Add to cart: The best beauty products to shop this June 2025
1 / 5 Shu Uemura Ultime8∞ Sublime Beauty Cleansing Oil
Shu Uemura is the go-to brand for make-up and skincare tailored to Asian skin. If you're choosing from their five signature cleansing oils, the one worth incorporating into your routine is the Ultime8∞ Sublime Beauty Cleansing Oil. A sensorial experience rooted in Japanese skincare tradition, it is infused with precious tsubaki oil sourced from handpicked seeds on Japan's Toshima Island. Three pumps of this dissolve even the most stubborn waterproof make-up, all while deeply nourishing the skin. Beyond removing make-up, it neither strips moisture nor leaves behind a greasy film; instead, your complexion feels smooth, supple, and comforted, as if you've just had a facial. — Raushana Salim, beauty intern
Shu Uemura Ultime8∞ Sublime Beauty Cleansing Oil, $188, available at Sephora Courtesy of Chanel Beauty
2 / 5 Chanel Éclat Premier Bright Milky Essence
Never underestimate the powers of ylang-ylang, at least that's what I'm reminded of whilst gently tapping this milky essence into my skin. Heralded as a premier flower extract by Chanel, the key ingredient emits a soothing scent and has also been proven to improve skin radiance. Coupled with pure niacinamide, a few drops of this lightweight number has been the latest step in my skincare routine. The result has been a brighter and more balanced complexion, given that the product is targeted towards dark spots that can arise from acne or external environmental stressors. — Janice Sim, digital editor
Chanel Éclat Premier Bright Milky Essence, $180, available at Chanel Courtesy of Sephora
3 / 5 Pixi Beauty Lip Tone Gloss
The Pixi Beauty Lip Tone Gloss is the kind of no-fuss, feel-good product you find yourself reaching for every day. This pH-reactive gloss glides on clear and adjusts to your lips' unique chemistry, leaving behind a subtle flush of colour that breathes life into your lips. It goes one step beyond 'your lips but better,' enhancing your natural lip tone while providing lasting hydration and nourishment—it transforms your lips for the better. Glossed lips may appear hydrated, but many formulas feel sticky and fade quickly. What sets the Lip Tone Gloss apart is its infusion of rosehip seed oil, mango butter, and shea butter, delivering genuine hydration in a non-sticky formula that lasts for hours. It works so well, you'll wonder how it isn't a luxury purchase. A swipe is all it takes to achieve an effortless, polished look. — Raushana Salim, beauty intern
Pixi Beauty Lip Tone Gloss, $13, available at Sephora Courtesy of Haus Labs
4 / 5 Haus Labs by Lady Gaga Colour Fuse Blush Powder
My blush era is on the up and up. The latest to enter my periphery of vision: Haus Labs's Colour Fuse Blush Powder. Talc-free and packed with anti-inflammatory and moisturising ingredients such as squalane, fermented arnica and hydraberry, this pressed powder harnesses its pigment with care. My personal colour pick is Fire Moon, a warm rush of sunset that feels just right for the summer. It's become my latest obsession; a tap and swipe grants a sheer, audible wash of colour with a satin finish, one that I enjoy slowly building up and painting both my cheeks and peepers in. — Azrin Tan, senior digital writer
Haus Labs by Lady Gaga Colour Fuse Blush Powder, $50, available at Sephora Courtesy of Sephora
5 / 5 Virute Labs Damage Reverse Serum
If there's a haircare must-have for me, it's a multitasking heat protectant that doubles as a serum—especially with the daily blow-dry torture my hair endures after every wash. Virtue Lab's Damage Reverse Serum, comes through with its Alpha Keratin 60ku® formula. Upon massaging it into the scalp, pleasure is gleaned from its soothing honey scent, whilst its creamy, weightless texture seamlessly melts into the scalp. Post-application, the serum reduces damage, restores lost keratin and strengthens strands from the inside out. — Kashish Malani, digital intern
Virute Labs Damage Reverse Serum, $98, available at Sephora
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Times
9 hours ago
- Business Times
Ninth generation Pictet family member of leading the group beyond 220 years.
[GENEVA] Striving not for size but 'to be the finest, as a wealth and asset manager known for superior returns and exceptional client experience' is what drives 46-year-old Francois Pictet, managing partner of Pictet Group. He is a ninth-generation member of a family who became associated with Pictet Group in 1841. The Geneva-headquartered organisation, which turns 220 this year, traces its roots even further back, to its founding in July 1805. Francois Pictet followed the footsteps of his father, grandfather and great-grandfather into the top echelons of the group's management. Today, Pictet Group is Switzerland's second-largest financial institution, behind UBS, and the largest privately held financial institution in Europe. Francois Pictet sits alongside his cousin, senior partner Marc Pictet, and five other managing partners at the apex of the company's management. The seven top partners – six men and one woman, all of whom are based in Geneva – are a close-knit group, who meet thrice a week, for several hours per session, to discuss strategies and investments. 'You cannot invite as managing partners people who want to decide everything and don't want to listen to others. This type of profile will not make it,' said Francois Pictet. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up He pointed out that while Pictet Group is unique in having a long association with his wider family, having the name alone does not mean guaranteed entry into the group's top leadership. In addition to the seven managing partners, Pictet Group also has 43 equity partners. New partners buy shares at book value; when partners exit, they sell their shares at book value, which has hopefully grown during their tenure. Partners adhere to the retirement age of 65. To date, Pictet Group has grown organically and not done any mergers and acquisitions. Also, the group has stayed out of business lines such as commercial banking, retail banking and investment banking. 'Why would you make an acquisition unless you want to show growth to your shareholders? In finance, growth by hiring the right people is more effective,' said Francois Pictet, adding that making acquisitions can harm the corporate culture. He likes the group's business model, which he sees as being differentiated from other financial institutions and bringing stability to the business and clients. 'Stability nowadays is in very rare supply, and I think this is a key advantage that we have,' he said. He argued that by being conservative in how Pictet Group uses its balance sheet, space is freed up to be innovative in serving clients. 'Our usage of the balance sheet is extremely conservative, we don't play with it at all,' he said. Personal journey Francois Pictet, who became a managing partner in 2022, currently leads the group's technology and operations division, as well as the private wealth management's Asian and Middle East commercial efforts. Trained in law, he said that it was 'initially not really my intention' to join the family business. He spent over a decade working for organisations including UBS, the former Credit Suisse and US private equity firm AEA Investors before joining Pictet Group in 2015. Asked if carrying the Pictet name within Pictet Group is a privilege or a burden, he admitted that 'with the family name comes the pressure as well'. He described working at Pictet Group as being at 'a place where you have your name on the door and the responsibility of not undoing the work done by eight generations before you'. Still, when the opportunity to join the group came while he was in his thirties, he said it would have been a waste not to seize it. With Pictet Group today being considerably larger than in his father's time, Francois Pictet thinks family members who want to join now or in future should spend some years outside the group to chalk some achievements before coming on board. 'It's very important for our managing partners to have seen the world out there and also proven themselves outside the firm,' he said. In the private wealth management business, Pictet Group serves clients with a net worth of five million Swiss francs (S$8 million) or more. Francois Pictet sees no reason to lower this threshold for the sake of acquiring a larger customer base. He emphasised that in the private wealth management business, much time is spent on understanding clients and their worry with money. Investment solutions then come on the back of understanding client needs. He noted this is unlike 'the brokerage model, where you start the discussion by talking about products'. 'Our time horizon is not a quarter, not even 10 years. It is really generations with our clients,' he stressed. Francois Pictet noted that amid geopolitical fragmentation, wealthy families have become more mobile, requiring all sorts of combinations of booking and servicing centres. With its stability, he observed that Singapore has been on the rise as a booking centre for the whole of Asia for several years. Other megatrends that he sees in the private wealth management business include generational wealth transfer, the rise of Asia, the growing importance of private equity and the need to invest more in technology as well as risk and compliance. Generational wealth transfer Honora Ducatillon, head of family advisory at Pictet Wealth Management, said that with dynastic families, Pictet Group is seeing growing demand for help in crafting a family charter, as a framework for long-term success. Dynastic families are defined as those having a net worth of US$100 million or more. Typically, a family charter may cover areas such as family mission, family values, code of conduct, conflict resolution, succession in ownership and management, governance bodies, access to capital, family members, employment, ownership policy and education of family members. Ducatillon said wealthy families are evolving with trends such as longevity and the rise of the 100-year-old chief executive. Also contributing to this evolution are accelerating shifts in sociocultural values; the increase in blended families; the rise of women wealth owners, the move from top-down to collaborative governance models; and technology's role in transforming how families institutionalise wisdom across generations. Citing a McKinsey report, she noted that some US$5.8 trillion in assets will be transferred across generations in Asia-Pacific between 2023 and 2030 by wealthy families, and that many family offices report that preparing the next generation to take on wealth responsibly is a major challenge.
Straits Times
15 hours ago
- Straits Times
Founder of The Dog Grocer inspired by her picky dog to make fresh, wholesome treats
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Ms Soo Ming Hui, founder of The Dog Grocer, creates wholesome pet treats and meals that are preservative- and chemical-free. SINGAPORE – Dogs enter the shop, head for the bulk bins, sniff the treats and chews, and then let their owners know which one they want. The concept of The Dog Grocer (TDG) was formed when founder Soo Ming Hui, 44, faced challenges feeding her picky dog Piggy, who refused to eat anything but fresh treats. However, many pet foods available in the market are mass-produced and highly processed. Ms Soo also often wondered about the possibility of dogs having the same home-cooked meals as what her mother cooks for the family. Inspired by her mother's food, Ms Soo started experimenting with Asian-style marinades and began crafting fresh, natural treats in 2018. When her fussy Singapore Special, 13, approves of her experiments, she knows other dogs will enjoy them too. TDG's pet foods are made in-house using human-grade ingredients, such as beef eye round, chicken and duck breast, pork loin, chicken feet and bull pizzles. The meats are either dehydrated or freeze-dried, and all products are preservative- and chemical-free. Ms Soo also avoids using additives and fillers, focusing on natural nutrition and flavour. The products adhere to the United States Department of Agriculture's food safety guidelines, and TDG's ready-to-eat meal packs are formulated to meet the standards set by US agency National Research Council for dog food. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Despite bag checks and warnings, young partygoers continue to vape in clubs in Singapore Singapore Ong Beng Seng to plead guilty on Aug 4, more than 2 years after trip to Qatar with Iswaran Singapore LTA, Singapore bus operators reviewing Malaysia's request to start services from JB at 4am Singapore NDP 2025: Veteran Red Lion says each leap 'feels like 5km run' Business Decoupling to save on tax? You may lose right to property if ties go awry Singapore Lessons learnt from Singapore's love-hate relationship with e-scooters Opinion At UN's Wipo, Singaporean Daren Tang strives to create an equal music for haves and have-nots Asia Mass grave with over 100 skeletons in Sri Lanka brings up old wounds TDG products are produced in Singapore in a kitchen licensed by the Animal & Veterinary Service under the National Parks Board, using ingredients from sources approved by the Singapore Food Agency. Signature items from the freeze-dried meat cube range include Ondeh Ondeh Chicken and Black Sesame Duck. Marinated jerkies such as Dang Gui Wolfberry Pork, and Chicken and Honey Sesame Beef are popular snacks. Dogs also like chews such as whole pig ears. Prices are between $13 and $33 for dog treats and ready-to-eat meals, with freeze-dried meat cubes and marinated jerkies available in the store for the dogs to sniff and select. These are placed in bins at a height where the pooches cannot eat them. Ms Soo opened TDG in Crane Road in June 2020 with an investment of $130,000 from her savings and government grants. It was not an easy endeavour, as the Covid-19 pandemic was still prevalent. Singapore had just entered Phase One of its reopening after the circuit-breaker period , in which people were encouraged to leave their homes only for essential activities. However, pet ownership boomed during the pandemic, which helped Ms Soo's business. She managed to break even in 18 months. She subsequently opened a commercial kitchen in Sembawang and the store relocated to a bigger space in Joo Chiat Road. 'It was good to have a proper kitchen,' says Ms Soo. 'I used to operate from a tiny makeshift kitchen at the back of the shophouse, cutting, marinating and dehydrating meats.' She adds that with the larger facility, production capacity has increased substantially. However, she continues to keep the scale of the food production small so everything remains fresh. 'We are constantly making new batches as the shelf life of our pet food is very short, about six to eight months depending on the product,' she says. Prices are between $13 and $33 for dog treats and ready-to-eat meals. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI Starting a pet food business never crossed Ms Soo's mind. After graduating from the National University of Singapore with a mechanical engineering degree in 2004, she convinced her parents to let her pursue her dream of becoming a jockey. 'I've always loved animals. So, I thought, like, why not be a job?' says Ms Soo, who is single. This passion led her to New Zealand, where she spent almost six years training to be a jockey. She also took on other jobs at cafes, orchards and canning factories. During those years, she also found time to earn two chef certificates, one in general culinary arts and another in pastry. However, being a jockey was not meant to be because she was over the strict weight limit required for the profession. After returning to Singapore , she volunteered at animal shelters, drawing on her experience with horses to help rehabilitate dogs. It was there when she learnt how limited and heavily processed most pet food options were, particularly for dogs with specific dietary needs or preferences. While some of the products are sold in boxes, pet owners are encouraged to scoop what they need and pack the treats in their own containers. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI Sustainability plays a big role at TDG. Though some products are sold in boxes, pet owners are encouraged to take along their own containers and fill them up from the bulk bins. Ms Soo makes a conscious effort to choose ingredients from certified sustainable sources, such as wild-caught Atlantic cod and pollock, which are Marine Stewardship Council-certified fish. She also takes the 'entire cut' approach. For instance, slices of pork loin become jerkies, while off-cuts or ends are minced into pork cubes. Fish bones become broth that are used for seasonal creations, such as Chinese New Year soups and National Day recipes. Fruit, vegetables and meat scraps are dropped off at a local permaculture site every other month for composting, turning food waste into nutrient-rich soil. With the business expanding to include both cooked and raw meals, catering to the evolving preferences of pet owners, Ms Soo hopes to open another outlet, possibly in western Singapore. 'We have been looking for a second shop for almost a year, but rental costs are incredibly high,' she says. It has been rewarding for her to see customers grow alongside TDG. 'We see them at different stages, some from puppies to adult dogs, others from adults to seniors,' says Ms Soo. She adds that her dream is to have a cafe where pets can have their own omakase experience. For now, though, her happy place is in the kitchen, where she concocts new recipes and creates nutritious food for pets.
Business Times
2 days ago
- Business Times
Trump momentum drives stablecoin urgency in Asian financial hubs
[MUMBAI] Asian markets are hurriedly updating their stablecoin rules as US President Donald Trump's embrace of US dollar-pegged cryptocurrencies instils a fresh sense of urgency among the region's authorities. Recent developments in South Korea, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines point to a proliferation of stablecoins pegged to Asian currencies, even as authorities raise concerns about capital outflows. Regional heavyweights including and Ant Group plan to capitalise by applying to become issuers. Shares in Kakaopay ballooned on expectations that it would do the same. Even China, which has for years imposed a sweeping crypto ban, appears to be warming to the notion of tokens that serve as yuan surrogates. It all stems from the US, where lawmakers recently passed legislation that will promote wider use of digital tokens that seek to maintain a 1:1 peg with the US dollar. The White House earmarked US dollar stablecoins as a priority in a January executive order, days after Trump's inauguration. 'The Genius Act has opened the floodgates for stablecoin adoption,' said Benjamin Grolimund, General Manager for the UAE at crypto exchange Flipster. 'Whether you support it or not, stablecoins are now unavoidable.' Overhanging Asia's flurry of activity is the fear of capital flight. The US dollar reigns supreme in today's stablecoin market, with US$256 billion in tokens pegged to the greenback. These maintain their price by managing reserves of cash-like assets, such as US Treasuries. By contrast, there's just US$403 million of euro-backed stablecoins in circulation, despite a well established regulatory framework covering such products in the form of the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation regime. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 8.30 am Asean Business Business insights centering on South-east Asia's fast-growing economies. Sign Up Sign Up The crypto-curious nation of South Korea offers a case in point. South Koreans are already trading piling into dollar-pegged stablecoins. Transactions involving USDT, USDC and USDS, three of the largest US dollar proxies, on five domestic exchanges reached 57 trillion won (S$53 billion) in the first quarter, Yonhap News reported, citing Bank of Korea data. Local lawmakers in recent weeks clashed with the central bank over whether to allow Korean companies to issue won-based stablecoins. President Lee Jae-myung's ruling Democratic Party on Jun 10 proposed the Digital Asset Basic Act, creating a pathway for local firms to become issuers. Two weeks later, Ryoo Sangdai, senior deputy governor at the Bank of Korea, warned that stablecoins may shift the country's longstanding policy stance on capital liberalisation and the won's internationalisation. Central bank governor Rhee Chang Yong went further, arguing that non-bank stablecoins would 'cause big chaos like in the 19th century', when currencies issued by the private sector flooded the market. 'Local stablecoins, while offering regulatory visibility at the point of issuance, carry the risk of becoming efficient bridges to global markets through seamless crypto-to-crypto swaps on decentralised exchanges,' said John Park, head of Korea at Arbitrum Foundation. Asian central banks need to find ways to channel the momentum, rather than fighting it, Park said. Regulatory frameworks should aim to preserve sovereignty while staying competitive, he added. Streamlined trading For digital-asset trading firms, a more diverse stablecoin market is a no-brainer. 'Capital controls are a challenge,' said Yoann Turpin, co-founder of crypto market maker Wintermute. 'But stablecoins could provide a vetted, more efficient on-chain system.' Such a setup could streamline arbitrage trades across venues or between markets without the constraint of foreign exchange market hours, said Le Shi, Hong Kong managing director at market making firm Auros. 'There's a real use case for local currency stablecoins, particularly for enabling weekend liquidity and smoother capital movement.' Another possibility is that the growth of local stablecoins could enliven crypto economies in Asia. In South Korea, an estimated 18 million people, over a third of the country's population, are engaged in digital assets. Sam Seo, chairman of the Kaia DLT Foundation, said a won-backed stablecoin would serve different needs than US dollar alternatives. 'In the short term, swaps between the won and USDT will dominate. But longer term, we will need stablecoins from other countries to support direct pairings and faster settlement,' Seo said. Hong Kong, meanwhile, has quickly become the region's stablecoin laboratory. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority is particularly focused on 'viable and practical use cases', not just capital buffers, Clara Chiu, founder of QReg Advisory, said. Many of the issuers that have taken an interest in yuan-backed stablecoins are trading and payment firms that are already using the yuan in cross-border settlement. 'That's where the practical demand lies,' Chiu added. Mainland interest While China's next steps are far from certain, crypto firms including brokers are already preparing for the prospect of yuan-pegged stablecoins. Kennix Chan, vice-president at Victory Securities, said the firm is in active talks with a range of would-be issuers in Hong Kong. The firm's affiliate, VDX, is close to securing a license to operate a digital-asset exchange, according to Chan, allowing it to offer new trading pairs – such as Bitcoin against stablecoins pegged to the Hong Kong dollar – and eventually yuan-backed equivalents. 'When a yuan-stablecoin is born, the market will definitely be exponentially bigger,' Chan said. Despite its blanket crypto trading ban, China appears to be warming to blockchain as a financial tool. People's Bank of China governor Pan Gongsheng said in June that stablecoins could revolutionise international finance, as rising geopolitical tensions highlight the fragility of traditional payment systems. A recent licensing upgrade granted for a major Chinese state-owned brokerage to deal in digital assets through Hong Kong has also stirred optimism among Chinese players. 'It gave hope that there's a way,' Chiu said. Still, few expect Beijing to open its doors to crypto trading anytime soon. Lily King, chief operating officer at digital-asset custodian Cobo, said that Hong Kong will continue to serve as a testing ground for Chinese enterprises looking to build overseas. 'China may not feel the need to open itself,' she added. BLOOMBERG
