NATASHA CHIAM
Director, The Ice Cream & Cookie Co.
This ex-beauty editor left publishing two years ago to pursue her love for creating desserts. Today she helms Singapore’s first gourmet ice cream sandwich company, but is still serious about skincare.
EYE MAKEUP FAVOURITES Mascara is the greatest beauty invention of all time. The best ones are Diorshow Iconic Overcurl and YSL Volume Effet Faux Cils. They make for really dramatic, jet black, fluttery lashes. I prime them first with Shiseido Nourishing Mascara Base. It makes any run-of-the-mill mascara look amazing—it keeps lashes curled and somehow intensifies the effects of whatever mascara you use. I am all for an eyelash serum called Grandelash-MD as it’s made my lashes almost double in length. Chanel Les 4 Ombres is the perfect no-brainer eye makeup. It’s so thoughtfully put together and there’s no need to worry about colours being off. Finally, I spritz on a touch of Coco Mademoiselle and I’m good to go.
CROSS TRAINING SOLUTIONS I’m surrounded by dessert all day, so my goal is to do cardio at least four times a week. I swim about 30 to 40 laps or run up to 5km. I highly recommend the seven-day programme at The Golden Door Health Retreat in Hunter Valley, Australia. It’s like a reset button on your daily life. You wake up at 6am for tai-chi and then choose from a variety of fitness activities like yoga, underwater running, spa treats or workshops. Meals are planned so you eat nutritious, mainly vegetarian dishes.
SKIN SAVIOURS On a normal day, I cleanse first with Bioderma Sensibio H20 and then Cetaphil. I alternate my moisturisers between Lancôme Hydra Zen and Crème de la Mer. Every few days, I use Clarins One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser to scrub and brighten—the citrus fragrance is incredibly uplifting. When I’ve had a tough day and need some love, I use Mmerci Encore’s Awakening Organic Sugar Scrub. The scent is heavenly, like sweet mandarins. I love that it’s oil-based so you don’t need to moisturise after. I follow up with a face mask, usually from For Beloved One. I look for those with lots of vitamin C to brighten.
lANA SHEKHO
Media Manager, Aman Resorts
Many will be envious of her job at one of the world’s most luxurious resort chains. Lana takes her beauty rituals with her whenever she travels.
BEAUTY BASICS I can’t live without Mac Cosmetics’ Face and Body Foundation. Before I discovered this miracle, I would always go back and forth with foundations and would have two colours of the same foundation. I needed one for summer and one for winter as I tan very easily but my natural skin colour is still quite light. But this Face and Body Foundation offers an especially lightweight coverage that adjusts to your skin colour. Apart from that, Maybelline’s Magnum Cat Eyes Mascara, Lucas’ Papaw Ointment and Chanel’s Ligne Graphique in Black are some of my favourites. The Chanel eyeliner doesn’t budge even in this humidity!
HAIRCARE MANAGEMENT I’ve never dyed my hair and don’t really use products but I cannot live without my ghd hair straightener. They are the best ceramic straighteners on the market and last you ages. When it’s time for a cut, I pop in at NEXT at ION Orchard and look for Yvonne. She is brilliant at chopping and styling thick, curly hair like mine.
TIPS TO DESTRESS At the moment, I run twice a week for 30 minutes at a time. It’s a great way to de-stress and keeps me healthy. Home cooking is the best as you know exactly what you’re putting into your mouth. At work, I am a huge snacker so I try and combat that with healthier snacks. I always have a huge bag of almonds and 70 percent cocoa dark chocolate to boost my energy levels at 3pm. My favourite place to unwind is Amanusa in Bali. I’m a beach person and their private beach club is situated on Bali’s best beach stretch—pure bliss is going for a dip and exfoliating my legs with the sand. Leki at the Amanusa Spa
is incredible.
ASHA LANGDOWN
Marketing & External Relations Director for Southeast Asia & India, Bulgari
After 18 years at Bulgari, Asha claims that there is never a dull moment in this dynamic job, where she handles marketing and PR for all the brand’s platforms across Southeast Asia and India.
CULT CLASSICS I try not to go out of the house without lipstick. I’ve used Mac Cosmetics’ Russian Red for the longest time, and sometimes slick a little bit of Chanel Aqualumière Gloss over it. My skincare arsenal includes Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate, Philosophy’s Microdelivery Peel and an SK-II Facial Treatment Mask. I have pretty good skin so I’m quite happy to experiment and try different products. Advice to my younger self? Lather on the sunscreen from a young age. With the world being what it is and the ozone layer being shot to hell, I guess we can all do with more sunscreen.
BEAUTY MUSTS I’m extremely loyal to my hairstylist because to have your hairstyle go wrong is living with a mistake for at least five weeks before you can get it changed. I only go to David Hugo at Haji Lane. He understands hair like nobody else and knows that I like it fuss-free. I use a hairdryer probably four times a year. The other thing I never, ever want to change are my scents. I love Bulgari’s Eau Parfumée Au Thé Blanc and Omnia Coral. I’m spoilt because there’s such a wide array at Bulgari that I don’t have to go outside the brand to find what I like.
HEALTH JUNKIE I’m not into fads and trends. I’ll usually take a Greek yoghurt and throw some blueberries, strawberries and almonds in it for breakfast. On another day, my breakfast would be mee pok. I try and work a balance without being too fanatical about it. I’m quite the fitness junkie. I exercise all the time and do different things to keep it interesting. I run several times a week, practise Muay Thai and do anti-gravity Pilates at Upside Motion. When I crave the most luxurious spa treatments, it’s in India. The spas at the Taj and the Leela hotels are divine. They’ve got the most decadent, well thought-out rooms and treatments, and it goes right down to the lighting, music and the masseurs’ technique. They’ve got service down to a different level.
