This Month In Beauty: Dior Beauty Upgrades Its Iconic Rouge Dior Lipstick
The 4-1-1 in the beauty world right now
By Keng Yang Shuen,
It's only the early days of January, yet there's a plethora of exciting beauty releases, notably the newly revamped Rouge Dior collection from the French giant Dior. This collection showcases fresh packaging, an enhanced formula and an extended colour range. For fans of limited-edition packaging, brands are also beginning to unveil special Lunar New Year editions. More details can be found below.
FYI, Dior's Rouge Dior lipstick was the very first makeup product created by the house back in 1953. This iconic product still resonates after more than 70 years, and this year, it has undergone a revitalization. Under the guidance of Peter Philips, Creative and Image Director for Dior Makeup, the new Rouge Dior range now boasts what the brand calls a "clean formula." It has been infused with a distinctive floral extract of red peony, a blend of floral active ingredients, and moisturizing shea butter to ensure optimal comfort and outstanding performance (reportedly providing up to 24-hour comfort and 12-hour true colour wear).
The Dior Rouge range ($66 each) has also been expanded, featuring a total of 35 shades, including more nudes, brownish reds, corals, and brick reds, available in both satin and velvet finishes – all of which are refillable. The case has also been revamped, now sporting a slimmer and more elegant design, equipped with a new twisting mechanism that transforms closing the case into a sensorial event.
Available now at all Dior Beauty boutiques, counters and online store
For those who dig Chanel's popular Chance perfume, now you can enhance the olfactory experience with a new limited-edition set of three hand creams delicately infused with the floral notes of three fragrances from that family: the original Chance, Chance Eau Fraiche and Chance Eau Tendre. The lively and effervescent Chance Eau Fraiche showcases heightened citron accents that brighten its jasmine core, leading to a gradual settling of an elegant and vibrant woody note on the skin. In Chance Eau Tendre, on the other hand, the key player is jasmine, which gently intertwines with a soft musk cloud, complemented by a subtly fruity grapefruit-quince accord that adds a touch of tartness.
Lastly, the OG Chance imparts a floral-spicy aroma on the skin, blending pink peppercorn, jasmine, and amber patchouli notes. This trio of hand creams (sold as a set of three 20ml tubes, $122 for the set) comes in conveniently travel-sized tubes that easily fit into any bag, offering a novel way to layer fragrances throughout the day.
Available from Jan 5 at all Chanel Fragrance and Beauty boutiques, counters and online store
Guerlain's latest offering, the Orchidee Imperiale Gold Nobile range, might sound more like a Marvel movie. The brand claims to have employed quantum biology, in partnership with Palacky University, to create products that enhance the skin's ability to reflect light on a quantum scale. Additionally, the Gold Nobile orchid, the key ingredient in this range, is touted as an exceptionally potent flower. Indigenous to the Himalayan region, the light diffused by its petals is 68 per cent more intense than that of an ordinary white orchid.
The technology and ingredients collaboratively work to replenish the skin's light on an infinitesimally small scale, intensifying the apparent rejuvenation of the skin and amplifying what Lancome refers to as the 10 signs of youth and six factors of light. At present, the range includes a moisturizer (Orchidee Imperiale Gold Nobile The Cream, $1,150 for 30ml) and a serum (Orchidee Imperiale Gold Nobile The Serum, $1,150 for 50ml).
Available from Jan 30 at Guerlain stores
The skin barrier trend shows no sign of letting up, with Drunk Elephant being the latest entrant. The brand has recently introduced the Bora Barrier Repair Cream ($105 for 50ml), which Drunk Elephant claims is its richest and thickest moisturizer to date. According to the brand, it is clinically proven to provide deep, 24-hour moisture, reduce visible redness, and ultimately restore the skin barrier to its optimal health.
Key ingredients include a 6-butter lipid complex designed to soothe the skin, support natural ceramide and hyaluronic acid production, strengthen the skin barrier, and enhance and protect the skin's moisture levels. The cream also features zinc and copper gluconates, salt minerals with anti-redness benefits and potent antioxidant properties, as well as alpha glucan derived from rice, known for its soothing and hydration-boosting benefits.
Available now at Sephora boutiques and online store
A beautiful new space has emerged at Ion Orchard's basement: the third and newest Diptyque store. The 968 sq ft area incorporates elements reminiscent of a French Haussmann apartment, including stucco and a central fireplace, paying homage to Diptyque's Parisian roots. However, there are also nods to our local surroundings, such as an orange lacquered table crafted locally, a sink made from locally sourced knot wood, and a mirror from Singapore label Studio Kallang. A notable feature in the boutique is the area dedicated to the art of gifting, adorned with a vibrant fresco painted by Singaporean artist Jacky Mak, celebrating the Maison's distinctive decorative codes. Towards the rear, a warm and intimate private salon awaits, showcasing woven rattan panels, dark knot wood, and an eclectic mix of furnishings.
Open now at #B2-30 Ion Orchard
Tom Ford continues to pump out fragrances at a breakneck pace. Following last year's Myrrhe Mystere, two new scents have emerged: Vanilla [Censored] and Oud Minerale (left). In the former, vanilla, a pivotal ingredient in perfumery, takes centre stage amidst a blend of spicy and floral notes.
However, true to Tom Ford's style, don't expect a conventional take on this classic ingredient. Notably amber and formulated with Vanilla Tincture India Orpur (exclusively developed for this private blend), Vanilla [Censored] ($365 for 30ml and $610 for 50ml) features the sensuality of Vanilla Madagascar Orpur, complemented by florals and bitter almond essence. The result is an elegant blend incorporating sandalwood, Tonka absolute, and Ultravanil accord.
On the other hand, Oud Minerale ($250 for 50ml and $350 for 100ml) is a more earthy composition, offering a woody-marine blend that merges rare oud with a backdrop of smoked wood, anchored by the subtle muskiness of ambergris accord.
Vanilla [Censored] is exclusively available at Tom Ford Beauty Takashimaya and Tangs, while Oud Minerale is available at Tom Ford Beauty Takashimaya, Tangs and selected Sephora stores
Just FYI, L'Or de Vie stands as Dior Beauty's most rarefied and prestigious range. At its core lies Yquem Marc, extensively researched by the maison for over 30 years and extracted using high-tech subcritical water eco-extraction technology from the grapes of the Chateau d’Yquem vineyard in Bordeaux, France. Adding to the rarity, these grapes are harvested only once a year, with farmers having a mere five days or so to complete the task.
The most potent form of this technology can be found in the L'Or de Vie Le Ceremonial set ($4,900, pictured above), which includes three elixirs, each infused with 24-carat gold and the highest concentration of Dior's proprietary Golden Drop Longevity Technology. These contribute to combating signs of ageing, with each step in this ritual serving a specific function: revitalizing the skin, restructuring it, and preserving skincare benefits within the skin.
For the first time, there's also a complete set called The Longevity Collection ($5,700), housing the entire routine (including complimentary moisturisers, serums, lotions, and eye creams) in an ultra-limited-edition box (only 110 available worldwide).
The L'Or de Vie Le Ceremonial set is available Dior Beauty Ion Orchard and The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands boutiques, and the Dior Beauty Takashimaya and Tangs Orchard counters, while the The Longevity Collection is exclusively available upon request
Cloudberry takes the spotlight as the key ingredient in Glow Recipe's latest product, the Cloudberry Bright Essence Toner ($62 for 75ml). For those unfamiliar, cloudberry is a flowering plant native to the Arctic region, distinguished by its signature orange hue, and is renowned for being rich in Vitamins C and E, along with various other antioxidants.
The toner is purported to balance skin tone, address hyperpigmentation, and revitalize lacklustre, dehydrated skin, leaving it in a more radiant state. Primarily, it is designed to maximize the absorption of other products in your skincare routine, making them more effective. Therefore, remember to use it first right after cleansing.
Available from Jan 25 at Sephora stores
For the upcoming Lunar New Year, Lancome has collaborated with London-based Chinese artist Jacky Tsai to craft a custom design for two of its star products: the Advanced Génifique Serum ($352 for 115ml) and Absolue Soft Cream ($520 for 60ml), both now presented in limited-edition packaging (pictured on the left).
To complement the festive theme with a touch of red, the French label is also introducing a new lipstick range called L’Absolu Rouge Intimatte Liquid (pictured on the right), offering a luxurious soft-matte option that envelops your lips in a silky, creamy layer. This lipstick ensures an uncompromised outcome, providing users with a delightful, weightless glide upon application, thanks to its plush, thick-foam petal applicator. The L’Absolu Rouge Intimatte Liquid ($58 each) features a formula enriched by a combination of Grand Rose Extracts, Calming Ceramide, and Smokelight Pigments, ensuring lip comfort and simultaneously strengthening the lipid barrier to safeguard the lips from dehydration.
Available now at Lancome counters and online store
Perfect for those who embrace the Lunar New Year's most prominent colour, Nars is giving a makeover to some of its bestselling products with limited-edition packaging. This includes the Powermatte Lipstick ($48), renowned for saturating lips in high-intensity colour with 10-hour staying power. The new Lunar New Year Quad Eyeshadow ($70) is a palette featuring soft, versatile colours like a light shimmery champagne, matte apricot, beige, and taupe brown. Additionally, there's the popular Light Reflecting Setting Powder Set ($70), incorporating Photochromic Technology. This no-flashback formula is known for diffusing and adapting to various light sources, ensuring a flawless appearance for the skin both in person and on camera.
Available now at Nars boutiques and online store