Going On Holiday? Nab These Cult Beauty Products Overseas

Make room in your suitcase – we’re rounding up the best beauty products to cart home from your travels

Whenever I travel, I always make sure to do my research on the local makeup and skincare available in that city before I get there. The beauty scene in Singapore is fast-growing, but there are still several brands we can’t get in stores here and, as a beauty writer, I feel a moral obligation to track those brands down and test them out – not for myself, but purely for the good of society.

Sure – almost everything is available online these days, but when it comes to buying beauty products, I prefer immersing myself in the good ol’ brick and mortar shopping experience. Nothing beats the excitement of swatching endless shades of lipsticks on your hand and the guilty pleasure of being convinced by a charming saleslady to buy yet another foundation that you don’t need.

To make your Selfridges or Sephora run a little smoother, here are my picks of the beauty brands worth splashing out on.

1 / 3

Glossier Balm Dotcom: Just one of those things you should have in your purse at all times. The universal skin salve comes in six different flavours including original, rose and mint, but my favourite is the delicious-smelling coconut.

Glossier Boy Brow: For days where I’m wearing less makeup and I want those effortless I-woke-up-like-this brows, Glossier’s Boy Brow is my new go-to.

Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser: This conditioning face wash has a pleasing texture that feels like a hybrid between cream and gel, and cleans the skin without drying it out.

1 / 3

Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte's Magic Cream: Containing SPF 15, this moisturises protects your skin while maintaining a luxurious texture. Great for dry skin types.

Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick: There are so many shades to choose from but I love a wearable matte red like Bond Girl.

Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Glow: One of the brand's most talked-about products, this bronzer and highlighter duo blends well, is very pigmented and compact enough to travel with.

1 / 6

Lixirskin Night Switch Retinol 1%: Regulates the skin's metabolism for a clearer and plumper complexion. Mix with the Universal Emulsion before applying.

Lixirskin Night Switch PHA/AHA 10%: Exfoliates and evens out the skin tone for more radiant and smoother looking skin. Mix it in with the Universal Emulsion before applying or use it on its own as a mask.

Lixirskin Night Switch BHA/AHA 10%: Helps to regulate hormonal skin and calm breakouts. Use before the Universal Emulsion, as a mask or as a spot treatment.

Lixirskin Electrogel Cleanser: An evening cleanser that removes makeup, cleanses, and detoxifies the skin all at once.

Lixirskin Vitamin C Paste: A quick morning mask, protects and corrects all at once. Leaves the skin looking brighter and lifted.

Lixirskin Universal Emulsion: Use this morning and night on the face, eyes, neck, hands, arms and basically any part of the body. A day moisturiser, night cream and serum base in one, it shields the skin from UV rays without any added sunscreens.

1 / 3

The brand started off with three candles: Ajon, Emmie and Woodgrain.

IILUVO Bullshit candle: It smells better than it sounds. A collaboration with conceptual artist Stefan Bruggemann, the scent has top notes of Sichuan pepper, grapefruit and tangerine, middle notes of lavender and rose, and musk, Tonka bean and vanilla at its base.

IIUVO Fonteyn: Inspired by the interplay of darkness and light, the fragrance possesses a lovely contrast of earthy notes from papyrus, moss and Virginia cedar with sweet vanilla.

1 / 3

Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance eyeshadow palette: 14 shades of neutral and berry tones makes this beauty versatile enough for day and night looks.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade: In my books, this is the ultimate Instagram-brow product to have in your brow arsenal. Apply with an angled brush for full and defined arches.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz: My favourite brow product of all time. I love brow pencils for everyday and this one is super creamy and the shade Dark Brown matches my natural brow colour perfectly.

1 / 3

Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipstick: Probably Bite's most famous product, the formula is moisturising and goes on super smooth and creamy. This shade Sake is a wearable dusty mauve.

Bite Beauty Multistick: In the shade Praline, the multistick is perfect for achieving the monochromatic makeup trend. Just use your fingers to sweep it over your eyelids, cheeks and lips.

Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask: This comes in two other tinted shades as well, but whenever my lips feel dry, I prefer applying the clear mask as an overnight treatment so my lips feel soft and supple in the morning.