skin concerns. To…

You may not see it. You probably can’t feel it. But you de›nitely can smell some of it. Pollution is everywhere. A lot of pollutants such as haze, cigarette smoke, metal ions, and chemicals in many household detergents generate free radicals that disrupt our skin’s healthy functions. Free radicals are nano-sized particles that are small enough to slip into your pores and cause skin inflammation, speeding up skin ageing by breaking down collagen and triggering hyperpigmentation. Cleanse Well to Remove Trapped Pollutants It is not possible to eliminate pollution, but you can be proactive about reducing the damage it does to your skin. Proper cleansing is the ›rst and most important step. Beyond providing skin with a good cleanse, Bioderma’s micellar water has been found to swipe away 98 per…

It’s quite unnerving to step into a new salon. Which hairstylist will be assigned to you? Will he or she get what you want? What type of shampoos do they use, and do they use what they display? The list of worries goes on. In Good Hands The people behind Japanese Hair Salon Tokyo Michaela understand this anxiety and know just what you need to feel reassured. The salon runs on the concept of Japanese hospitality, omotenashi – this means impeccable service, attention to detail and the anticipation of customers’ needs. Michaela brings together talented hairstylists from popular salons in Japan – some have worked in cities like London, Tokyo and Beijing; some have vast experience working with international magazines on fashion and hair editorials; and others are award-winning hairdressers,…

We’re not complaining that beauty brands are now much more inclusive with their foundation and concealer ranges. It’s good to recognise that skin tones go beyond fair, medium, and dark – and that undertones aren’t limited to just cool, neutral and warm. A perfect foundation match is now truly possible, with brands like M.A.C, Fenty Beauty and Tarte Cosmetics slicing and dicing their shade ranges down to minute differences – with pink, olive and peach undertones available too. That said, when faced with such giant ranges, how exactly do you narrow down the number from, say, 57 to just one? Industry experts share their tips with us. 1 For foundations: First identify your skin tone, then your undertone This helps narrow your choices to a more manageable two or three…

HOW NEW IS BLOCKCHAIN? “Blockchain is finally making a name for itself at the age of 28, in no small part because of bitcoin and cryptocurrencies. As a buzzword on the tongue of investors everywhere, blockchain stands to make business and government operations more accurate, efficient, and secure.” AND BLOCKCHAIN IS… “Blockchain is a trustworthy transaction ledger that’s stored in a public distributed network. Blockchain technology was first outlined in 1991 by two researchers, Stuart Haber and W. Scott Stornetta… SNORZ. PLEASE EXPLAIN IT AS IF WE WERE 12-YEAR-OLDS. “Picture a mosaic painting made up of smaller paintings, and each contains unique information. This painting is duplicated thousands of times across a network of computers. Then imagine that the network is designed to regularly update this painting. Now think of…

1. “A Better Tomorrow” by Andre Wee Time travel made easy. Move aside, half-hearted 3-D renderings of the future. With “A Better Tomorrow”, simply scan a picture of any Singapore scene and you’ll be taken 25 years into the future. 2. “Paperchase” by Alfonsus Wong It’s not really environmentally friendly if you’re using toxic paint to create pretty green pictures. This piece is actually going to help: It’s an interactive educational AR experience that invites you to find and use Singapore’s recycling points while collecting comic strips to piece together the story of a trash-eating monster. 3. “Animaker Asia” by Andre Wee and Omai Duplo bricks made better. Yes, you can be an adult and still love building blocks. Using Duplo bricks, you can create your favourite animal and see…

Two Spanish restaurants in Singapore are eschewing familiar favourites to give us region-specific dishes: One is focused on Barcelona’s cosmopolitan cuisine, while another brings us grills from the Basque Country. Olivia Restaurant & Lounge #01-03, 55 Keong Saik Road Catalonian Cuisine 101:  Dishes from Barcelona are unique as they have absorbed influences from Spain, the Mediterranean region and the international palettes that have graced this coastal city. Catalan culture equals atmosphere and service. It embodies the Mediterranean soul, which centres on the kitchen and the communal sharing of meals. And it’s all reflected here in Olivia’s dishes. The Food: Alain Devahive, a former chef at El Bulli and the defunct Catalunya Singapore, helms Olivia with sommelier and business partner Miquel Sabria. Their aim is to showcase the diversity of dining…

How do I make my in-laws like me? They just don’t seem to connect with me, and they’re extremely reserved people. This may sound stupid, but maybe try to enjoy their food? Seriously. I’ve always got along uber-well with all my girlfriends’ mothers, and now my in-laws, in part because I love love love to eat eat eat. So when I’m eating at my in-laws’ I’m genuinely enjoying myself, and it doesn’t take much. A lot of the enjoyment is because it’s free – free food always wins me over. But usually, food is taken for granted by the family. As an outsider, you have a chance to tell them how great their cooking is and what’s different and unique about it – and hopefully, really mean it. If your…

The Timeless Timepiece If you’re looking for a timepiece that’s understated and elegant, Tissot’s Carson Automatic should be your next pick. Fashioned with a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal and a 316L stainless steel case, the dial isn’t overly glazed with anything fancy, other than its see-through caseback that displays the watch’s Powermatic 80 and 2671 movement. Available in two sizes (30mm and 40mm) with dials in black or white, and either leather or steel straps. At all Tissot boutiques, for $870-$1,110. Frizz-free Say goodbye to split ends with John Frieda’s new hair essence, Frizz Ease Original Serum. Filled with a concentrated Smoothing Complex that helps make your hair glossier and smoother, this new product also has premium herbal ginseng extract to help improve the look and feel of every individual strand.…

The lack of modern South-east Asian jewellery in the market is what prompted the SG fine jewellery label to get things started in October last year. Its latest showcase: bangles for contemporary times, inspired by South-east Asian cultures. Designed here, but produced by artisans in Thailand (the country is more experienced in and better equipped for making jewellery), they come in three designs (Hue, Iskandar and Lotus), and in 24K gold or rhodium. From www.forbiddenhill.com with free courier delivery islandwide. Or you can make an appointment at customer.service@forbiddenhill.com to visit the brand’s showroom. $195-$285…