The end of the year is fast approaching; cue the parties, gatherings and reunions. Beyond shopping for Christmas gifts, it’s also the time to look back on the year and slow down to recalibrate. If you’ve spent the last eleven months stressing out, now’s the time to pamper your body and spirits with a treat for yourself. Maybe a new face mist to keep by your desk at work; maybe a hair tool that you can’t stop picturing a life with; maybe a fragrance that will help tap into a new dimension of yourself.
No matter what you’re looking for, a trip to Sephora will hit the spot. Now that there’s an Olive Young curation to swatch in-store, the possibilities are truly endless. Your favourite brands aside, there is a bevy of other offerings to dabble in and try out. The festive season also brings with it the tantalising option of trios and sets, where cult classics mingle with newness to give you a glimpse of a brand you’re just getting to know. To help get you started—or to further add to your cart—the Vogue Singapore beauty team has sieved out the cream of the crop. Spy them all, below.
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Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit Unlocked
A multi-use palette keeps all your bases covered. Hourglass’s Ambient Lighting Edit Unlocked palettes feature a mix of their beloved marbled powders in versatile hues, including a finishing powder, highlighter, blush and bronzer all in the same place. Thanks to their Photoluminescent Technology, particles in the powders diffuse light to produce a lit-from-within glow. Adding a light veil of this strategically over a full face of make-up elevates the entire look.
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit Unlocked in Luck, $156, available at Sephora
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Dyson Airsmooth Styling Brush
With universal voltage built into this Dyson brush, you can leave the converters at home. Dual-bristle technology—including PivotFlex bristles—diffuses heat evenly and maintains the perfect amount of tension for a silky blowout without breakage. Designed with a teardrop-shaped barrel, it can also move from root to tip while taming flyaways in one smooth motion. Best of all, it won’t take up much space on your vanity or in your carry-on.
Dyson Airsmooth Styling Brush, $329, available at Sephora
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Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Perfect Natural Glow Foundation
Here’s a foundation that can do it all: casual everyday settings, fancy functions and everything else in between. The weightless formulation blends out easily to deliver light to medium coverage, blurring out pores to create a smooth canvas for everything else going on top of it. Enriched with niacinamide and flower extracts, it helps the skin retain moisture all day long without oiling up or becoming cakey. Available in 44 shades, finding a good shade match will also be a breeze.
Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Perfect Natural Glow Foundation, $105, available at Sephora
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One/Size Melt + Set Setting Spray Duo
For all the parties that are upcoming, a good setting spray is a must; and yet, choosing the right one depends on the finish you want for your look. You’ll get the best of both worlds with this full-sized pair from One/Size: the Powder Melt Glass Setting Spray melds powder layers together to create a seamless, glassy base, while On ‘Til Dawn Mattifying Waterproof Setting Spray seals everything in to keep your beat sweatproof, transferproof and smudge-free. The best part? Both feature a fine mister for even application.
One/Size Melt + Set Setting Spray Duo, $72, available at Sephora
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Makeup by Mario Face & Eye Brush Trio
Whether you’re travelling or just trying to keep your kit as compact as possible, dual-ended brushes are all-round lifesavers. This set of three features bristles of different densities and sizes for use with every part of the face—from base products to blush to eyeshadow. Soft in feel and ergonomic by design, these brushes make blending out cream and powder products effortless. Plus, the set comes complete with a pouch for fuss-free storage.
Makeup by Mario Face & Eye Brush Trio, $158, available at Sephora
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Nars Soft Matte Complete Concealer
You can bid your blemishes goodbye with this heavy-duty concealer from Nars. Paste-like in the jar, warming it up between the fingers or against the back of the hand transforms it into a malleable, full-coverage layer that still feels comfortable on the skin. If the matte look isn’t your favourite, dust some Light Reflecting Prismatic Pressed Powder over the top to add luminosity back to your face.
Nars Soft Matte Complete Concealer, $49, available at Sephora
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Kosas Shiny Objects Powder Highlighter
A little glitter goes a long way—especially on the centre of the lids, on the tip of the nose and along the cheekbones. The Shiny Objects Powder Highlighter from Kosas goes on dry but looks wet in finish, adding prismatic shine everywhere you place it. Since it’s a pressed formula, you won’t have to worry about fallout, either.
Kosas Shiny Objects Powder Highlighter, $25.50, available at Sephora
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Jo Malone London Cologne Fragrances Collection Set
Versatile as they are, having fragrance minis will come in handy. They’re small enough to travel with; they give you a taste of a scent before you commit to it in full; they make the perfect little gift for a friend or loved one. Jo Malone has gathered their most covetable scents in one tartan-wrapped package, including the likes of English Pear & Freesia, Wood Sage & Sea Salt and Peony & Blush Suede. Try layering a few of them to yield an entirely new composition.
Jo Malone London Cologne Fragrances Collection Set, $200, available at Sephora
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Anastasia Beverly Hills The Definition Edit Eye & Brow Set
This is the season for a proper eye look. You can trust cult classic brand Anastasia Beverly Hills to get the job done, especially with a three-piece set containing a full-size Brow Freeze gel, mini Lash Sculpt Mascara and the Spice Mini Eyeshadow Palette. First groom the brows so they stay in place all night, then take the buttery-smooth dark brown shade from the eyeshadow palette into the crease. Finish with your glitter of choice—or two—from the same palette, along with a few coats of the mascara.
Anastasia Beverly Hills The Definition Edit Eye & Brow Set, $75, available at Sephora
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Ouai Get On Your Merry Kit Mini
Stay on top of your mane maintenance with a travel-sized trio. Formulated with apple cider vinegar, the Detox Shampoo gets all the gunk, flakes and residue out of your strands without stripping them of moisture. Follow up with the Leave-In Conditioner to protect your hair while styling with heat, and carry the Super Dry Shampoo with you for touch-ups on the go.
Ouai Get On Your Merry Kit Mini, $56, available at Sephora
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Anua Dewy Glow Duo
The key to a glowy complexion is to keep it well-moisturised. A few spritzes of the PDRN Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Capsule Mist will rejuvenate your face on a sweltering day; a swipe of the plush PDRN Lip Serum will keep your puckers hydrated between lip combinations.
Anua Dewy Glow Duo, $40, available at Sephora
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Make Up For Ever Super Boost Lip Gloss & Artist Color Pencil Duo
If your make-up feels incomplete, you probably just need a good lip combo to finish it off. Make Up For Ever’s Artist Color Pencil is a no-frills, classic lip liner, especially in Anywhere Caffeine. The mid-tone brown glides on buttery and blends out with the tap of a finger to give the lips a contoured look. Paired with the Super Boost Lip Gloss, expect a juicy pout that can be spotted from a mile away.
Make Up For Ever Super Boost Lip Gloss & Artist Color Pencil Duo, $40, available at Sephora
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Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum Set
Nourish the face with the benefits of Korean aged ginseng. This Sulwhasoo regimen—comprising the First Care Activating Serum, Gentle Cleansing Foam, First Care Activating Serum and Concentrated Ginseng Rejuvenating Cream Rich—has all the steps you need to soothe stressed-out skin. Gentle and fast-absorbing, they activate and support the skin’s natural renewal processes for a brighter-looking and firmer mien. The signature herbal aroma of ginseng also feels particularly healing.
Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum Set, $170, available at Sephora
