Blog

Ever so often, you come across a lesser-known makeup brand on social media, endorsed and loved by seemingly hundreds – and yet; you wonder, why haven’t you ever heard of them? Are they reliable? In an age where so many independent makeup brands are taking (solely) to the Internet and coming into their own, it’s normal to find yourself plagued by a bevy of new choices – choices that, unfortunately, you can’t pop into your nearest Sephora to check out in person for yourself. Well, here’s the next best option: a real-life review by real-life Singaporeans who dared to take the plunge and place the order. Today, we review the highly raved about Hydra-Matte Liquid Lipsticks from Gerard Cosmetics.
 
Who is Gerard Cosmetics?

  
Left image from Instagram (@gerardcosmetics)

  
Left image from Instagram (@gerardcosmetics)

 
Influencers wearing 1995 | Images from Instagram (@gerardcosmetics)

If you had walked by Raffles Place today, you’d probably have spotted something that’s quite impossible to miss — posters of children plastered across the walls of the MRT station, and then, a quaint red booth that stands out among the grassy fields at the courtyard where many office workers gather. We’re talking about SK-II’s very public and very prominent event, where the global skincare brand unveiled a new chapter of their renowned #changedestiny campaign, called ‘Dream Again’.
As the title implies, this focuses on our dreams — the ones we strive for, the ones we wish to attain, and especially the ones we might have cast aside while growing up, in favour of more “reasonable” and “practical” goals. In fact, in a Global Dreams Index Survey conducted by the skincare brand, they found that women were becoming less satisfied with their lives as they grow older — particularly, 3 in 4 Singaporean women have given up on their dreams.
Which is why something needed to be done.

You might have already seen this gorgeous gem floating around on Instagram (thanks to YouTubers and beauty influencers elsewhere in the world), but great news: the long-awaited Urban Decay Alice Through The Looking Glass palette is finally here!

    

The first thing you should know about buying makeup brushes is this: We’re all in it with you. ‘It’ being the universally torturous process of choosing brushes, of course. In fact, makeup companies seem to have made it their lifelong mission to terrify young women around the world on their first foray into makeup, with endless variations of what’s sometimes essentially one brush. Well fret not, we’ve put together what’s we’d like to think is the most definitive list of all possible brushes out there in the beauty world – weird variations excluded – for your future shopping ease. Because something as fun as makeup should never have to be daunting.
 

FACE

 
 
Powder brush
For: Sweeping setting or finishing powder all over your face to set your makeup. Dusting translucent powder also helps to reduce shine and oily skin. If there’s one brush to start out with, it’s this.
Try: Real Techniques, $23, available at Sephora
 
 
 
 
 

 
Concealer brush
For: Patting concealer under your eyes or in hard-to-reach areas like around your nose. The flat, tapered bristles help you get the concealer exactly where you want it.
Try: Sigma Beauty, $20, available at Sephora
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
Foundation brush
For: Applying liquid or cream foundation.
Try: 3CE, $28, available at Sephora 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
Stippling brush
For: Applying foundation to your face through gentle swirling motions (ie. stippling) for a lighter, airbrushed effect. No streaks!
Try: Zoeva, $27.99, available at Sephora 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
Blush brush
For: General application of blush in the apples of your cheeks; no precise sculpting here.
Try: Sigma Beauty, $42.30, available at Sephora 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
Angled face brush
For: Applying contour or blush to your face, specifically for creating a more sculpted look in the hollows of your cheeks.
Try: Marc Jacobs Beauty, $69, available at Sephora
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
Kabuki brush
For: Applying loose powder, powder foundation, and bronzer (along the temples, hairline, cheekbones, and jawline).
Try: Tarte, $43, available at Sephora 
 
 
 

 
 
Fan brush
For: Applying highlighter, (occasionally) blush, and cleaning up excess powder/fall-out.
Try: EcoTools, $19.90, available at Guardian
 
 
 
 
 

EYES

 
 
Eyeshadow brush
For: General application of eyeshadow as a base on your lids. The most basic of eye brushes, the tapered bristles in an eyeshadow brush help to pat on the shadows precisely.
Try: NYX, $18, available at Sephora
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
Eye blending brush
For: Blending eyeshadows and defining your crease; a must-have for those who like to experiment with more/darker colours that require blending to look natural. Beware – also often called a ‘Crease brush’; but you really don’t need more than two.
Try: THEBALM (double-ended), $30.18, available at Sephora
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
Smudge brush
For: Smokey eyes and softening harsh pencil liner. Use the smudge brush to gently swipe your kohl/pencil liner for a more natural smokey eye.
Try: Sephora Collection, $24, available at Sephora
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
Angled eye brush
For: Applying eyeliner using gel liner or eyeshadow. Precision is key here.
Try: NYX, $18, available at Sephora
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
Brow brush and comb
For: Brushing and perfecting your brows; the comb is used to de-clump your lashes after applying mascara.
Try: Alima Pure, $29, available at Sephora
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
Angled brow brush
For: Applying brow pomade or powder. The angled shape is tailored to fit the natural contours of your eyebrows.
Try: Tarte, $36, available at Sephora
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

LIPS

Lip brush
For: Applying regular or liquid lipstick precisely to your lips, shaping and sculpting your lips to perfection in the process. That’s how YouTuber beauty gurus get their lips so on point.
Try: EcoTools, $15.90, available at Guardian