Smita DeSouza, Yahoo Beauty Blogger

Reduce Acne With This Nightime Skincare Routine

Acne. It’s such a complex and complicated skin issue. There are so many reasons you could be suffering from acne. But the one big reason that had most of us reaching for spot treatments in 2020, was the fact that we were all wearing masks. And I don’t mean the sheet kind. Where I am, wearing a mask is still mandatory. It’s also hot and humid. So it’s basically the perfect recipe for white heads…

Last year I was introduced to Singapore skincare brand Biconi. Created by mother-daughter duo Blan and Wendee Lee, I received the Biconi Radiant Skin Starter Set that comprised the Radiant Skin Cleanser Bar and Glow Facial Serum. Given that the main ingredients in both the products are virgin coconut oil and Biconi Noni Enzyme, I was excited to try them both. (more…)

Imagine having to entertain a houseguest, oversee home renovations, renegotiate your rental contract all while working on a project with an impossible deadline, and then having to fly to Bombay for a funeral. Or as I call it October 2017. (more…)

Given that I have extremely dry skin, I usually feel the need to add a beauty oil into my skincare routine. I like the way oils make my skin feel – plump and nourished. I think of face oils as a booster to my usual serums and moisturisers. Naturally, I was excited to find out more about Young Living’s ART Skin Care system that fuses natural ingredients with essential oils. (more…)

City girls, listen up. Rising levels of pollution are now the second biggest cause of premature skin ageing after sun damage. That puts you at a risk of looking up to five times older than your rural counterparts. People who live in cities are exposed to tiny particles of pollution from industrial and vehicular exhaust, cigarettes, power plants, construction sites and ozone pollution on a daily…

When Riri added a red lipstick to her Fenty Beauty line, I was hardly surprised. She’s often been seen wearing a red lip and makes it look amazing and effortless. Like the rest of the products under her Fenty Beauty line, the Stunna Lip Paint Uncensored was created to suit women of all skin tones. And just like the rest of the Fenty Beauty products, it was massively hyped and launched to rave…

Singapore Fashion Week: Top beauty tips from NARS pro makeup artists

Want to look like a professional did your makeup? You’re going to want to read all the way till the end. This year, once again, I had the chance to go backstage at Singapore Fashion Week to pick up the best tips from NARS Global Makeup Artist and her team behind each look. Here’s what I learned. (more…)

The DrGL NanoPlus Facial that reveals your best skin

2: the number of minutes it took to get ready the day after the NanoPlus Facial at DrSpa, Dr Georgia Lee’s brand new spa at Tang Plaza. Mainly because all I had to do was fill in my brows and swipe on my lipstick. My skin looked so good, I decided to completely skip my foundation or BB cream. I love makeup. I love buying it, wearing it, writing about it, everything, really. But it’s nice to have…

5 reasons to add Vichy Mineral 89 Skin Fortifying Daily Booster to your skincare routine

A serum that is free of nasties, suitable for all skin types, lightweight yet intensely hydrating and lives up to its claims? Yes, please! The Vichy Mineral 89 Skin Fortifying Daily Booster ticks all the right boxes and works as well IRL as it claims to on the box. This is one little gem you definitely want to add to your skincare routine and here’s why. (more…)

Essential oils 101 with Cheryl Gan from Hysses

If you’ve always wanted to use essential oils in your home or office or add them to your skincare routine, but weren’t sure how, please keep reading. I had the opportunity to quiz Cheryl Gan, founder and managing director of Singaporean local brand Hysses (formerly known as Mt.Sapola and pronounced hi-sirs), purveyors of pure essential oils, natural skincare and natural aromatherapy products.…

Detox and brighten your skin with Philosophy’s Detoxifying Oxygen Peel

I am a big fan of the Philosophy at home peels. They are fuss-free, easy to use for noobs and skincare enthusiasts alike and get the job done quickly in the comfort of your bedroom. My first experience with peels under The Microdelivery range was with the Vitamin C Peptide peel that gently, chemically, exfoliates dead skin leaving you with a bright, even-toned complexion. In fact, I still use…

Swatches + First Impressions: NARS Powermatte Lip Pigment

NARS has finally launched a range of matte liquid lipsticks and you won’t be disappointed. The Powermatte Lip Pigments are everything you would expect from the brand: pigmented, lightweight, easy to apply and long-wearing in a range of colours to please everyone. Literally. As you will see the range has everything from dusty roses, blue reds to black. (more…)

De-stress your skin with Neal’s Yard Remedies Frankincense Serum

Ever noticed that you tend to break out just before an exam, that big presentation, job interview or first date? That’s stress. And it can literally wreck havoc with your skin. In fact, studies have shown that extreme stress can lead to accelerated ageing. While it’s impossible to give up your job and move to the mountains where you won’t have road rage or train breakdowns, angry bosses and…

These Kevin Murphy hair care products will transform your tresses

I may not have been able to completely master the art of French makeup or dressing, but there is one aspect where I am thoroughly French: my hair. Like most French women, I splurge on a good hair cut, which ensures I don’t need to spend time or money on styling or styling products. Instead, as French hair care diktats go, I try to leave it to air dry in an attempt to ensure it looks cool, undone,…

Marc Jacobs Dew Drops Coconut Gel Highlighter: The hype is real

I love glowing skin. Even before it was a trend and spawned a whole range of products to achieve that lit-from-within-look, I was sporting radiant skin. The fact that my first foundation was MAC Hyper Real packed with tiny pearlescent particles should give you an idea just how crazy I am about glowing skin. So it should be no surprise that I picked up the Marc Jacobs Dew Drops Coconut Gel…

The secret to chok chok glowing skin according to Park Shin Hye

Unless you’ve been on a digital detox for the last few years and unplugged all your computers, you will be somewhat familiar with Korean skincare and makeup trends. Soft, straight ulzzang eyebrows, aegyosal that make your eyes look they’re smiling and chok chok glowing skin are all Korean exports. BB and CC creams, essences, cushion compacts and snail mucus were all introduced to beauty junkies…

Let me introduce you to Mirko Buffini Firenze

What if I told you that the story of Mirko Buffini Firenze, luxury Tuscan parfum maison started with one man’s search to find his signature perfume? In his early 30s, Mirko Buffini received a special gift – a perfume – from a dear friend. Although he loved it, he felt there was something lacking and set out to find his ideal fragrance, one that would truly represent who he was. This olfactory…