Multi-tasking products, beauty secrets and more
By Samantha Francis
Your beauty solutions are closer to home than you know. With more local skincare and makeup brands popping up in the market, we now have more options than ever. Looking for something organic or fuss-free? These brands have one trait in common — they’re made to suit Asian skin. In our series, Local Beauty Heroes, we take a closer look at a few of these homegrown brands.
Nicolas hopes Allies of Skin products will empower people.
With his flawless looking skin, it’s hard to imagine that Allies of Skin founder, Nicolas Travis, once struggled with terrible outbreaks and a lack of confidence as a teenager.
His beauty brand was born out of the desire to empower people with fuss-free products that are concentrated, multi-tasking nutrient reservoirs.
1. Hi Nicolas! What inspired you to start Allies of Skin?
I believe it’s time for products to empower. For people to feel like they can leave the house as they are, without having to conceal anything.
Unfortunately, we still live in a time where women get paid less than men, have to fight for equal rights and yet can’t roll out of bed and show up like men do.
There’s so much more pressure to appear a certain way. The ability to be able to leave the house as you are is powerful. The choice to not hide or conceal with layers of makeup is powerful.
It all starts with good skin. I feel like I could make a difference and I decided I had nothing to lose so I just went for it.
2. How do you think homegrown beauty brands compare to international beauty brands?
One of the reasons why I started Allies of Skin is because I wanted to show that Singapore is capable of creating desirable products.
Why do we always have to look towards the US, Europe etc for innovation? I aspire to show that we too can create effective, beautiful, intelligent products.
So I think there’s a lot of potential for homegrown beauty brands. There just needs to be more support and gratuitous elevation from the government entities.
3. Share one of your favourite beauty tips
A clay mask daily is a great way to keep skin clear. The trick is not let the clay mask dry out so it just unclogs and removes surface impurities and nothing extra.
At the end of every night (or morning), apply the clay mask, leave it for 5-8 minutes and then wash it off. Always follow up with a non-comedogenic moisturizer/leave-on mask.
The essential 24/7 kit.
We love: 24/7 Kit ($277)
The 24/7 kit contains three time-saving nutrient reservoirs that will protect, revive and repair tired skin.
It includes the 1A All-Day Mask; which comes with a cocktail of 11 antioxidants help prevent smog, smoke, heavy metal particles in the air like the haze from sticking to the skin; Molecular Saviour Toner Mist, which boosts skin to reduce irritation and the effects of stress; and finally, the 1A Overnight Mask — an intensive daily treatment designed to combat the effects of too much alcohol, partying and too little sleep.
Available on www.alliesofskin.com
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