By Harper’s Bazaar Singapore Team - published
Sulwhasoo released an eye serum in the famous Timetreasure range that is just about perfect for Singapore's humid weather. Features ingredients such as red pine, red ginseng and white ginseng to combat signs of aging and replenish the delicate eye area, whilst still being weightless and refreshing. Oh, did we mention that it comes with a 24K plated Golden Eye Care Massager?
Hermès dropped a brand new female fragrance thsi year and we were pleasantly surprised. Spicy, floral with a hint of woods in the base, it's quirky, playful and fiesty. Perfect for a vivacious young woman. It features notes of spicy ginger, a transparent tuberose and creamy sandalwood.
This palette is straight fire! The world couldn't get enough of warm eyeshadow looks this 2017 and no one delivered this better than Urban Decay. Adding to their iconic Naked line, Naked Heat has 12 buttery smooth, amber-hued eyeshadows in ranging from warm browns to fiery sienna shades. It comes with a double-ended eyeshadow brush too, so it houses everything you need.
Early in the year, Dior released their famous Diorskin Forever foundation in a gorgeous navy compact and we rejoiced. Compact and portable, the cushion allows you to touch up on-the-go and has a satin matte formula that blurs imperfections. It's a fail-safe!
Nars take on the liquid lipstick front of the beauty world was a complete home-run. From the ultra pigmented formula to the stiff and precise doe-foot applicator for a crisp lip application each time. Comes in 20 ultra wearable shades in a thin, lightweight formula that can last through a big bowl of salad drenched in oily dressing. That's a true lippie feat!
La Mer's miracle broth is infused with pigments to create a luxurious foundation. Gorgeous packaging aside, the weightless texture and satin finish creates a skin-like but perfected complexion that is to die for.
Needless to say, one of the biggest launches of 2017 is Fenty Beauty by badgalriri herself. She launched with a focus on base products and blinding highlighters. An impressive 40 shades of her Pro Filt'r foundation to choose from. Since then she has expanded her collection throughout 2017, adding eyeshadows and now lipsticks as well. You go, Rihanna!
An innovation that many didn't see coming in 2017. Who knew that there was another way we could refresh our second-day hair with dry shampoo. Jen Atkins introduced a foam method of application and we were mindblown. Apply it like a hair mousse to your grubby roots and it'll remove oil and product buildup as you massage it into your scalp. Plus, did we mention the heavenly scent?
We all know Genifique, the potent anti-aging potion that many have sworn by. This year, they launched a new version that caters to more sensitive skins, that might not be able to handle aggressive active ingredients but would like to hop on the anti-aging bandwagon. This sensitive version is packed with antioxidants and ferulic acid to brighten and protect the skin from natural aggressors.
It was momentous day indeed in 2017 when Chanel finally launched a brand new fragrance under the direction of Olivier Polge. Not a flanker, but a brand new pillar to the Chanel house. Gabrielle features not only a new and stunning bottle design but a departure of the Chanel we've grown to know. Heady, voluptuous and unabashedly feminine, Gabrielle conquered the fragrance scene.
2017 was stressful year for lots of us and your eyes are the first places where people notice signs of fatigue. Battle dark circles and dehydration lines from late nights and bad diets with this little gem that launched at the right time for us. A cream-gel texture that instantly hydrates with a cooling metal tip applicator to help depuff, it also features fermented yeast and arctic algae to lift the eye. Use it as a mask on days you are looking pretty rough, which for us is... right about now.
Marc Jacobs decided to reformulate and relaunch their eyeshadow palettes this year and we were shook! Just when we thought the formula couldn't get any better, it did. Ultra pigmented, yet still blendable, the Eye-conic palettes and perfect for both beginners and pros. The new colour selection is also to to die for with each palette housing a range of finishes from mattes to super metallic.
A huge brand that launched in Singapore this year is cult Japanese brand, THREE. Known for their holistic and minimalist approach towards makeup and skincare, they emphasize balance and the use of natural ingredients to enhance yourself. Not to mention, their packaging itself is already #goals, but the formulas inside is a perfect balance of natural and effective.
Kiehl's launched their Apothecary Preparations service this year and we are convinced that they have taken, over-the-counter skincare to the next level. If you have problems finding the right serum to address your specific skincare concern, it's time to book an appointment as Kiehl's will prepare your very own custom serum. Practical and ingenious, this will be a lifesaver for people who just want one product to tackle everything.
Affordable and highly raved about, Mamonde finally reached our sunny shores in 2017 as they launched in Sephora, Tangs and even opened their own flagship store in Takashimaya. Known for their lip tints, their makeup is pigmented and well-wroth the price tag. On top of that, their skincare range, housed in the most adorable packaging is nourishing and effective.
A major release by skincare MVPs, SkinCeuticals is their H.A. Intensifier. H.A. stands for hyaluronic acid, an ultra hydrating ingredient that replenishes the skin and is known for its plumping abilities. This bottle is packed with this stuff and helps plump up fine lines and wrinkles, whilst nourishing the skin deeply.
Gucci's first perfume release under the tutelage of Alessandro Michele was certainly a pleasant surprise. As the name suggests , this is a melange of florals from Chinese honeysuckle to heady tuberose. Ultra feminine and realistic as a garden in full bloom, this release feels like an homage to the designer's affinity for floral patterns.
This year, Clarins reformulated and re-released their famous double serum. They've decided to pack even more goodness to this amber-coloured bottle to create a complete anti-aging treatment. Combining over 20 powerful plant extracts with turmeric extract, this serum feeds the skin quite literally, like a green juice to boost your immunity.
Ending the last quarter of 2017 with a bang, thanks to this ultra luxurious release that set our hearts aflutter. La Prairie's Skin Caviar Absolute Filler is a moisturizer for people who are not joking around when it comes to skincare and anti-aging. This volume-enhancing cream restores youthful fullness to your complexion and builds volume from within using their signature caviar ingredient. Available in a larger dose here, this cream is not for the faint of heart.