7 beauty products to get your hands on before you fly

If you’re not a beauty fanatic, chances are you won’t bother to set aside “shopping time” when flying through Singapore Changi Airport. For those who want to pick up some good deals (or a last minute gift) but don’t have time or patience to browse and explore, it can be overwhelming trying to narrow down your options when there are so many travel exclusives and great duty-free deals.

And since Changi Airport will soon be offering home delivery service for travelers residing in Singapore who purchase Shilla beauty products on iShopChangi.com or at the airport, it’s becoming so much easier to pick up must-have products when you are short on time.

To help make things even easier, below is a handful of exclusives and powerhouse products that have been tried and tested by yours truly, that I consider to be great items to insert in your next duty-free shopping list. You can also view this post PLUS other travel tips and exclusive information on the Now Boarding blog by Changi Airport!

 1. Estee LauderAdvanced Night Repair Concentrated Recovery PowerFoil Mask Set S$252.70

Advanced Night Repair serum is one of those cult antioxidant serums that beauty editors and celebrities have been swearing by for decades, even with the countless new products that launch each year. I’ve never been a huge fan of sheet masks because I find they give very temporary and minimal benefits for all the mess involved. This is the mask that totally changed my mind last year.

PowerFoil uses a simple but effective foil-backed system that “forces” all the repair ingredients to penetrate deeper into your skin layers instead of sitting on the surface and drying up. Pair that with the souped-up antioxidant formula (half a bottle’s worth of active ingredients in one mask) and you have a proper facial in each sachet. Exactly what you need to recover from a flight.

Buying 12 sheets at retail price would usually cost you around $350 but the travel exclusive kit is $252.70, AND throws in a deluxe Micro Essence AquaceuticalTM Mist, serum, and anti-aging crème for free.

2. Sulwhasoo Evenfair Perfecting Cushion Brightening Duo #13 S$112.50

Sulwhasoo is one of those luxurious Asian buzz brands that we lust over but hold back from splurging on usually. The classic Perfecting Cushion is popular for good reason. It gives great buildable coverage despite feeling air-light, and has skincare ingredients to hydrate and treat at the same time.

Unlike many other cushions, this contains a unique flexible film-fixing polymer that locks onto skin and keeps that radiant glow intact for up to 12 hours.

Whether you’re traveling and going between different climates, or just need something that can survive the day without feeling dry or heavy, this twin-pack is a great portable option. With a single refill (not including the case) costing $32 in town, I just HAD to include this twin-pack because you get 2 cases and 4 cushion inserts for just $112.50. (Or $56.25 for a each pack, which brings the price below that of some mid-range brands. Score.) 

Perfect for sharing with a friend, or just stocking up.

3. MAKE UP FOR EVER Pro Sculpting Brow #40 S$33.10

It might seem a bit counterintuitive to include a brow sculpting product in your duty-free shopping list, but I find it the best time to invest in really good brow products that will last quite awhile. For those who like the idea of brow swords but find the classic hard formula ones from Shu Uemura a bit hard to work with, you might want to check out the MAKE UP FOR EVER alternative.

It comes in a twist-up format so no sharpening is required, and the key difference is the formula is a little softer so you can fill in your brows easier with minimum skill. The nifty pen also comes apart and includes a spoolie brush to groom your brows (essential for me), AND a pale brow bone highlight powder to help sculpt and frame your eyes.

4. Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited Supreme Matte Gangnam Duo S$53.10

If you are a fan of that velvety, texture-less, “flower petal” matte lip, Asian brands tend to do it best. And Shu Uemura was one of the first to come out with a full range of gorgeous colors in that finish.

If you love that K-style bright powder-matte look but have been scared to try it, it’s a good idea to pick up this Matte Gangnam Duo because it contains a vibrant orange-red and vivid fuchsia that are both deep and rich enough to be flattering on a wide range of skin tones – including medium to tan girls – but still bright enough to be on trend.

5. MAKE UP FOR EVER Water Blend Foundation Y245 S$60.80

Originally called Face and Body Foundation, Water Blend is one of the unsung heroes in my foundation drawer because I whip it out on hot days and long days when I want to cheat no-makeup skin. It’s a translucent and lightweight gel that seems to disappear on the skin without leaving visible texture or an unnatural finish, but can build up to medium coverage if you layer it.

The formula is designed to also be used on the body for shoots, so it contains strong film-formers which make it sweat-proof and “rub-resistant” so it stays off clothes. I use it like a tinted moisturizer on hot days because it never goes patchy or breaks down after a few hours, but I’ve also layered it on when I wanted more coverage, and it stays looking like skin.

Tip: rub/pat it on with clean fingers to build coverage.

6. BOBBI BROWN Long-Wear Waterproof Liner #Black Smoke S$36.00

My favorite way to look sexy and sultry in 2 minutes, is to apply dark liner to my waterline. But my eyes are sensitive, and not every pencil works well there because they either irritate or fade quickly.

Bobbi Brown’s new Long-wear Waterproof Liners manage to do it beautifully. They are creamy enough not to drag the skin and to allow you to smudge and smoke them out quickly. Then they set and lock on for hours.

7. BURBERRY Liquid Lip Velvet #49 Bright Plum S$38

I am not a fan of ultra-dry matte liquid lipsticks. I very much prefer the creamy, luxe-feeling alternatives that don’t crack, wear off in patches, or emphasize lines on the lips. Burberry Liquid Velvets are one of my all-time favorite matte lip cream formulas, but the hefty pricetag (and the fact that many shades are constantly sold out online) can be a bummer.

Well skip the $46 pricetag and pick it up on iShopChangi.com for $38. Plus, you can locate out of stock colors like Bright Plum and Magenta easier too.

Tip: to get that softer “couture velvet look” like in the Burberry campaign, don’t overload your lips with product. This has enough opacity even worn with a light hand. Swipe once on the lower lip, press lips together, then use a clean brush or your pinky to smooth and spread the color out to the edges of your mouth. You should get a beautiful soft-matte mouth without any hard edges.

P.S. ishopchangi.com is celebrating their 4th birthday this September so keep your eyes posted on Instagram @makeup_box for an exciting contest where 4 readers/followers will receive a generous shopping spree for free!

*All prices are accurate at time of publishing.*