With the mall decked out in festive displays, especially with a stunning Christmas tree that sits above a whimsical gingerbread-inspired carousel, Raffles City Singapore this time of the year feels very much like walking into a winter wonderland — one with a galore of treats and gifts for those on your “nice” list.
The beauty haven is home to a whole lane of luxury beauty boutiques that’ll have you both inspired and spoilt for choice, but don’t worry about the latter though, as we’ve rounded up a couple of our favourite beauty brands, and selected a gift from each, to help along with your decision-making. Ahead, the most mesmerising scents, talked-about skincare sets, dazzling makeup, and limited editions dressed in holiday cheer.
1. HARNN
Thai beauty and wellness brand HARNN certainly knows the way to someone’s heart — as well as their mind, body and soul. Known for their range of organic body care and fragrance products infused with the most captivating scents, their soap bars, shower gels, and lightweight body oils, a recent store visit had us impressed with their head-to-toe approach to beauty and premium packaging that represents the high-quality ingredients used throughout their ranges.
As for this year’s holiday sets, the theme is based around “The Art of Scent & Soul”, with five gift sets featuring packaging designed by distinguished artist and writer, Ploy Chariyaves. You’ll find golden animals, which also symbolise the upcoming Year of the Dragon, whether it’s the auspicious dragonfly that signals new beginnings, or the elegant crane to manifest peace, love, marriage, and lasting well-being; these are done in vibrant yet harmonious colours meant to deliver positivity and joy.
our pick — good flow set (body care) + harnn glow vibe set (body care)
Pick a colour scheme you know your friend will adore, or perhaps go for their favourite scent — either way, you can’t go wrong with these HARNN body care sets, each featuring a Body Wash and Body Lotion.
Good Flow, in shades of purple and indigo, is all about positive vibes, and features body care essentials infused with the cosy Juniper Berry & Cedarwood scent, which reminds us of Christmas gatherings thanks to its notes of a pine forest, ripe berries, and mulled wine.
Glow Vibe, on the other hand, features balanced shades of green and yellow, and sees a solar White Tea & Camellia scent with fresh and pleasing floral notes.
HAARN, at Raffles City Singapore, #01-13A.
2. DIPTYQUE
Know anyone who doesn’t love Diptyque? They’d be a rare one. It seems like everyone won’t be able to resist the allure of the French fragrance house, like moths to a flame perhaps, which is incidentally what their latest holiday collection is inspired by. This year celebrates the magic of the flame — its charming, luminous light — from the way it’s able to transmit scent, to how it can fill us with emotion as it dances atop a candle.
The poetic sentiment is conveyed via extravagant swirls across scented and decorative objects meant to spark joy, including special limited editions of the classic candle, an exquisite advent calendar, and new dinner candles made of moulded, scented wax.
our pick — Set of 3 Small Holiday Candles, $213
We always look forward to Diptyque’s limited edition holiday candles, mostly because they always nail the warmth and cosiness of the seasion. In vessels decorated with coloured, black, and golden flames, we get the fresh and delicate Sapin inspired by pine trees; Délice, which springs forth delight with festive notes of dried fruit and vanilla accord; and Coton, which has notes of tonka bean to evoke the softness of a gentle embrace .
Diptyque, at Raffles City Singapore, #01-05.
3. KIEHL’S
More festive treats await, this time for the skincare-obsessed, who’ll definitely find a favourite at Kiehl’s This year, they’ve partnered with husband-wife illustrators Icinori for a whimsical animated universe that conveys the wonder of their skincare products, from the popular Calendula Herbal-Extract Toner to the Ultra Facial Cream and Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque, which make keeping to a beauty regime way more enjoyable.
While you’re shopping at the mall, just know that Raffles City is also home to Kiehl’s first-ever ‘Store of Tomorrow’ concept in Singapore, which debuts elevated in-store experiences for all fans of the brand. Go try a personalised skin analysis service using Kiehl’s Derma Reader Pro Device, or book an appointment for one of their facial services at the private facial cabin tucked away within the store.
our pick —Calendula cheers set, $122
Needless to say, we love the Calendula Herbal-Extract Alcohol Free Toner for how it’s infused with real Calendula petals, and works wonders to soothe and rejuvenate the skin. This star product is paired with a full-sized Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash that’s just as gentle on the skin, while the set includes the skin-fortifying Vital Skin-Strengthening Super Serum, Singapore’s bestselling Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution, and the Calendula Serum Infused Water Cream, for a hydrating finale to one’s routine.
Kiehl’s, at Raffles City Singapore, #B1-39/40.
4. GIVENCHY BEAUTY
Next on the list, the sophisticated makeup and fragrance offerings from Givenchy Beauty, who’ve opted for plenty of sparkle to celebrate the season. Thom Walker, Givenchy’s Makeup Creative Director, puts a glamorous yet edgy spin to the house’s most iconic products, drawing inspiration from the disco-queen vibes of parties in the 70s, the very ones Hubert de Givenchy would have attended. Lipsticks, highlighter, and eyeshadow are reinvented with light-reflecting silver sequin packaging, alongside 4G logos that elevate them to couture object-status.
our pick — le rouge interdit intense silk, $62
For the Holiday 2023 collection, three lipsticks — the Le Rouge Interdit Intense Silk, Le Rouge Sheer Velvet and Le Rouge Deep Velvet — arrive in cases of silver sequins that’ll definitely catch the light when you go in for touch-ups at your next festive party. Featured here, we see the newly-created shade Nude Thrill No. 554 on the brand’s signature >Le Rouge Interdit Intense Silk, a vibrant nude colour infused with a touch of orange, and with the 4G logo stamped onto the bullet like a glamorous high-fashion monogram.
Givenchy Beauty, at Raffles City Singapore, #01-40B.
5. CREED
With a gorgeous flagship boutique at Raffles City, the only standalone store in Singapore, stepping into the House of Creed feels like a luxury, as we get to experience the full suite of Creed Fragrances and services, including the Royal Exclusives collection available only at the store. Interestingly enough, the storied brand started all the way back in 1760, founded by James Henry Creed, when a then up-and-coming London tailoring company was tasked to send a pair of scented leather gloves to King George III — and if it’s good enough for royalty, a Christmas gift from here seem fit for the king or queen of your life.
our pick — carmina, $485 (75ml)
A vintage-style violet bottle houses the House of Creed’s latest scent, Carmina, that’s equal parts bold and sultry as it pays tribute to the grand, voluminous dresses found in Henry Creed’s fashion sketchbooks, heirlooms that have been passed down the Creed family for generations.
The women found in those drawings are dressed in both luxury and the boldness of a heroine, in case you know anyone with similar vibes, and starts off with notes of black cherry and pink pepper that add modernity to violet and a muted rose, followed by the warmth of saffron, delicate musks, and a captivating cashmere wood.
CREED, at Raffles City Singapore, #01-39C.
6. GUCCI BEAUTY
The vintage graphics of Gucci Beauty continues in a limited edition holiday collection that sees the Rouge à Lèvres Mat and Cushion de Beauté dressed up in vibrant teal and red, with a geometric pattern of hidden Gs that are certainly eye-catching on their own, even without the usual sparkling accents we’d expect from holiday launches.
The creamy-matte lipstick is available in three curated shades picked out from their extensive line: 208 They Met In Argentina, a warm rosewood; 505 Janet Rust, a rusted red; and 509 Janie Scarlet, a vivid cranberry. Clearly, these are meant for the person who takes pride in their vanity table, or someone who can’t resist a little showing off should they bring their Cushion de Beauté out for touch-ups.
our pick — gucci flora collection, $270 (1ooml)
As part of the #GucciBeautyWishes collection, the holiday visuals imagines an enchanting garden at night, of luminous flowers in purple, pink and blue lit by the glow of comets. The Gucci Flora collection, is rather apt then if you’re shopping for the person who appreciates a similar sense of wonder, while each of these Eau de Parfums spotlight a specific flower for inspiration, house in lacquered bottles finished with the house’s emblematic Flora pattern.
Gorgeous Gardenia is joyful and delightfully floral, as it blends White Gardenia with solar Jasmine Grandiflorum Absolute, with a touch of Brown Sugar for a subtle sweetness; while Gorgeous Jasmine, in teal, features a radiant bouquet of Jasmine Grandiflorum, now blended with sensual base notes and uplifting citrus. Gorgeous Magnolia, the latest in the line, highlights the luminous and bold Magnolia Essence, amidst juicy dewberries and fresh patchouli.
Gucci Beauty, at Raffles City Singapore, #01-40A.
7. DIOR BEAUTY
For the “Emily” who dreams of living in Paris, Dior Beauty’s holiday collection is an enchanting one that transports us into the royal Tuileries gardens, the exact fairytale moment of fresh snow falling from the night sky.
With such mesmerising inspiration, Dior’s house icons no doubt look as resplendent in white and gold, winter colours that reflect the snow on the gilded gates of the Tuileries. The baroque imagery of the historical gardens feature on cushion and lipstick cases, gleaming with Christian Dior’s name on their refillable cases, while paper bags and gift boxes are given the same grand treatment as well.
our pick — ÉCRIN COUTURE ICONIC MAKEUP PALETTE, $220
If you know someone who adores both Dior and makeup, this is probably a dream to behold. An entire makeup suite they can hold in their hand, done exquisitely thanks to an exterior case adorned with a golden design inspired by the wrought iron works of the Tuileries Garden. Inside, they’ll get to discover an elegant harmony of seasonal shades, versatile enough for day and night looks, comprising of eyeshadows, blushes, a highlighting powder, and creamy lip shades.
Dior Beauty, at Raffles City Singapore, #01-02B.
8. ACQUA DI PARMA
The little details count for Acqua di Parma, as their holiday season does away with minimalism, and instead embraces the handcrafted beauty of Italian craftsmanship. Let’s just say this one’s for the maximalists — done right though, with the work of artisans who blend contemporary sensibilities and traditional techniques, seen via elaborate adornment of the fragrance brand’s coffret boxes and the Advent Calendar, produced entirely by hand, which bear lucky symbols from around the world.
There are also limited-edition candles and diffusers in scents such as Bosco, a green one of the crisp mountain air, as well as fir trees and frosted pine needles; Neve Fresca, of a winter morning at home complete with notes of sparkling citrus, cloudy musk and silky sandalwood; as well as Portafortuna, a lucky charm that captures the magical aura of wishes and dreams with deep, woody, and leather notes, even with subtle hints of cinnamon weaved in.
our pick — colonia gift set, $267
Already wrapped in joyous yellow, this Acqua di Parma gift set stars the timeless Colonia fragrance, an epitome of Italian elegance with its opening of bright, citrusy notes, that then reveal an aromatic heart of lavender, rose, and rosemary, followed by a warm and precious woody base. The Colonia Gift Set includes a full-sized bottle of the Colonia Eau de Cologne, alongside a refreshing Bath and Shower Gel, and matching Deodorant Spray.
Acqua di Parma, at Raffles City Singapore, #01-07.
On top of these splendid gifts, Raffles City Singapore is offering a whole sleigh of festive shopping promotions when you shop at the mall, available till 31 December 2023. This includes a $1,000 eCapitaVoucher and 6 months Raffles Prestige Membership if you’re among their top 10 spenders! You may also head over to the Fashion Display Walkway for a curated display of gifting options. Click here to find out more!
The featured gifts are available at Raffles City Singapore. Visit Raffles City Singapore for more festive promotions.
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