If there’s one thing about the beauty world, it’s that there’s always something new to discover. Between the return of Marc Jacobs Beauty and exciting releases from our favourite brands, we’ll never run out of things to fawn over. Then there’s the matter of regional beauty—the unbeatable feeling of touching down at a new locale and uncovering brands and products native to the place. Over the years, we have witnessed the meteoric rise of K-beauty and C-beauty on an international scale, both of which have bestowed vast reserves of gems upon us all. More recently within the region, Thai, Indonesian and Filipino beauty brands have been putting themselves on the radar. In our perennial quest to find products that work for us, though, it can sometimes be helpful to look closer to home.
For Singaporean dwellers, finding something that can hold up through the humidity and heat remains a constant challenge—one that some homegrown brands are setting out to tackle. Beyond lightweight and fast-absorbing formulations, they’re taking the time to incorporate cultural influence and Southeast Asian wellness principles into their offerings. Spanning haircare, face oils, fragrances and more, get to know the five local brands that are changing the scene from within—one intentional release at a time.
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The Daily Press
After noticing the absence of manufacturing dates from her skincare products, founder Nehal Garg decided that it was time to question the industry standard. Offering head-to-toe care in limited, date-stamped batches, The Daily Press leaves synthetic preservatives out in a bid to preserve fresh bioactive ingredients over shelf stability. Expect potent, naturally-derived solutions for the hair, face and body, including a slow-infused Mongra saffron face oil and a body oil made of upcycled Arabica coffee grounds. The best part? Everything is shipped within 30 days of being made to guarantee freshness.
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Soul Good Project
More than just caring for your body and your home, Soul Good Project believes self-care is cultivated through a relationship with the world at large too. Making sustainability a core tenet of their mission, recyclable glass and aluminum bottles are used for the brand’s collection of candles, hand washes, fragrances and deodorant balms. As for the formulations, ingredients are sourced from trusted suppliers in Europe and the US by the Singapore-based husband-and-wife team. The true-to-nature commitment carries through to their fragrance profiles, where fresh, earthy notes pay homage to Asian rituals.
3 / 5
Another Land
Self-care can be simple without compromise—a sentiment echoed in Another Land’s philosophy. Designed in Singapore and formulated alongside scientists and researchers in Taiwan, the result is a carefully curated line-up of products for the face, body and home. Trademarked ingredients include ZeroDilute™ , a water replacement made of organic aloe extract, and DermaFortify™, which mimics the function of the skin’s hydrolipidic film and forms a protective barrier that reduces moisture loss. Hand cream and skincare aside, there’s even a lavender-scented toilet mist amongst their offerings.
4 / 5
Stillgoods
Beyond being a tactile experience, true beauty is sensorial and all-encompassing. Singapore-based brand Stillgoods understands that well, with their handcrafted stoneware, elevated beadwork and distinctive scent profiles. Capturing moods and abstract concepts, each scent doubles as a room spray and lightweight perfume. They also come in candle and incense forms to scent your spaces with.
5 / 5
Omno
As anyone with sensitive skin can attest, harsh chemicals and ingredients often trigger painful flare-ups. Clean beauty brand Omno puts those fears to rest thanks to their plant-based formulations—free from irritants like parabens, silicones and sulfates. With body scrubs and perfumes to after-sun care and hair conditioners, there’s everything you need to kit out your bathroom and home. If you prefer to keep your routine streamlined, you’ll be glad to know that their signature scent profiles come in hand and body products alike.
