Over the past few months, the ELLE Singapore team, together with a panel of beauty insiders and industry experts, have put nearly 500 products through their paces. We tested, swatched, massaged and misted our way through a dizzying array of new launches and cult favourites alike. The result: 80 winners that impressed us with real results, thoughtful innovations, and that elusive X-factor. These aren't just exceptional products, they're confidence boosters, mood enhancers, and daily rituals that celebrate the unique beauty in all of us. So, clear some space on your shelf. This is the best in beauty, curated just for you!
Meet The Judges
Atiqa Dar
Atiqa Dar is a rising Gen Z voice known for her bold humour, relatable beauty content, and chic aesthetic.
A product that doubles up as a cleansing mask, this face wash is packed with botanical actives like enmei herb and cherry blossom. Its creamy foam gently lifts away deep-set impurities, leaving skin well-cleansed and hydrated, but never parched.
Softpeel Technology preps the skin to better absorb all the active ingredients of the skincare products that follow. With 13 essential ingredients, it gently sloughs off dead skin cells, promoting renewal of the deeper layers and refining skin texture to reveal a smooth and supple complexion.
Powered by a unique ginseng berry elixir paired with a R.E.D flavonoid, this hydrating water preps the skin as it stimulates and revitalises dull and aged skin cells. Concurrently, it attracts moisture to keep skin well-hydrated for a supple and youthful looking complexion.
Combining a unique AHA-BHA blend that includes glycolic, salicylic, lactic, citric, and malic acids, this watery lotion gently but effectively clears out the gunk trapped in the pores while refining skin’s texture at the same time. It also uses skin-soothing actives like witch hazel, centella asiati
Drawing from the reparative powers of three Black Bee honeys—Ouessant honey from France, Trøgstad honey from Norway, and Connemara honey from Ireland—this oil-in-water serum activates the skin to boost its self-repair mechanisms. Skin is plumped and radiant, while signs of ageing are reduced.
Shiseido wants you to break free from your skin age with its star serum. Infused with antioxidant-rich Power Fermented Camellia+, it strengthens the skin’s moisture barrier, proactively slows down the skin’s ageing cycle and reduces visible signs of ageing. Skin is smooth, resilient, and glowy.
Packed with AHAs (glycolic and lactic acids), BHA (salicylic acid) and PHA (gluconolactone), this skin retexturiser gently and efficiently sloughs off dead skin cells while clearing out impurities trapped in the pores. Skin texture is refined, softer, and smoother with use.
Enriched with a concentrated blend of panthenol, sulphur, hexapeptide-9, cranberries, and spinach, this complexion-clearing serum clarifies the skin and fights off blackheads and blemishes. Plus, it ensures that skin stays well- hydrated, thanks to the use of three types of hyaluronic acid.
Maintain skin’s youthful look with this first-step serum. Its secret lies in a blend of lemon myrtle extract and kelplex that
work to activate skin’s vitality. It delivers the actives deep into the skin, smoothing and plumping it from within while improving signs of ageing, and boosting radiance.
A comforting gel-cream suitable for sensitive skin, this clean beauty product targets the skin’s ageing process, addressing wrinkles, pores, elasticity and radiance. Pairing red camellia extract and camellia ceramide, it boosts skin’s vitality while protecting against oxidative stress.
Target the visible signs of ageing with this refreshing gel cream. It addresses skin ageing on both extrinsic and intrinsic levels with its blend of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids alongside botanical extracts like apple pip, white willow leaf and Persian acacia, and adenosine.
BEST BRIGHTENING MOISTURISER
DECORTE AQ ABSOLUTE GLOW-RADIANT BRIGHTENING EMULSION
Infused with one of the most popular brightening ingredients, kojic acid, this lightweight moisturiser addresses present and future hyperpigmentation issues, such as dark spots, post-acne marks, and dullness with ease. Skin feels soft and supple, and looks more radiant.
Looking for a moisturiser that won’t irritate your skin? This gel cream is enriched with oat and squalane to keep skin calm and hydrated. Its minimal ingredient formula makes it a great all-rounder that helps balance the skin.
Obtained the purest and most concentrated oil from the marula fruit, this product instantly nourishes, leaving skin super soft and supple. Like a powerful antioxidant-rich shield for your skin, it protects against external environmental stressors to reduce signs of ageing.
Infused with rose water paired with the brand’s iconic TFC8 complex, this mist instantly refreshes and soothes. In addition to quenching the skin with moisture, it also protects against environmental stressors and even helps set make-up, too.
Marrying a blend of vitamin B3 bio- ferments, vitamin C-rich Japanese plum extract, encapsulated niacinamide, and a pro- glutathione antioxidant booster, this lightweight cream works hard to reveal a well-rested and youthful looking you.
Powered by proprietary TFC8 complex alongside a Matrikine anti-wrinkle complex and botanically derived actives—wild yellow gentian roost and reishi extracts—this rich balm not only nourishes, but targets signs of ageing around the delicate eye area.
BEST EYE MASK
RARE BEAUTY FIND COMFORT HYDRATING UNDER EYE PATCHES
Revive tired eyes in a jiffy with these cooling hydrogel patches. It has blend of hydrating and botanical ingredients like caffeine to brighten and smooth, green tea extract to soothe, hyaluronic acid to condition, and cacao seed to strengthen the skin barrier of the delicate eye area.
This creamy overnight mask works while you sleep to reset and renew the skin thanks to high-performance ingredients, including pre- and probiotics, retinol, peptides, and ceramides. The key lies in the brand’s unique OSMV technology that delivers the right ingredients to wherever they’re needed.
Reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles while boosting radiance and hydration with this gel mask. It contains a potent blend of TFC8 complex, copper peptide, acetylated hyaluronic acid, fermented polysaccharide, and niacinamide.
BEST SUNSCREEN – CREAM
SHISEIDO GLOBAL SUNCARE PERFECT SUN PROTECTOR HYDRO GEL CREAM SPF50+/PA++++
This lightweight sunscreen is perfect for defending against UV damage. Its WetForce technology forms a protective veil that strengthens when exposed to water and sweat, providing a stronger shield against environmental stressors while also soothi breakout-prone skin and preventing dryness.
BEST SUNSCREEN – FLUID
INNISFREE GREEN TEA HYALURONIC MOIST SUN SERUM SPF50+/PA++++
Fans of the brand’s iconic Green Tea Seed Hyaluronic Serum will love this UV protector. This lightweight sunscreen is infused with skin-loving actives alongside high SPF properties to protect skin against damaging UV rays, and keep skin soothed and well-hydrated.
BEST SUNSCREEN – STICK
SHISEIDO GLOBAL SUNCARE PERFECT SUN PROTECTOR CLEAR STICK SPF50+/PA++++
Sunscreen reapplication anywhere, anytime is a breeze thanks to this pocket-friendly stick. Besides its high SPF, it also contains argan oil that nourishes the skin, and a SynchroShield that strengthens its protective prowess when exposed to heat, water, and sweat.
BEST SUNSCREEN – TINTED
SULWHASOO UV DAILY TONE UP SUNSCREEN SPF50+/PA++++
Packed with skincare ingredients like niacinamide and melasolv, this tone-up formula, doesn’t just protect against UV damage, but also evens out skin tone and improves skin clarity with use too. Plus, it even doubles up as a primer to enhance make-up longevity.
With its sorbet balm-like texture, this citrus-scented cleanser transforms into a milky emulsion, lifting away traces of even the most stubborn of make-up. It's gentle and keeps skin soft and supple thanks to seaberry oil, persimmon extract, olive oil, and vitamin E.
This high-tech gadget brings professional treatments into the comfort of your home. Using eight different LED wavelengths spread across 600 optimised points of light, it efficiently addresses signs of ageing—such as wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, blemishes, and dullness—to boost skin’s glow.
Best in Make-Up
Essentials that should belong in every make-up bag for the perfect full face beat.
Give your complexion that lit-from-within glow with this primer. Its refreshing formula, infused with Italian bergamot, hyaluronic acid and sea water, refines skin texture, instantly creating a smooth canvas for make-up that follows.
Bid farewell to unwanted shine with this lightweight toning primer. It not only helps control excess sebum, thanks to botanical extracts like lemon myrtle leaf and arnica montana flower, but also blurs imperfections like enlarged pores and fine lines to create a smooth base for make-up application.
“Tsuya” translates to “glow” in Japanese, and that’s exactly what this liquid foundation delivers. Enriched with five percent niacinamide along with camellia oil and amino acid-coated pigments, this product glides on like a dream, covering imperfections to reveal a flawless, healthy glow.
Formulated for Asian skin, it’s infused with hyaluronic acid and blurring pigments to mask imperfections, and brighten and hydrate skin. It also has SPF 50/PA+++ to provide extra protection against UV rays.
A concealer and corrector in one, this product helps cover and neutralise any dark or pigmented areas such as acne scars or undereye circles. The long-lasting formula contains 20 per cent moisturising oils to ensure no flaking or creasing during application.
BEST POWDER – LOOSE
KOSAS CLOUD SET TRANSLUCENT LOOSE SETTING + BLURRING POWDER
This talc-free loose powder wicks away excess sebum and shine thanks to the use of bamboo stem extract, while delivering an optical blurring effect to reduce the appearance of enlarged pores and fine lines.
A lightweight, mineral-based powder, it controls excess sebum and minimises the appearance of enlarged pores. Plus, its compact size (it's about half the size of a regular compact) makes it perfect for on-the-go touch ups.
With Singapore’s heat and humidity, this fixing spray will be your best partner for keeping make-up looking fresh. Transfer-, smudge-resistant and waterproof, it locks in your make-up for up to 16 hours. Its Temperature Control technology helps keep skin feeling cooler to prevent make-up meltdowns.
BEST BROW GEL
ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS VOLUMIZING TINTED BROW GEL
Its lightweight, buildable gel colour and precision brush adds instant volume, bringing a natural fullness that looks like you’re born with it. More importantly, the water-resistant and long-wearing formula that lasts up to 24 hours means no more worrying about disappearing brows by midday.
BEST EYESHADOW
TOM FORD BEAUTY EYE COLOR QUAD IN 31 SOUS LE SABLE
If you’re into soft romantic tones, then this is just what you need. Formulated with an advanced colour process, the eyeshadows come in four luxurious finishes—sheer sparkle, satin, shimmer, and matte—that can be applied wet or dry, allowing you to experiment and create varied looks.
Whether you’re looking to achieve a sharp flick or a hazy halo around the eyes, this eye pencil does it all. Its creamy texture glides on like a dream, never dragging on the delicate skin of the eye area. Its long-wearing formula doesn't irritate sensitive eyes and can be used on the waterline too.
Go from blah to va-va-voom with this mascara that volumises and curls at the same time. Its smudge-, sweat- and clump-proof formula is packed with lash plumping polymers and intense pigments to create the illusion of a wide-eyed, flutter-worthy look.
This blendable blush is enriched with an Unreal Lifting Complex that contains upcycled white lupin seed extract to firm, and hyaluronic acid to hydrate, while delivering a healthy flush. Its silky texture and buildable colour offers a natural finish that stays in place for up to 12 hours.
Blending pearlescent pigments, smoothing emollients and hydrating Glow Moisture Mesh, this highlighter gives a healthy, natural flush. On top of these, it features a barrier defense matrix comprising hyaluronic acid to lock in moisture and Collageneer to maintain the elasticity and firmness of skin.
This cream-to-powder blush is created with a patented technology that results in a velvety, buildable formula without a white base, ensuring that the rich colour pigments stay true on skin. Emollients, including sage oil, ensures smooth, comfortable wear up to 12 hours.
In the same airy, blendable texture as its ultra-popular Soft Pinch Liquid Blush, this lightweight liquid contour blends easily and seamlessly to enhance and define facial features and achieve a naturally sculpted look.
Available in seven iridescent shades, this highlighter boasts a concentration of pearlescent micro-pigments that delivers a multi-dimensional, shimmering glow. Hyaluronic acid keeps skin supple while its gel base
texture makes it very easy to blend.
For the softest pout, keep this tinted balm close by. Created in collaboration with filmmaker Sofia Coppola, the three shades deliver sheer yet buildable colour, while keeping lips nourished and plumped, thanks not only to the brand’s signature TFC8, but also a blend of plant-based butters and oils.
Infused with botanical extracts—Italian mint, fenugreek sprout and cranberry—paired with vitamin E, this lip oil plumps lips and enhances their natural colour, while keeping them soft and smooth. Its non-tacky texture makes it an ideal topper to add shine to your favourite lipstick.
Ticking all the right boxes, this lip gloss, available in seven shades, delivers maximum shine and hydration in a glossy wash of colour. Enriched with 15 per cent squalane, its oil-in-gloss formula drenches the lips with moisture, leaving them soft and supple.
Infused with lip-loving ingredients like peony flower, pomegranate flower and shea butter, this lipstick leaves lips plump and smooth. The Veil Finish offers a blurring effect while delivering a layer of buildable colour that intensifies with every swipe.
Here’s a lipstick that offers rich colour payoff and long-lasting comfort, thanks to a Luxe Comfort Complex with rosehip seed oil and hyaluronic acid which keeps lips soft, smooth and supple.
This glossy, liquid lip stain not only delivers intense colour but also mirror-like shine. The nourishing formula is infused with 90 per cent skincare ingredients, including tuberose extract and prickly pear, to lock in moisture.
Best in Bodycare
Turn your daily shower routine into an indulgent bath-time ritual.
Transform shower time into a spa experience with this body wash. It combines mineral-rich Dead Sea mud with olive oil and pink rock rose extract to cleanse, purify and nourish the skin from top to toe. Skin will never feel so soft and supple.
Strengthening the skin barrier is what this product does best. It uses a phytoceramide complex derived from black beans, and micro capsules containing ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acids, to soothe and hydrate skin. It’s also suitable for all skin types, making it ideal for the whole family too.
This indulgent sugar exfoliator is enriched with natural oils that leave skin soft and smooth, while gently sloughing off dead skin cells. It’s also infused with a decadent scent that envelops you in a heady, aromatic blend of honey, clove and nutmeg.
Named after the Greek goddess of mercy and compassion, this herbaceous balm with notes of cedar atlas, patchouli and clove bud nourishes dry, parched skin not just on the hands. Massage into rough elbows and cracked heels to keep them supple and super soft.
Had a heavy meal, or feeling a little backed up? You need this drink to help restore and enhance gut health. It’s packed with a blend of clinically proven active ingredients—probiotics, fruit and vegetable enzymes, as well as a patented kombucha powder—to improve your overall wellbeing.
Using potent actives derived from golden yellow tomato, cherry blossom flower, and Japanese spring turmeric alongside antioxidant-rich L-cystine, these skin supplements strengthen skin’s resilience while combating the effects of glycation to reduce signs of ageing.
Best in Haircare
Cleanse, strengthen and style for good hair days, every day.
Enriched with biotin, chia seed oil and hydrolysed keratin, this volumising shampoo strengthens and reinforces hair health while removing impurities. Notes of Italian lemon, jasmine, and white musk leave hair smelling fresh and luscious.
This nourishing conditioner is infused with biotin, chia seed oil and hydrolysed keratin that work in synergy to strengthen tresses while giving fine strands a volume boost at the same time. Hair is frizz-free, soft and shiny.
The white clay in this non-foaming cleanser removes buildup, rebalances the scalp's pH level, and regulates sebum production. Lemon extract strengthens hair while chamomile extract keeps your dye job looking fresh and vibrant for longer.
Protect your colour and enhance your hair’s vibrancy while keeping it soft and shiny with this conditioner. It's enriched with castor seed oil to nourish and hydrate, shea butter to keep frizz away, and hydrolyzed keratin to strengthen locks.
This works inside and out to restore hair health to overprocessed or damaged locks. Enriched with peptides, citric acid and glycine, it removes calcium overdose from hard water, while strengthening and repairing tresses at the same time.
Lock in hydration and reduce breakage to restore overprocessed hair to a healthy state with this conditioner that has TFC8 combined with a biolipid complex to condition, marula oil to nourish, sunflower sprout extract to protect against heat, and a rice protein complex to repair brittle locks.
BEST CONDITIONERS – DRY & DAMAGED
KIM ROBINSON HRF VITAMIN PLUS CONDITIONING TREATMENT
It not only repairs damaged locks but also helps encourage thicker and stronger hair growth. This is thanks to a Hair Rejuvenation Formula (HRF) packed with vitamins, minerals, silk amino acids and safflower seed oil.
BEST SHAMPOO – ANTI-HAIR LOSS
RYO ROOT:GEN FOR WOMEN HAIR LOSS CARE SHAMPOO (ROOT VOLUMISING)
Designed for women dealing with hair loss, this shampoo combines ingredients like caffeine, black bean peptide and low molecular rose protein to strengthen hair at the root and reduce excessive hair fall. It also soothes the scalp with extracts of rosemary, ginger, chamomile and lavender.
Curls can look frizzy when they’re dry. This shampoo infuses locks with moisture to restore its elasticity, giving your curls that silky bounce many women desire. Its hair-loving formula is rich in proteins, B vitamins, magnesium, copper and phosphorus that restore shine and volume.
This intensive treatment comes to the rescue of your coloured locks. It incorporates ingredients like shea butter, licorice extracts, sweet almond oils, vitamin E and hydrolysed silk proteins to strengthen and rebuild damaged tresses.
BEST HAIR MASK – DRY & DAMAGED
MISE-EN-SCENE SALON 10 PROTEIN HAIR MASK FOR EXTREMELY DAMAGED HAIR
All it takes is just 10 seconds to get dry and damaged hair silky smooth again, thanks to this hair mask. Its secret is a 10,000ppm Hair Nourishing Protein complex paired with a Conditioning Layering technology to protect, repair and hydrate hair.
In between shampoos but still want hair to look, feel, and smell fresh? This dry shampoo uses a patented odorBIND smart-release biotechnology that traps and neutralises odour-causing sweat and oil molecules for up to three days.
BEST LEAVE-IN HAIR TREATMENT
KEVIN MURPHY BODY.MASS LEAVE-IN PLUMPING CONDITIONING TREATMENT
Powered by wild olive tree stem cells, this leave-in product gives hair an instant boost of volume. It also helps strengthen the scalp, which in turn reduces excess hair fall and promotes healthier hair growth.
BEST HAIR OIL
SCHWARZKOPF PROFESSIONAL FIBRE CLINIX BONDFINITY LIGHT OIL
A multi-functional repair oil, this product uses a unique Bondfinity Technology to repair hair damage from within, strengthen locks and prevent breakage. It also protects locks from heat damage so that hair stays healthy and resilient.
Addressing five key scalp concerns like oiliness, discomfort, sweat, impurities and odour, this light gel cleanses and purifies. It contains one per cent pure silica to absorb excess sebum, and niacinamide to soothe and protect.
BEST SCALP CARE TREATMENT – ANTI-HAIR LOSS
SHISEIDO PROFESSIONAL SUBLIMIC ADENOVITAL SCALP POWER SHOT
Designed to nourish the scalp and promote healthy hair growth, this minty mist contains adenosine to stimulate and strengthen the hair follicles, as well as a blend of oils and plant extracts to further nourish and protect the hair. The result is a fuller head of hair with consistent use.
To keep fly-aways and frizz at bay, this purse-friendly hair stick glides easily over the hair for a slick polished look. Ingredients like yuzu extract, plum oil and a blend of B vitamins keep hair soft, shiny and nourished.
With bright notes of peach nectar, sparkling lemon and fresh flower blossom, this refreshing mist leaves a juicy, fruity-floral scented trail in just one spritz. It also contains biotin to boost hair’s resilience, helping tresses stay healthy and strong.
Best in Fragrances
Expand your fragrance wardrobe and explore new olfactory journeys with these winning perfumes.
Sweet, creamy vanilla top notes paired with a refreshing ozonic accord base note makes this sunshine-y bouquet the perfect finishing touch for a daytime ensemble.
BEST CITRUS FRAGRANCE
L’ARTISAN PARFUMEUR HISTOIRE D’ORANGERS EAU DE PARFUM
With notes of crisp neroli, intoxicating orange blossom and delicate musk, this luminous fragrance suits any occasion, is easy to wear, and definitely shareable with your partner.
A fourth vanilla—vanilla wood—joins the signature trio of vanillas from the original Goddess EDP, intensifying its scent with a smoky and woody aroma that adds warmth and opulence. Paired with lavender notes, this fragrance is guaranteed to turn heads wherever you go.
BEST WOODY FRAGRANCE
CHLOÉ ATELIER DES FLEURS CEDRUS INTENSE EAU DE PARFUM
For fans of the original woody-musky Cedrus scent, this version upends expectations by blending smoky Chinese cedar, Australian sandalwood and Indian sand vetiver, with notes of bergamot, cardamom and rose, to unleash a warm, spicy trail in your wake.
There’s nothing like a cool, uplifting scent to wake the senses. A fresh woody-marine fragrance that combines a vibrant salt accord with the freshness of marine seaweed, underscored by the warmth of oak moss, sand vetiver and upcycled cedarwood.
