You know your L'Oreal from your L'Occitane, your Shiseido from your Shu Uemura.
They are the big brands you count on to keep you looking your best even on your worst days.
But every now and then, you would stumble upon a delicious beauty secret, an as-yet-unknown fixer-upper with an exotic ingredient, a fresh scent or eye-popping packaging.
Urban uncovers six fabulous under-the-radar beauty brands - Amala, Girl2Go Pocket Beauty, Organic Surge, Pupa, Laboratoire Remede and Sexy Girl - and can't wait to share them with you.
ORGANIC LOVER
Brand: Amala
Origins: Launched in April this year, this organic skincare range comes from Germany.
Its founder Ute Leube wanted to create a line of products that fit her exacting standards of what 'organic' should be - that is, all natural, preservative-free, with certified organic ingredients grown in their natural environments.
What's the big deal: Amala products are as organic as they can get.
The plant ingredients are sourced from all over the world in their natural habitats, and in partnership with local fair-trade farmers.
The ingredients are certified to be organic and 100 per cent free of any synthetics.
And if exclusivity is your thing, know that it is sold only at Changi Airport's Terminal 3 or three spas in the United States.
Either way, you're going to have to buy an air ticket to get your hands on Amala products.
Star product: Purifying mattifier, $51 for 50ml. It contains extracts of blue lotus, sea algae and white tea, which help to absorb excess oil, a common problem here. Apply after moisturising.
Prices: $22 for body cleansers, $30 for facial cleansers, $68 for bath crystals and $169 for face masks.
Where to buy: Perfumes & Cosmetics Departure Transit Megastore, Terminal 3, Singapore Changi Airport
SPA-GOER
Brand: Laboratoire Remede
Origins: Laboratoire Remede's skincare products, which were formulated by Swiss and French chemists, was launched in 1997.
The premium ingredients and anti-ageing properties of the products quickly made the brand a cult favourite.
Its success led to the opening of Remede Spas located in St Regis properties in Singapore, New York, Aspen and San Francisco.
What's the big deal: You get to extend your ultra-luxe experience at Remede Spa (Photo 3) by taking home the same products used during your facial and spa sessions.
Try out the spa's customised treatment using Laboratoire Remede's anti-aging line of skincare.
Star product: Alchemy Premium Night Cream (Photo 4), $283. This power-packed night cream contains all the active ingredients from Laboratoire Remede's Alchemy line, which works hard to renew skin cells while you sleep.
Prices: $66 for facial cleansers, $95 for toners, $155 for facial moisturisers and $174 for anti-ageing face creams.
Where to buy: Remede Spa, St Regis Singapore
JETSETTER
Brand: Girl2Go Pocket Beauty
Origins: This line of beauty essentials from Britain was inspired by the small, compact product design of the Japanese.
Founded in 2004 in Britain, it aims to provide busy women on the move with portable beauty products that won't weigh them down.
The 20-piece line of tiny face savers hit stores here last September.
What's the big deal: That everything's so tiny, of course.
All the products fit easily in your palm, not to mention your clutch, and is enough for multiple uses.
We also like the thoughtful design of the packaging.
Make-up and nail polish removers come in the form of wipes so there's no risk of spillage. All the products are housed in plastic pots so you won't have to worry about glass shards in your bag.
Perfect not just for airplane travel but also for slipping into your handbag for everyday use.
Star product: Naked Eyes make-up remover wipes (Photo 6), $6.50. These eye make-up remover wipes make it a breeze to swipe off eye colour in a crunch with zero mess.
No wonder it's Girl2Go's bestseller.
Prices: $5 for lip balm, $7 for eye gel patches, $16 for a travel brush set and $17 for a French manicure set.
Where to buy: Watsons at Ngee Ann City, Bugis Junction, Raffles City Shopping Centre and Changi Airport Terminals 2 and 3; John Little at Marina Square, Causeway Point and Jurong Point; and Dulcetfig at 41 Haji Lane.
GIRL-ABOUT-TOWN
Brand: Pupa
Origins: This Milan-based brand was set up in 1974 with the aim of making make-up fun and affordable for young women.
It soon became a hit among its target group because of its knack for churning out a wide range of trendy shades.
Today, Pupa is sold in 58 countries and, you may not know this, made its Singapore debut 13 years ago.
What's the big deal: Pupa ranks as one of the top five make-up brands in Italy and is a hit with the fashionable set.
Be sure to check out it's range of liquid and pencil eyeliners as well as eyeshadows in hues of the rainbow.
Star product: Pupa New Chic Luminous lipstick (Photo 7), $27. This moisturing lipstick comes in a case which also houses a mirror within the cap.
Prices: $26 to $33 for eyeshadows, $27 for lipsticks and $40 to $44 for foundation.
Where to buy: BHG Bugis Junction and Tampines, Metro Woodlands, and selected SaSa outlets including those at Wisma Atria, Plaza Singapura and Bugis Junction
ECO WARRIOR
Brand: Organic Surge
Origins: Launched in Britain in early 2006, at a time when consumers were starting to seek out products with natural ingredients. The brand was an instant hit and was featured in articles in the Daily Mirror and Daily Mail, among others.
Beauty editors gushed about the natural and organic plant ingredients and essential oils used in the products and their reasonable prices.
Today, Organic Surge is a leading brand in the natural toiletries market in Britain. The brand was launched in Singapore last month.
What's the big deal: Besides using all natural ingredients, Organic Surge's range of face, skin and hair care products are free from chemical additives like parabens and synthetic perfumes and do not use any ingredients derived from animals.
This explains why they smell so good, leave skin silky soft and do not strip away natural oils on the skin.
Star product: Tropical Bergamot Body Lotion (Photo 8), 250ml, $17.90. It was voted Best Organic Moisturiser on How To Look Good Naked, a popular British TV makeover show.
Prices: $13.90 for shower gel, $14.90 for shampoo and conditioner, $15.90 for body scrubs and $23.90 for face masks.
Where to buy: At selected Guardian stores including those at The Centrepoint, Paragon, Suntec City, Raffles City and VivoCity.
RAPUNZEL WANNABE
Brand: Sexy Girl
Origins: Launched in Japan in 2005, this hair and bodycare range made its debut here early this year. While defying the conventions of grammar, the Japlish mission statement 'Transform all girls in love into sexy girl' does accurately convey the brand's exuberance.
What's the big deal: Sexy Girl products are unabashedly kawaii.
Slather on light whipped body cream, choose from three hair waxes that promise to give your hair different textures or spray on floral scented Treatment Water that is said to protect and moisturise your hair.
We're not sure if using these products will 'attract boys', as the catalogue claims. But it sure is fun putting them to the test.
Star product: Hair cologne spray (Photo 9), $17.80. The three scents - paradise fruity, innocent floral and shiny peach - can mask smoke and food odours in your hair while remaining light enough to give others breathing space.
Prices: $15.80 for hair wax, $19.80 for whipped body cream and $26.80 for hair straightener.
Where to buy: John Little Marina Square, Jurong Point and Causeway Point; selected SaSa stores including VivoCity, Wisma Atria and Bugis Junction; and selected Watsons including those at Ngee Ann City, Tiong Bahru Plaza and Jurong Point
