Plagued by frizzy hair, oily skin, and other beauty woes? Listen in as we reveal our top pampering spots, favourite skincare products, and tips on how to look good in this heat and humidity
Living in Singapore does comes with serious perks: great grub, buzzing party scene, and it’s just a few hours away from Asia’s top vacation spots. That said, this silver lining has its downsides too: the most concerning of all (for us, at least) is the myriad of beauty woes – frizzy hair, oily skin, UV damage…and oh the relentless sweating! We don’t claim to be beauty experts, but we do have plenty o’ tips and tricks to share. So consider this your beauty survival guide: from must-have skincare and makeup products to our favourite spas, hair salons and nail parlours in Singapore.
Chris Edwards, Founder of Honeycombers
Chris Edwards, Founder of HoneycombersHer beauty concern: Oily hair (namely the fringe!)
“Having bangs is not easy in Singapore’s 100% humidity. Even when the rest of my hair behaves, the humidity causes my fringe to clump together – not a good look. Then, I was introduced to the wonder product of dry shampoo. I have tried lots of different brands, but my absolute favourite is Percy and Reed’s No Fuss Fabulousness Dry Shampoo – a total lifesaver!”
Crystal Lee, Digital Lead
Her beauty concern: Dry hands and cracked cuticles
“Frequent hand washing and the office’s air-conditioning dehydrates my hands. That’s why I make sure I have Aesop’s Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm at all times to give my overworked hands a moisture boost. Plus, the citrusy-woody scent (Mandarin Rind, Rosemary Leaf and Cedarwood Atlas) helps me relax on stressful days and perks me up post-lunch.”
Selina Altomonte, HoneyKids Editor
Selina Altomonte, Her beauty concern: Out-of-control hair
“The day I landed in Singapore, my hair exploded and had a mind of its own. One day, I’ll look into a keratin treatment. But for now, the only thing that can tame my frizzy hair is Moroccanoil – just a couple of drops applied to damp hair after a morning shower. It’s an indulgence, but without it, I’d be straying into serious frazzled mum territory.”
Kevin Ho, Acting Editor
His beauty concern: Helmet hair
“While others might struggle with taming their curly hair, I shamelessly take pride in mine. That said, the horrendous humidity here is a total downer, turning my wavy mop into a helmet-y flop. To prevent this, I always add a few drops of water to Kevin Murphy Free.hold Styling Crème during styling – it prevents my hairdo from stiffening up from the elements. I then follow through with a quick blow-dry to give it a more loose, natural look.”
Cherylene Chan, Honeybrides Editor
Cherylene Chan, Honeybrides EditorHer beauty concern: Melting makeup
“Singapore’s scorching heat often leaves me a sweaty mess five minutes after stepping out the door, and trying to keep foundation from sliding off my face is a losing battle. On days when I need to look polished and put-together, I smooth on Make Up Forever Shine Control Primer. It’s lightweight and leaves a velvety smooth base for coverage, and my foundation stays put well into the evening.”
Skye Marsden, Stylist
Her beauty concern: Damaged hair and weak nails
“Being a blonde in Singapore isn’t easy! Sun damage (and the hard water) makes my hair dry and lifeless. I swear by Frederic Fekkai products, especially the Intensive Fortifying Masque. It’s not cheap, but the results are really worth it! On top of that, my hairstylist Jessi Timm from The Parlour always uses Olaplex (an amazing protective treatment) when she colours my hair.
My nails are forever breaking, so every two to three weeks, I treat myself to a mani pedi at Nail Clinique in Novena Square. They always do such a thorough job and the price is reasonable too.”
Sally Shoult, Creative Services Editor
Sally Shoult, Creative Services EditorHer beauty concern: Frizzy hair
“I’m so glad I made the move from the UK to Singapore, but I wish the same could be said for my hair! It’s thick, frizzy, wavy, and no amount of blow-drying can save it from the humidity. Living Proof No Frizz Shampoo and conditioner are total lifesavers. I still have to straighten my hair after washing, but it definitely helps combat the frizz and keeps me looking sleeker for longer.”
Shairah Thoufeekh, Senior Lifestyle Writer
Her beauty concern: Acne and oily skin
“I have a love-hate relationship with my skin: some days, I wake up feeling #flawless and other times, my complexion simply refuses to play nice (zits, blackheads, clogged pores – take your pick). Certain tried-and-tested products do help in my never-ending battle against bad skin: Thursday Plantation Tea Tree Face Wash and my trusty Clarisonic Mia to combat breakouts. Oh, and not forgetting my all-time favourite Urban Decay De-Slick Oil-Control Makeup Setting Spray. It’s an absolute makeup must-have in the humidity horror show that is Singapore.
Nafeesa Saini, Lifestyle Writer
Her beauty concern: Enlarged pores and dull skin
“My skin has its occasional good days but for most of them, it tends to look dull. I also have large pores, which no amount of good skincare seems to cure. To rejuvenate my skin and refine my enlarged pores, I head to Dr Yvonne Goh for the laser toning treatment. This non-invasive procedure lets me return to my regular routine afterwards – I frequently pop in during lunchtime. It plumps, smooths and clarifies my skin and promotes sub-dermal collagen production so my skin texture and tone improves even long after my appointment. Bonus: Regular treatments can even help to heal surface flaws like pigmentation, fine lines and wrinkes, or acne. Oh and did I mention it’s safe for all skin types?”
Tracy Tristam, HoneyKids Lifestyle Writer
Tracy Tristam, Her beauty concern: Old, wrinkly skin
“Singapore’s sunny skies may be lovely to look at, but they wreak havoc on my skin and dry it out like an old prune. Regular anti-aging facials are a must: my faves are the Rose Crystal facial at Capella’s Auriga Spa and Skin Inc’s Oxy Miracle Infusion facial (a quickie 45-minute treatment squeezed in between school runs). Enormous sunglasses, huge dollops of SK-II Signature Melting Rich Cream for daytime use, and Skin Inc’s Pure Deep Sea Hydrating Mask at night also help. Next stop? Botox.
Hot tip: always make sure you have a pretty pedicure. If people are looking at your toes, they may not notice your wrinkly face.”
Zakaria Muhammed, Editorial Assistant
His beauty concern: Ensuring his brows are on fleek
“A full face of makeup (foundation, contouring, the works…) in Singapore’s humidity? Forget about it. But ignoring my brows is a BIG beauty no-no for me. That’s why I love Colour My Brows Mascara from Etude House – it’s so handy for filling my brows and making sure they’re always on fleek.”
Melanie Bonnet, Account Manager
Melanie Bonnet, Account ManagerHer beauty concern: Dull and fragile hair
“Because I have to wash my hair so often (thanks to Singapore’s humidity), my hair has quickly lost its shine and strength. But I’ve found a miracle product: Ayelli Argan Oil. 100% organic and eco-friendly, this Argan oil is very versatile – it’s great for both hair and skin. I mix a little bit of it in my conditioner and I also use it to moisturise my body every night. $68 may be a bit pricey, but it’s a great beauty investment that goes a long way.”
Dinesh Ajith, Lifestyle Writer
His beauty concern: Sun protection
“Not many people realise how important it is to protect yourself from the sun, even if you’re not at the beach. Most sunscreens are pretty greasy, but I definitely recommend Kiehl’s Facial Fuel Moisturizer with SPF 15 – it does a fine job of hydrating and protecting my face without making an oily mess.”
