9 high-maintenance beauty hacks to stay low-maintenance

Daily grind: Applying false lashes or mascara

Time taken: 5 to 10 min/day

High-maintenance: 

Eyelash extensions
Time taken: About 60 to 90 min every 6 to 8 weeks

Lash lift and tint
Time taken: About 45 to 60 min every 6 to 8 weeks

EYELASH EXTENSIONS

What is it? This involves attaching lash-like fibres to your natural eyelashes to create a fuller, more dramatic look. A full set of classic lash extensions takes around 90 minutes while a refill, to replace fallen extensions in between sessions, takes about 30 to 45 minutes. Eyelash extensions are usually done every two to four months to maintain the lush lash look.

Try: The Lash Company, from $98 for Natural Classic. thelashco.sg

LASH LIFT & TINT

What is it? A lash lift is essentially a perm for your eyelashes, lifting and curling them for an eye-opening effect. It is often accompanied by a lash tint, whereby a semi-permanent dye is applied to your lashes to darken and intensify the colour. An appointment usually takes 60 to 90 minutes and the effect can last about six to eight weeks.

Try: Dream Lash, from $98 for Filler Lash Lift. dreamlash.com.sg

Daily grind: Filling in with a brow pencil or powder

Time taken: 5 min/day

High-maintenance:  Eyebrow embroidery

Time taken: 180 min/year

EYEBROW EMBROIDERY

What is it? Also known as "cosmetic tattooing", "semi-permanent makeup", or "microblading", this is a form of tattooing, which involves implanting pigment beneath the surface of the skin of the brow area in a way that makes it look like hair strokes. It gives brows the appearance of natural thickness and volume.

An appointment usually takes about two hours including personalised consultation, numbing cream application and the procedure itself. The effect depends on the individual’s skin, if it retains the pigment well, and lasts about a year after the initial session plus a touch-up two to three months later.

Try: Bernice Brow Artistry, from $1,300 for Bespoke Brow, for customers without prior brow embroidery and includes first session plus one touch up. berniceb.sg/

Daily grind: Shaving

Time taken: 5 min/day

High-Maintenance: Laser hair removal

Time taken: About 30-60 min per session and 6 sessions are recommended for lasting results up to 3 years

LASER HAIR REMOVAL

What is it? Laser hair removal is a procedure that uses a laser to remove unwanted hair. During the procedure, the laser emits energy that damages the hair follicles to inhibit or delay hair growth. Although laser hair removal effectively delays hair growth for long periods, it may not result in permanent hair removal.

Our recommended treatment, Strip AFT, promises to significantly eliminate 80 per cent of unwanted body hair within six sessions, and results can last for two to three years. The regrowth depends on factors like your hair growth cycle, skin tone, hormones, and so on, so multiple treatments and maintenance treatments might be needed.

Try: STRIP, AFT Powerpac Hair Removal, from $190 for one underarm session or $800 for 6 sessions. Website: www.strip.com.sg

Daily grind: Blow Drying or using hair tongs

Time taken: 30 min/day

High-maintenance: Anti-frizz hair treatment

Time taken: About 120 min every 3 months

ANTI-FRIZZ HAIR TREATMENT

What is it? These are not straightening treatments that make hair ram-rod straight. These strand smoothening treatments are suitable for all hair types and textures and help to tackle frizz, unruly curls, and unmanageable hair.

The newer services use keratin which improves the health of hair and is formaldehyde and toxic free. It helps to relax, not totally get rid of, curls and leaves hair healthier, shinier and easy to manage. Result lasts up to three months.

Try: Blow+Bar, Sheer Smooth Frizz Control Treatment, from $260. blowplusbar.com.sg

DEFINED EYES

5/8

Daily grind: Applying eyeliner

Time taken: 5 min/day

High-maintenance: Eyeliner embroidery

Time taken: About 60-90 min every 3 years

EYELINER EMBROIDERY

What is it? Similar to eyebrow embroidery, eyeliner embroidery is a form of tattooing, which involves implanting pigment beneath the surface of the skin along the lash line to define and enhance the eyes.

An appointment usually takes about an hour and a half to two hours, including personalised consultation, numbing cream application and the procedure itself for the upper and lower lash line. Results can last for up to three years if the skin retains the pigment well.

Try: Browhaus, Eye Define, from $700 for lower eye line and $940 for upper eye line. browhaus.com

Daily grind: Applying lip colour

Time taken: 1 min multiple times a day

High-Maintenance: Lip embroidery

Time taken: About 180 min every 2 years

LIP EMBROIDERY

What is it? Lip colour embroidery is a form of tattooing, which involves implanting pink or red tone pigments beneath the surface of the lips to define and enhance your puckers. An appointment usually takes about an hour and a half to two hours, including personalised consultation, numbing cream application and the procedure itself.

How long it lasts depends on the individual’s skin, if it retains the pigment well, but the results from two sessions can usually last up to two years.

Try: Bernice Brow Artistry, Lip Blush, $1,600 for two sessions. Website: berniceb.sg

Daily grind: Applying foundation.

Time taken: 5-10 min/day

High-maintenance:

Time taken:

BB FACIAL 

What is it? BB Facials are also known as semi-permanent BB Cream. During the treatment, after thorough cleansing and exfoliation, a BB cream ampoule is applied and is gently infused into the skin using microneedling. This gives skin a lasting glow and brighter, more even skin tone. The effect from one session can last up to 2 weeks with proper care (ie. daily sunscreen and proper skincare). Our recommended treatment from Cosmo Aesthetic Medispa uses a collagen rich, 100 percent natural BB ampoule that also has anti-ageing and antioxidant benefits for the skin. With 5 to 6 sessions every 2 weeks, it promises lasting results up to 6 months.

Try: Cosmo Aesthetic Medispa, Meso BB Glow, from $128 for first trial to $1,788 for a package of 7 sessions. cosmomedicalspa.sg/meso-bb-glow/

Daily grind: Applying nail polish at home.

Time taken: 30 min/week

High-maintenance: Gel Manicure

Time taken: 45 min every 3 weeks

GEL MANICURE

What is it? A gel polish manicure is a manicure that uses a UV-cured gel polish. The gel polish acts as an overlay on the nail that lasts for at least two weeks, but often as long as three weeks. A gel manicure offers high shine nails with less chance of chipping, peeling, or cracking compared to normal nail polish. An in-salon session of gel manicure takes about 45 minutes.

Try: The Nail Social, Signature Manicure, $35. thenailsocial.co