[Press Trip] Here’s A Beauty Story All Women Need To Read. Especially If You’re 35 Years Old – Deborah Tan

When it comes to maintaining a radiant, ageless complexion, no one does it better than the Korean ladies. Deborah Tan visits home of beloved Korean skincare brand Sulwhasoo to find out just what is it that gives the Korean ladies their beautiful skin. 

Me with the beautiful and ageless Ms Jeon Ji-soo.

Korean beauty brand Sulwhasoo has a beauty fact that might just give you sleepless nights. According to its researchers, due to decreasing “yin” energy, a woman’s skin becomes dehydrated and starts to age faster once she turns 35 (cue horror music!). To counter this, the brand has launched a new product – Luminature Essential Finisher – this month. Inspired by the “mi-an”, a beauty lotion used by ancient Korean women as a last step to their skincare regime, Luminature Essential Finisher doesn’t just give your complexion a luminizing boost, it strengthens skin’s metabolism and helps seal in the effectiveness of all your other skincare products so they will work better.

This focus on traditional Korean medicinal wisdom extends to other products in the Sulwhasoo family. Inspired by the writings of a 17th century royal physician, many Sulwhasoo products contain herbs and botanicals that have long been used in traditional Korean medicine. Take the Korean ginseng, a plant renowned for its anti-aging powers, for example. The brand doesn’t just use the commercially more desirable root – it uses every part of the ginseng plant, from the root to the berry.

“We are the only brand to do that,” said Ms Jeon Ji-soo, Vice President of Sulwhasoo Marketing Division in my interview with her.

She went on to add, “In Korea, our definition of beauty is a clear, luminous complexion. This, we feel, is only possible if you achieve harmony between your mind, body and skin. Skincare isn’t just about treating the surface, it’s also about improving one’s overall health. At Sulwhasoo, we have this theory that women’s yin cycle changes every 7 years. With each cycle, she’ll need to tailor her lifestyle, diet, skincare regime and products to meet her body’s changing needs.”

While it’s easy to attribute the beauty of Korean celebrities to plastic surgery, we have to admit that surgery can only go so far when it comes to getting a naturally luminous, healthy complexion. Korean women – no matter their age – are known to take such good care of their skins, their skincare regime, at the very least, an 8-step affair.

“We believe that it’s not just us Korean women who want beautiful skin,” said Ms Jeon. “Asian women want it too and Sulwhasoo hopes to bring this attitude that beauty is a combination of harmony, health and positivity, to women all over the world.”

As Sulwhasoo celebrates its second anniversary in Singapore this September, we ask the brand to recommend 5 products that can help us get Korean women’s radiant, smooth, ageless skins.

Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum

1. First Care Activating Serum
It is recommended that you apply this serum WITHIN 3 SECONDS after cleansing your face. Formulated with Korean medicinal herbs, this serum replenishes essential moisture and nutrients in skin. It also promotes deeper penetration of your other skincare products. This product also has an aromatherapy benefit that will uplift your spirit and revitalize your energy levels.

 

Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Cream

2. Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Cream 
Formulated with the root, berry and water of a five-year-old Korean ginseng, this cream claims to help stimulate cell regeneration and restore a youthful-looking skin. Nano-sized ginseng capsules penetrate into the deepest layers of skin to heal and strengthen it inside and out.

 

Sulwhasoo Snowise EX Whitening Serum

3. Snowise EX Whitening Serum 
Promises to rejuvenate heat-exhausted skin, the science behind this line believes that exposure to heat reduces skin’s resilience and circulation, leading to dullness and an uneven skin tone.

 

Sulwhasoo Evenfair Perfecting Cushion

4. Evenfair Perfecting Cushion 
More than just a cosmetic product, this cushion foundation contains apricot seed herbal moisturizer to promote resilience and hydration. Flexible film-fixing polymer lets you apply only a thin layer of this makeup for flawlessly smooth skin.

 

Sulwhasoo Renodigm EX Dual Care Cream

5. Renodigm EX Dual Care Cream 
When we think of skin aging, we tend to blame factors like stress, pollution and UV ray exposure. However, Sulwhasoo has found that heat also leads to skin aging. Renodigm EX Dual Care Cream relieves internal heat in skin and prevent heat-aging in skin.

Material World was invited by Sulwhasoo to attend the launch of Luminature Essential Finisher in Seoul. All opinions are the author’s own. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SULWHASOO!

To mark its second anniversary in Singapore, Sulwhasoo will be offering fans these awesome promotions at its counters:

Essential Spa Set at $212 (worth over $260)
Includes First Care Activating Serum 60ml x 2, Overnight Vitalising Mask 30ml, Clarifying Mask 50ml.

Timetreasure Repair Set at $810 (worth over $1,110)
Includes Timetreasure Perfecting Water 125ml, Timetreasure Renovating Serum 50ml, Timetreasure Renovating Eye Cream 25ml, 5-pc Timetreasure Renovating Travel Kit, Herbal Soap 70g, Gentle Cleansing Oil 50ml, Gentle Cleansing Foam 50ml, Herblinic Restorative Ampoule 5ml, Sulwhasoo Travel Cosmetics Pouch.

These promotions will be on from September 18 – 30 2014, while stocks last.

 

WIN THIS AWESOME HAMPER NOW!

Win 1 hamper containing all five iconic Sulwhasoo products in full sizes!

We have ONE hamper containing all 5 products (full-sized!) mentioned in this article up for grabs! To enter this contest, simply follow the steps below:

1. LIKE Material World’s Facebook Page – only our fans can qualify for the prize. 

2. Answer this question in the Comments section below: “Name the TWO promotional sets Sulwhasoo fans can buy as part of its 2nd anniversary celebrations.” 

3. SHARE this post with your friends on Facebook and tag Material World’s Facebook Page in your post. Remember to set your post on PUBLIC so we can verify that this step has been completed. 

Once you are done, email us your details (name, age, NRIC, email add) to general@materialworld.com.sg. Contest ends 24 September 2014.

[Press Trip] Meet The Game Changer In Skincare From Sulwhasoo – Deborah Tan

This month, change up your skincare regime with this all-new beauty concept from Sulwhasoo, South Korea’s No. 1 luxury cosmetic brand. Deborah Tan explains the Luminature Essential Finisher below.

Exactly how many steps does your skincare regime need? Let us count the ways …

1. Makeup remover (Night)
2. Cleanser
3. Lotion
4. Essence
5. Serum
6. Treatment
7. Moisturizer
8. Eye cream
9. Sunscreen (Day)

Sulwhasoo Luminature Essential Finisher, $112.

That’s 8 steps depending on whether you’re doing this in the day (which you end by applying sunscreen) or at night (which you begin by removing your makeup). Some women use more than 1 serum, some use a pre-serum, and some use a serum on their eyes before they put on eye cream. The amount of money, time and care we invest in our skin is just …. wow.

So if you are ready to shower ever more care on your skin, read on. Because I’m going to talk about this all-new product from the land of beauty trends and crazes – South Korea.

The “Mi-an” Tradition
Although Sulwhasoo Luminature Essential Finisher represents a new product category in skincare, its inspiration comes from a beauty tradition steeped in history. Introduced more than 1,500 years ago, the “Mi-an” (“beautifying finish” in Korean) was a last step of the skincare regime followed by Korean women in ancient times. It was formulated during the Age of Three Empires and recorded in the Kyuhap-Chongseo (Encyclopedia of Women’s Life) during the Joseon Dynasty.

How Does Sulwhasoo Luminature Essential Finisher Work?
Similar to the “Mi-an”, the Luminature Essential Finisher is designed to be used as the final step in your skincare routine. It works by forming a natural protective barrier over the skin, locking in the efficacy of the skincare products from Steps 3 to 8 (see above).

How To Use
After you have put on your skincare products, dispense a pump full of the Luminature Essential Finisher into your palm. Gently warm the product by massaging it between your hands and then press them over your face.

Every bottle of Luminature Essential Finisher is packed with the concentrates of 5 roots of Red Ginseng and 110 cups of Green Tea. Red Ginseng encourages the regeneration of the skin while Green Tea purifies and boosts the effect of other ingredients.

Review
Do not expect an immediate miracle with Luminature Essential Finisher. As a product designed to lock in and enhance your existing skincare products, it goes without saying that the preceding products have to work well for you in the first place. Think of it as a vitamin supplement. If your existing diet sucks, popping a vitamin pill isn’t going to make you the healthiest person on Earth. So if you think you can get away with using crappy products or with not even using any products, you are setting yourself on the path of skincare disaster.

Obviously for “best possible results”, you are encouraged to use this with other Sulwhasoo products. However, to see if this really enhances my existing skincare products, I stuck to the ones I habitually use whenever I’m not testing other products.

The improvements weren’t obvious until …. I did a half-and-half with both sides of my faces. In the After pictures, I can see an improvement in texture, tone, smoothness and firmness. I particularly like how much smoother the skin at my forehead has become. There is LESS GREYNESS in the After images – the Luminature Esssential Finisher really shines on the radiance front.

Comparing Before & After (Overall and Forehead)

Photos taken without makeup and have not been touched up or Photoshopped.

After (Right Side of Face) and Before (Left Side of Face)

Photos taken without makeup and have not been touched up or Photoshopped.

 

Before (Right Side of Face) and After (Left Side of Face)

Photos taken without makeup and have not been touched up or Photoshopped.

Verdict
Overall, I have found that my skin is a lot firmer and rosier after adding Sulwhasoo Luminature Essential Finisher to my skincare routine. The Koreans believe that at the age of 35, women will begin to see a lot more drastic changes in their skin due to a change in hormonal levels. The Sulwhasoo Luminature Essential Finisher also has the second function of enhancing aging skin’s ability to react to skincare products. So if you feel that your skin has “stop reacting” to your skincare products, it could be that all it needs is a product to kickstart its energy level once again.

Sulwhasoo Luminature Essential Finisher retails at $112 at Sulwhasoo counters islandwide. Material World was invited to a press trip in Seoul, South Korea, for the media launch of Sulwhasoo Luminature Essential Finisher, and given a product to review. All opinions are the author’s own. This post was neither paid for nor advised by Sulwhasoo.

3 SULWHASOO LUMINATURE ESSENTIAL FINISHERS ARE UP FOR GRABS!

Material World has 3 Sulwhasoo Luminature Essential FInishers for our readers. To win one for yourself, simply follow the steps below:

1. LIKE Material World’s Facebook Page.

2. ANSWER this question in the Comments section below: “Name the 2 main ingredients in Sulwhasoo Luminature Essential Finisher.”

3. SHARE this post with your friends on Facebook and TAG “Material World” and “Sulwhasoo Singapore“. Remember to set your post on Public so we can verify that this step has been completed.

Once you’ve done all 3 steps, drop us an email with your details (Name, Age, NRIC No/Passport No, Email Add) to general@materialworld.com.sg . Closing date: 5 September, 2014, Friday.

A Parking Stamp Inspired This Beauty Product – Deborah Tan

To date, some 30 million units of Cushions have been sold worldwide. Nope, it’s not your couch cushions we’re talking about here. It’s a cushion-type base makeup created by South Korea’s top beauty company Amorepacific, and it’s taking over the world by storm. Let Deborah Tan take you through this beauty phenomenon below.

Who wants skin like a Korean celebrity????

The quest for a perfect complexion never stops. Actually, with this product by Amorepacific, maybe it will. The creation of the Cushion has heralded a new age for base makeup. For years, the scene was dominated by the liquid foundation and two-way cake. Then in came the BB cream and then the CC cream. While these base makeup products have evolved in terms of technology, ingredients and textures, many of them continued to fail when it came to addressing one pertinent beauty problem: How does one reapply her sunscreen on top of her impeccably applied base makeup?

You could pat on more BB cream but who would want a thick layer of makeup on her face at the end of the day? The Cushion solves this conundrum. With its watery texture and specially-designed puff, reapplication is easy and the result, always dewy and natural. The efficacy of the Cushion is evident in the global craze it has sparked off – more than 30 million units have been sold worldwide

Here’s an interesting tidbit about the Cushion: its technology was inspired by a parking stamp. Inspired by the crisp, even impression it makes on paper without the liquid running, the development team at Amorepacific created a special urethane foam that could hold the makeup in a liquid formula, without causing leaks and spills. Together with a three-layer puff, the team was able to create a product that allowed users to apply a combination of foundation, skincare and sunscreen without the creation of a thick, cakey layer on the face. Reapplication would deposit a fresh new layer of the product that is thin, natural and comfortable.

In Singapore, the brands under Amorepacific – namely Sulwhasoo, Laneige, Etude House and Innisfree – each have their own Cushion products. They are …

1. Sulwhasoo Evenfair Perfecting Cushion, $74
Great for: Those who want anti-ageing skincare benefits in their Cushion. This contains SPF 50+/PA+++, and has an exclusive herbal hydrator made up of 5 traditional Korean herbs. Apricot kernel oil helps improve skin’s elasticity and increase the production of collagen.

Available at Sulwhasoo counters at TANGS Orchard and Takashimaya Department Store.

2. Laneige BB Cushion, $59 
Great for: Those who have concerns about uneven skin tone. A powerful 6-in-1 BB Cushion with a Melacrusher Technology to target pigmentation, this also contains Laneige’s famous active mineral water, made by aligning water particles of clean, natural water rich in mineral collected from Jeju Island. Clinical studies show that skin temperature drops by 4 degrees Celsius after using Laneige BB Cushion.

Available at all Laneige boutiques such as ION Orchard (#B3-66A) and JCube (#01-04).

3. Innisfree Water Glow Cushion, $34
Great for: Those who want a moisture- and antioxidant-boost in their makeup. The key active ingredient is a 100% freshly squeezed green tea essence that leaves the face more supple, radiant and healthy. The water glow complex coats skin with a veil of moisture for an instantly dewy complexion.

Available at Takashimaya S.C (#B2-34) and Plaza Singapura (#01-63/64).

4. Etude House Precious Mineral Any Cushion, $32
Great for: Those looking for a great cushion to use while on the go and when you’re travelling. This 6-in-1 that protects skin from the sun, controls sebum, moisturizes, whitens, gives coverage and cools the skin.

Available at all Etude House boutiques such as 313@Somerset (#B2-30), Plaza Singapura (#B1-26) and VivoCity (#01-K3). 

Are you a cushion-user? If so, tell us which cushion foundation do you use and why you like it!

This post was neither paid for nor advised by Amorepacific or any of the brands mentioned. All opinions are the author’s own. Please read our advertising policy here.

 

WIN 1 OF 3 CUSHION FOUNDATION HAMPERS WORTH $199 EACH!

As a special treat to all Material World fans, these 4 Amorepacific brands are giving away 3 hampers containing 1 of each cushion foundation mentioned above! Each hamper contains a cushion foundation from Sulwhasoo, Laneige, Innisfree and Etude House.

 

Win a hamper containing cushion foundations from all 4 Amorepacific brands worth $199.

To win this, follow the steps below:

1. Answer in the Comments section below: “What inspired Amorepacific’s development team to create the Cushion?”

2. Share this post with your friends on Facebook and tag “Material World”. Remember to set your post on Public so we can verify that you have done this step. Only fans of Material World’s Facebook Page can enter this contest, please Like our Page here.

3. Email your details (Name, Gender, IC No., Email) to us at general@materialworld.com.sg by 8 August, 2014.

Note: Shades are given at random. No exchanges and no selection of shades will be allowed.

About The Author: Deborah Tan is a founder of Material World. After 10 years of working in magazines Cleo and Cosmopolitan Singapore, she is now a freelance writer/editor who works on this website full-time. She finds that she achieves the best result for foundation when she uses a sheet mask on her face for 5 minutes before putting on her makeup. Follow her on Twitter @DebTanTweets.

 

26 Things To Put On Your May Watchlist

Your favourite monthly round-up of things to eat, try, and buy is back!

A is for Asia Fashion Summit 2014

The region’s premier fashion and business conference is back! Into its fifth year, Asia Fashion Summit (AFS) 2014 provides expert insights on topics that are important to fashion industry professionals and retailers in Asia. Themed Asia’s Business Perspective this year, AFS 2014 participants can look forward to an interactive exchange on the dynamic Asian fashion business landscape by top names in the fashion world.

Please visitwww.asiafashionsummit.com for registration details.

B is for Biotherm Life Plankton Essence

A cosmetic water that promises to transform the skin in 8 days, Biotherm’s new Life Plankton Essence has the highest concentration of the brand’s iconic ingredient, Life Plankton, in every bottle. At 5%, Life Plankton has been shown to soothe symptoms of atopic dermatitis. In 8 days, you will see and feel skin that is … wait for it … UP TO 3 YEARS YOUNGER! Read our review here!

Biotherm Life Plankton Essence, $78, is available at all Biotherm counters islandwide such as TANGS Orchard.

C is for Cooking Classes with My Little Spanish Place

Love Spanish food? Then don’t miss this chance to learn from the masters! Chefs Maria Sevillano and Edward Esmero of My Little Spanish Place will be conducting a cooking class at ToTT on 25 May, 2014, 2pm. This hour-long class will teach you how to make meatballs and Spanish mussels in spicy sauce. For more information, go to http://content.tottstore.com/classes

MATERIAL WORLD HAS 8 PAIRS OF TICKETS, WORTH OVER $600, TO THIS COOKING CLASS TO GIVE AWAY. 

To win a pair, simply follow these steps:

1. In the Comments section, answer this question: “Which restaurant are the chefs from?”

2. Share this post and tag the friend you’ll be bringing. Tag “Material World” too.

3. Email your details (name, NRIC, age and email address) to general@materialworld.com.sg by 15 May 2014.  

This contest is only open to fans of Material World, so please like our page here.

D is for Dolce

Dolce & Gabbana’s perfumes tend to be complex, heady affairs, which is why it’s surprising that they’ve pared it down so much for Dolce, their latest fragrance. It is a fresh, feminine mix of white flowers that leaves a trail of light woods and earthy tones. The dry-down is musky, with hints of sandalwood. As it is not too overpowering, it’s a great scent of everyday use.

Dolce & Gabbana Dolce retails from $99 and is available at all major department stores and perfumeries.

E is for Epilator

Hair removal can be messy and painful, but not if you use Panasonic’s 6-in-1 Wet/Dry Epilator. It comes with two hair removal discs to pull your hair out quickly from the root, leaving you with smooth, caressable skin. Bonus: it comes with an LED light to illuminates your skin so it’s easierto spot stray hairs.

Panasonic 6-in-1 Wet/Dry Epilator ES-ED90 retails for $169 and is available at Best Denki, selected Courts and Harvey Norman outlets, Isetan Scotts, OG, Takashimaya DS., Tangs Orchard and other authorised Panasonic dealers

F is for Foodpanda

If you’ve yet to try this nifty food delivery service, Mother’s Day is a great time to get started! Available online at www.foodpanda.sg or via their mobile app, take your pick from restaurants like Napolizz, Yum Cha, and Indian Curry House and enjoy piping hot gourmet nosh in the comfort of your own home.

G is for Givenchy Prisme Libre

One Prisme Libre is sold every 2 seconds worldwide! This bestselling loose powder has a new texture where pigments are more lightweight, thanks to an atomisation technology, which allows it to glide evenly onto skin for an ultra-natural effect with a luminous yet matte finish. Also, check out the new Poudre Premiere, a loose powder like Prisme Libre but in a universal shade that will give any skin tone a radiant finish.

Both Prisme Libre and Poudre Premiere retail at $86 each and are available at Givenchy counters at Robinsons Orchard, Isetan Scotts and Sephora ION.

H is for Hair Loss

Hair loss in women is more common than you think, and can be attributed to factors such as hormonal disorders, an overly strict diet, stress, and a lot more. If you’re suffering from hair loss, you need a specialised haircare regime to deal with the problem. In addition to using a shampoo for hair loss, try the Apivita Propoline Hair Loss Treatment For Women. It has lupin proteins, vitamins and laurel to encourage hair growth and strengthen your hair, as well as antioxidants to guard your hair follicles against premature ageing.

Apivita Propoline Hair Loss Treatment For Women is available at all Apivita stores.

I is for Indocafe

Your mum has always been there for you, through thick and thin. Show her how much you appreciate her love and support by treating her to a Mother’s Day meal at Indocafe. Some of the dishes she’ll enjoy on this special set menu include the addictive Keluak Money Bag, a deep-fried dumpling stuffed with minced pork and buah keluak, as well as the Otak Pangang, which is cod blended with prawn, and chargrilled to smoky perfection.

The Indocafe Mother’s Day Set Menu is priced from $328 (for four). Indocafe is at 35 Scotts Road. Tel: 6733 2656.  

J is for Jabra’s Rox Wireless

If you feel out of sorts when you don’t have your music player and earphones with you while you’re out and about, these in-ear stereo wireless earphones are just what you’re looking for. The winner of Red Dot: Product Design 2014 award for excellence, Jabra Rox Wireless is modelled after the professional in-ear monitors used by musicians when they perform on stage. It features Dolby Digital Plus sound enhancement, bringing full-spectrum sound and maximum bass performance for your listening pleasure. For more information and its complete features, click here.

Jabra Rox Wireless retails at $168 and is available at Apple premium resellers, Epicentre, Gadget World, Infinite, iStudio, Nubox, Tech@Vogue, selected Challenger stores and other authorised Jabra resellers.

K is for King of Fruit

Durian fans, rejoice! Goodwood Park Hotel’s annual Durian Fiesta 2014 returns, and this year’s highlights include a decadent Durian Gula Melaka Roll, as well as delicate pastries such as Mini Durian Charlotte – a “sandwich” made with Boudoir biscuits. From May 31 to July 13, you can also enjoy a sumptuous durian buffet for lunch and dinner. Yummy!

The Durian Fiesta promotion is available daily from now till July 13, 2014 at Goodwood Park Hotel.

L is for Little Voice

Fans of musicals, you wouldn’t want to miss Pangdemonium’s latest production, “The Rise & Fall of Little Voice”. It follows the tumultuous journey of a shy girl named LV (Mina Kaye) – short for Little Voice. After her father passed away when she was little, her mother Mari (Denise Tan) loses herself to alcohol and becomes detached. With no one to turn to, LV seeks comfort in listening to her dad’s old records, doing pitch-perfect impersonations of divas like Edith Piaf and Judy Garland. When Mari starts seeing sleazy “talent scout” Ray Ray (Adrian Pang), LV’s life takes a dramatic turn. Read our interview with Denise Tan here.

The Rise & Fall of Little Voice opens May 2 and runs through May 18, at Drama Centre Theatre. Tickets, from $30, are available at Sistic.

M is for Mummy Dearest

Don’t forget to shower your mum with extra tender loving care this Mother’s Day! If you’re a mum, check out our Material Moms section specially dedicated to you. Containing articles written by our pool of mummy contributors, this section is chockfull of useful parenting tips and information for you and your precious ones. Happy Mother’s Day! 🙂

N is for Nail Stickers

Decorate your nails with these Mika for Shu nail stickers! A collaboration between Japanese photographer/film director Mika Ninagawa and Shu Uemura, this limited edition series also includes the brand’s legendary cleansing oils, UV under base, a pressed powder compact, eye shadow duos, two shades of tint-in gelato and false eyelashes.

Available at all Shu Uemura counters islandwide such as TANGS Orchard and Robinsons Orchard.

O is for Omakase Sets at Sushi Kou

If you work around the Tanjong Pagar area, you need to check out this year-old Japanese restaurant located at Orchid Hotel. These value-for-money set meals are available for $50, $80, and $100 (minimum order of two sets), and are available for lunch and dinner. During our media tasting, the sashimi we sampled was some of the freshest and most flavourful we’ve ever had outside of Japan. At Sushi Kou, the fish are flown in twice a week from a few trusted suppliers in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Hokkaido. With Omakase sets, you never really know what’s on the menu but with Tokyo-native Chef-Owner Koda Naokatsu at the helm, you’ll know your belly is in for a good time.

Sushi Kou is located at 1 Tras Link, #01-16 Orchid Hotel, Tel: 6444 8433

P is for Pop-up Restaurant

STORIES is a first-of-its-kind dining concept that celebrates iconic events and history of Singapore. This pop-up restaurant takes diners on a journey of food prepared by leading Singapore-based chefs who complement your meal with interesting historical and cultural anecdotes about our little island. For more information, click here.

Q 

R is for Remarkably Soft Hair

For a hair-changing experience, be sure to check out Shiseido Professional’s new THC Salon Solution Treatment. After years of extensive research, Shiseido Professional has found that coarse, damaged hair is the result of the buildup of calcium ion – which can be found in tap water. With this breakthrough discovery, they designed a five-step treatment to remove the accumulated calcium ions and prevent reabsorption, leaving you with a head of healthy, shiny locks. Founder Lili was invited to experience the treatment: “The results are truly amazing. After each step, I could feel the difference in my hair texture. The best thing is, my hair remained soft and bouncy for several weeks after the treatment! I kid you not! It is hairapeutic, indeed.”

The THC Salon Solution Treatment is an in-salon treatment. For salon listings, please call 6739 8639.

S is for Spot Eraser

 

Wish you could do something to the dark spots on your skin? Try the new Sulwhasoo Snowise EX Whitening Spot Serum! The result of ginseng cosmetics research since 1966, this spot serum not only targets visible dark spots but also improves the condition of the skin surrounding them and prevents the formation and spreading of dark spots.

Sulwhasoo Snowise EX Whitening Spot Serum retails at $208 (35ml) and is available at Tangs Orchard, Tangs VivoCity, Takashimaya Department Store and Robinsons Orchard.

T is for ToTT Mother’s Day Sale

You’ve got till May 13 to grab some awesome deals from ToTT! With great deals both online and instore, this is the perfect time to buy something for Mum. With up to 50% discount off selected items, even those not into cooking will be tempted. Visit ToTT’s online store at www.tottstore.com or drop by the store at 896 Dunearn Road.

U is for

V is for Vitamins For Your Skin

We are willing to bet our last dollar that you’ll fall in love with this oil-free night cream from Origins! Origins High-Potency Night-A-Mins is bursting with skin-fortifying antioxidants that renew and rejuvenate your skin while you’re asleep. For those who’ve always have to toss and turn before they fall asleep, this cream has been shown to immediately reduce feelings of tension and aid users in getting a more restful, tranquil night’s sleep. You’ll love its deliciously relaxing scent too!

Origins High-Potency Night-A-Mins, $55, is now available at all Origins counters islandwide.

W is for Westgate

Who says the East is the only happening part of Singapore? Westgate, which is located in the drastically transformed Jurong East, now boasts brands such as Kate Spade Saturday, Nara Thai Cuisine, and Tim Ho Wan.

X is for

Y is for Yuzucha Beer

Local beer brewer Archipelago Brewery has launched their seasonal limited edition brew, Yuzucha Beer. Collaborating with Gryphon Tea Company, this tea-infused beer is a refreshing blend of low hop flavours and sweet citrusy Yuzu notes. Vanessa tried this on a hot day and is pleased to report it’s indeed a refreshing thirst-quencher!

Z is for Zaniest Selfie Challenge, Ever

Our selfie-loving culture has taken a new level of crazy. Manchester United’s Rio Ferdinand and Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero will battling it out on the streets of Singapore in a selfie challenge using the new Samsung Galaxy S5 LTE. Yeah, for real. As part of SingTel Game On!, the two rivals will have to complete certain Singaporean activities – eat durians, perhaps? – then capture selfies and share them on Twitter. Have some ideas on the type of activities they can do? Tweet your suggestions and include the hashtag #SGGameOn. You’ll stand a chance to win passes to an exclusive dinner with the footballers!

SingTel Game On!, organised by SingTel and Samsung, will be taking place on May 15 & 16. Visit www.singtel.com/gameon for more information.

Beauty Review: Sulwhasoo Evenfair Perfecting Cushion – Vanessa Tai

Korean beauty brand Sulwhasoo is perhaps best known for their expertise in herbal skincare, so how does their makeup products stack up?

When it comes to base makeup, I’ve always been more of a BB cream kind of girl. I’m not used to the viscous texture of some liquid foundations, and please don’t even get me started on powders (Hint: my blending technique could use with a lot of improvement). I was thus pleasantly surprised to discover that the Sulwhasoo Evenfair Perfecting Cushion was so similar to one of my all-time favourite BB creams – Laneige Snow BB Soothing Cushion. Like the Laneige product, this Sulwhasoo foundation comes with a soft spongey cushion – just press gently into the applicator, and the foundation seeps out easily into the cushion.

Sulwhasoo Evenfair Perfecting Cushion

The claim: 

The hallmark of Sulwhasoo makeup products is the “water colour method”, where colours and pigments are diffused in water, instead of oil. This ensures the emulsion smoothes over your skin evenly, without any patchiness. In addition, the cushion is made using Film Polymer Technology, which adheres more easily to your skin compared to ordinary polymer. This prevents the product from becoming powdery or cracked upon application. In fact, based on an independent trial, the Evenfair Perfecting Cushion maintained colour tenacity for over 12 hours.

My thoughts:

To illustrate the efficacy of this product, allow me to share with you this short anecdote. Recently, I had on a single application of the Evenfair Perfecting Cushion, which I applied in the morning. I didn’t even touch up my makeup at all the entire day. That evening, when I got to boot camp, Deborah did a double take when she saw me.

“Do you have foundation on?”

“Yeah, I’m trying on the new Sulwhasoo foundation.”

Her eyes widened, “Your skin looks damn good! I mean it, it looks like satin!”

Yep, that’s a true story. In fact, Deborah wasn’t the only one who complimented me on my complexion during my two weeks of reviewing the foundation. Several of my friends also commented on the radiance of my complexion, and one friend even said, “Your skin looks like babies’ skin!”

What I like best about the Evenfair Perfecting Cushion is how it blends beautifully into my skin, and smoothes over my uneven skin tone. It brightened up my complexion, and made makeup application much easier. One point to note though, the coverage is not very high. If you’re looking for a foundation that also helps conceal your blemishes, this probably won’t cut it. But if you’re looking for a lightweight everyday foundation that brightens your complexion, I’ll definitely recommend this.

This post is in no way paid for or advised by Sulwhasoo. The writer was given a set of the Sulwhasoo Evenfair Perfecting Cushion for review purposes. You may read our advertising policy here. Sulwhasoo Evenfair Perfecting Cushion comes in four shades, and is available (from 7 February 2014 onwards) for $74 at TANGS Orchard & VivoCity, Takashimaya Departmental Store, and Robinsons Orchard. 

About The Author: Vanessa Tai is a founder of Material World who has previously worked on magazines Simply Her and Cosmopolitan Singapore. Now a freelance writer and a full-time contributor to this website, the 26-year-old dreams of attending every single major music festival before she turns 30. Follow her on Twitter @VannTaiTweets.

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[Material World x Sulwhasoo] Best Running Event, Found! – Tan Lili

I was almost certain I would miss this year’s Jurong Lake Run. A flu bug appeared out of nowhere and struck me two days before the running event, leaving me a sniffling, coughing wreck. In fact, just the night before, I was half-contemplating giving the run a miss. I mean, as much as I love to revel in that yes-I-have-made-it moment when I cross the finish line, I wouldn’t want to put my health – and my life! – at risk.

Needless to say, I was bummed. I had been looking forward to the race, especially since it’d be my first Jurong Lake Run.

However, I must have successfully willed the damned bug away because, as sudden as it had appeared, it more or less abated by the morning of the run! I met up with my boyfriend and my pal –my usual two running-event companions – at the ungodly hour of 4.30am, eager to get to the front of the starting line (the flag-off for the run was 7am).

I was still self-monitoring, of course. I tend to get dehydrated easily when I’m out in the sun for a long period of time, which would lead to a head-splitting migraine. Since I’d be running for around 1.5 hours, I made sure to stay well hydrated by drinking sufficient water before the race.      

Another thing I’m not particularly fond of when it comes to morning runs: the unbearable, blistering heat. Apart from the fact that it translates to me perspiring profusely, heat also causes something else I learned recently: it accelerates ageing.

Heat And Skin Ageing
Based on a ten-year study by Korean skincare brand Sulwhasoo and researchers at Seoul National University, skin that’s exposed to the sun for just 15 minutes can result in your skin temperature to rise from the normal 31°C to up to 43°C! The rise in skin temperature is not the only cause for concern; the research also found that when skin temperature exceeds 37°C, the number of blood vessels increase as collagen and other elastic fibres are destroyed. In other words, heat is one of the primary causes of skin ageing.

The discovery led Sulwhasoo and the research team at Seoul National University to develop Thermal Protection Factor (TPF), which not only protects your skin from UV and infrared rays, but also helps keep your skin temperature 5°C lower than your body temperature. This first-ever heat protect technology can be found in Sulwhasoo’s new anti-ageing day cream, Renodigm EX Dual Care Cream.

Not surprisingly, the sun was unforgiving yesterday morning. Knowing that I’d be running outdoors for at least a couple of hours, I didn’t want to take any chances. Before the run, I applied Sulwhasoo Renodigm EX Dual Care Cream liberally over my face – even before the sun was up!

Applying the Sulwhasoo Renodigm EX Dual Care Cream even before the sun was up!

Surprise, Surprise
Time: 7.00am. And so the run began. My boyfriend, a mad-fast runner, took off sprinting the second the flag was waved. My buddy and I started slow and steady, as we always did in our past runs. Because I wasn’t 100-percent well, I made sure not to overexert myself. What with the overbearing heat (good thing I applied Renodigm EX Dual Care Cream!), we stopped several times to walk – and even took a picture of the beautiful Jurong Lake!

When my friend and I were nearing the finish line, I was shocked to see the timing on the board – despite resting several times throughout the run, it was actually my best timing yet! Fueled by what we saw, my friend and I picked up our pace and powered through the last 100m before we finally crossed the finish line.

See You At Jurong Lake Run 2014!
After a big run, my friends and I would be on a mission … to stuff ourselves with glorious food. But before that, we desperately needed to get out of our sweat-soaked attire. The heat was still pretty strong, so after cleansing my face, I applied another thin layer of Renodigm EX Dual Care Cream.

Yep, I wasn’t taking any chances.

Going by this year’s Jurong Lake Run, I’ll definitely be back next year. I enjoyed the scenic route, and that the terrain was relatively flat throughout with zero bottlenecks. Plus, unlike the bigger, more popular running events, this one gives off a refreshing no-frills vibe. Definitely my favourite running event so far this year!

Three happy campers, post-run!

My Thoughts On Sulwhasoo Renodigm EX Dual Care Cream
Renodigm EX Dual Care Cream is formulated with three traditional Korean ingredients – red ginseng, which is rich in antioxidants to block UV rays; winter cypress polysaccharide, to reduce irritation caused by heat; and prunus mume fruit, to reduce body heat. These three active ingredients work in synergy to help cool your skin temperature, protecting your skin from external heat.

Despite its slightly rich texture, it is easily absorbed by the skin – on days when I go out, I could put on my makeup immediately after applying Renodigm EX Dual Care Cream. Designed to be used as the final step in your skincare regime, Renodigm EX Dual Care Cream is a moisturiser and a sun/heat-protector in one. However, because of my super-dry skin, I have to apply a very thin layer of moisturiser before this so my skin feels sufficiently hydrated.

I must say, it seems to work well to protect my skin from the heat. When I looked into the mirror after the run, I was pleasantly surprised to see that my skin wasn’t spotted with red blotches like it usually would after an intense workout. While it’s too soon to tell its anti-ageing effects, Renodigm EX Dual Care Cream was certainly made for our hot and humid weather.

Sulwhasoo Renodigm EX Dual Care Cream, $180 for 50ml, is available exclusively at TANGS Beauty, TANGS Orchard and TANGS VivoCity.

Material World worked with Sulwhasoo to review its product. All reviews are the author’s own and were not vetted by the client. You may read our advertising policy here.  

About The Author: A founder of Material World, Tan Lili has previously worked in magazines The Singapore Women’s Weekly and Cosmopolitan Singapore, as well as herworld.com (now herworldplus.com, the online counterpart of Her World). She is now a freelance writer who works on this website full-time. Lili hopes to travel the world, work with wild animals, and discover more awesome Twilight fan-fiction. Follow her on Twitter @TanLiliTweets. 

We’re Giving Away One Sulwhasoo Renodigm EX Dual Care Cream, Worth $180!

To win one, simply follow the steps below:
1. In the Comment section, answer this question: “List the three key active ingredients in Renodigm EX Dual Care Cream.”

2. Share this review on Facebook with your friends. Remember to tag Material World’s Facebook on your post.

3. Remember to Like our Facebook Page. Only Material World’s followers qualify for this contest.

4. Private message us your details – name, age, gender, NRIC, and email address.

Contest ends July 12, Friday, 2013.

Get Your K-Beauty Fix At VivoCity This Weekend!

Looking for something fun and exciting to do this weekend that doesn’t involve the outdoors (because who knows when the next haze or hailstorm hits!)? Head on down to the VivoCity atrium and get your beauty fix at the Laneige and Sulwhasoo roadshows!

At the Sulwhasoo roadshow, experience and learn more about the world’s first skincare with Thermal Protection Factor (TPF). Unlike SPF, which protects your skin from UV rays, TPF guards against heat. Why heat? Studies have shown it accelerates ageing, causing visible signs of ageing like fine lines, wrinkles and dehydrated skin. And, here’s the shocker: It takes just 15 minutes of being in the open for your skin temperature to rise from the normal 31°C to 41°C – 43°C!

Help is here in the form of Sulwhasoo Renodigm EX Dual Care Cream. Besides containing traditional herbal plants to shield your skin against heat, it also has SPF 30 PA++ to block out harmful UV rays. At the Sulwhasoo workshop, you can find out more about this anti-ageing day cream, as well as the different Sulwhasoo skincare products that make up the perfect skincare regime. Psst … one of the products is made with an entire ginseng!

After the talk, you get to create your very own ice cream at the one-hour hands-on ice cream workshop with the good people of Scoopy’s & Cream. Debs and I learned some really cool tricks, and we had such  an awesome time making apricot-flavoured ice cream (which was edible and, in fact, super yummy, thank you very much)!

Separating the egg yolk from the white is truly as difficult as people say!

No fancy ice cream machines were used to create this ice cream! The secret? Attend the workshop to find out!

Want to attend this workshop? There are still available slots tomorrow!
Date: June 30, 2013
Time: 11am-1pm OR 3pm-5pm
Fee*: (DBS Cardmembers) $80/person OR $120/2 people
(Non-DBS Cardmembers) $100/person
To register, call 6376 9122
*Redeemable against Sulwhasoo products

EXCLUSIVE TO MATERIAL WORLD READERS!
Flash this picture to any Sulwhasoo Beauty Advisor and claim a Sulwhasoo Renodigm EX Dual Care Cream sample! Promotion ends June 30, 2013, while stocks last.

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