Beauty Spots in Town

Niche beauty stores are popping up all over - Sniffs out the best buys at five new places.

     Beauty junkies here are spoilt for choice these days.  Not only are there popular beauty emporiums such as Sephora and the well-stocked beauty halls of Robinsons and Tangs, new players specialising in cult fragrances, organic beauty products and Asian brands have also been springing up.

     In less than a year, at least five such shops have opened, including cult fragrance and beauty services boutique Oblique, which is run by celebrity make-up artist Clarence Lee. 

     We want to be a shopping destination where customers can come to relax and spend time discovering unique scents.

     It is located within Hide & Seek, a boutique in Telok Ayer Street which Mr Lee co-owns with fashion designer Keith Png and interior designer Jermaine Ng.

     The beauty halls of new department stores Alt in The Heeren and Parco Marina Bay are also new draws.

     Fragrance speciality store Escentials has also opened a boutique in Paragon while Ninki-O in Orchard Central, which is owned by beauty website and forum CozyCot, sells cosmetics voted tops by its members.

     The new competition, says the big players, augurs well for the industry.

     Having more choices helps to better educate customers says Ms Violet Ho, regional director of Sephora in South and South-east Asia.

     It show that people are now ready for new things and to try new products that they have not heard of .  This means that the beauty industry is set to grow.

Locations:

Oblique, Level 2, Hide & Seek, 176 Telok Ayer Street.

Best Finds:

Histories de Parfums travel set $190 for three bottles and a travel case

Nobile 1942 Acqua Nobile, $210.

Clearify serum $69

ALT, Level 1 to 3 The Heeren.

Best Finds:

BSC Panadda false eyelashes $22.90

Chikutan Scalp Cleansing Liquid Gel $29.90

Sansim 9 piece Travel Set $59.90

Escentials, 03-02 Paragon.

Best Finds:

Maison Francis Kurkdjian Aqua Universalis $320

Acqua di Parma Colonia Essenza $203

Compagnie de Provence 20 Years Limited Edition Liquid Marseille Soap $38

Ninki-O, 02-24 Orchard Central.

Best Finds:

Lashfood Eyelash Conditioner $195

BBS Care Skin Revolution $199

Dermonglo MicroRenew face towel $36

Parco Marina Bay Beauty and Cosmetic zones, levels 1 & 3 Millenia Walk.

Best Finds:

Durance Eau Cedre Pamplemousse cologne $108

Perfect Potion Aching Bodies Massage Oil $29.90

Organic Apoteke Rasayana Rejuvenating Serum $169