SCRUB-A-DUB-DUB
AN ANNUAL AFFAIR MINI MASK
This year, Le Labo has picked the month of September to make its City Exclusives fragrances available in the brand’s boutiques worldwide. To make it more special, it’s also taken the opportunity to launch Citron 28, its 14th fragrance in this exclusive collection, and dedicate it to the city of Seoul. The fragrance bursts with a zesty note of lemon, before drying down to reveal a warm and inviting blend of jasmine and ginger. Much like the city, Citron 28 is sophisticated and modern with a traditional charm. We like spritzing this before morning meetings as it sets a positive mood for the day.
Acqua di Parma has collaborated with fashion brand La Double J to launch a limited edition bodycare line that features the latter’s signature vivid prints on the packaging. While the products make for something exciting to look at in the bathroom, we also liked that the shower mousse, body scrub and body lotion made our shower experience more uplifting with their mood-boosting scents. After all, they are perfumed with three of Acqua di Parma’s most popular fragrances from the Blu Mediterraneo line, with Arancia di Capri being our favourite. We especially enjoy the body scrub in this fragrance choice, because its scent of citrus and spices doesn’t just transport you to your imagined Mediterranean beach vacation, but also leaves your skin feeling nourished and healthy-looking.
One thing we won’t be leaving home without once travel restrictions are lifted will be Origins’ Clear Improvement Charcoal Honey Mask that now comes in a new 30ml tub. The silky pewtercoloured formula is packed with purifying ingredients such as bamboo charcoal and kaolin clay to effectively draw out acne-causing sebum. A blend of cruelty-free honey helps to keep the skin balanced by nourishing it, while essential oils of clove, rosemary and spearmint help to soothe any climateinduced irritation. Whether you’re basking under the sun on a faraway island or mall-hopping in the city, this mask does the trick in preventing your skin from facing environmental shock.
IF YOU HAVE A WINNING FORMULA, why change it? The new Huawei Matebook X Pro iterates on last year’s models with the latest versions of the Intel i7 processor and Windows 10, but everything else that’s made it such a success has been retained. This includes the beefy battery, the virtually borderless 3K touchscreen with a 3:2 aspect ratio for productivity tasks, as well as 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD. Following its global launch earlier this year, the Matebook X Pro quickly gained global recognition from tech authorities including Newsweek and Tech Advisor. Closer to home, it’s also garnered fans, such as co-founder of Grvty Media Johnathan Chua.
When we first spoke, you mentioned that this is actually your first Windows laptop since you cofounded Grvty Media?
Yeah. This business was started with a MacBook as my main device. I’ve been using Huawei smartphones for several years though, and I’ve always loved them for their long battery life and responsiveness. To be honest, I didn’t go out of my way to switch to Huawei. They had offered to let me try the new Matebook X Pro, and since it’d be an extension of a brand that I’m already familiar with, why not?
And how has the experience been?
Let’s just say I’ve already switched over. What I do at Grvty Media has changed over time, and the Matebook X Pro really fits my current needs. On one hand, I work a lot more with documents, so a larger and taller screen really helps. On the other hand, I’m still deeply involved in content production, and this laptop handles software like Adobe Premiere Pro easily. My directorial work also requires a lot of collaboration, so I’m always out and about. Because of this, I need a laptop with a long battery life, and the Matebook X Pro delivers here, which saves me any stress about charging it.
Are there advantages to having both your laptop and smartphone from Huawei?
It’s a lot more convenient because I can use Huawei Share to transfer files between them. Previously, I’d have to send files to myself using either Telegram or WhatsApp, but it’s seamless now. The devices can access and control each other, so I don’t even need to pick them both up to perform a task.
Were there any teething pains?
Not really. I did take a little while to figure out the best angle to use the webcam at, because it’s integrated into the keyboard and pointing up at me. I wouldn’t trade this design for anything else though, because it can be physically retracted to guarantee my privacy ‒ without needing any post-it notes or stickers. (laughs) AM