Every week, fashion and beauty editor Jolene Khor, makeup artist Fiona Bennett, hair guru Christian Maranion, and beauty connoisseur Monica Saranya Selva De Roy — collectively known as The Clubbers — test drive the latest (and with hopes, the greatest) makeup, skincare, hair care, fragrance, bath and body drops to land in Singapore. Tools and brushes too. You get the idea. To buy in bulk or to take a hard pass? We give you the 411 so you never have to second-guess again.
In the spotlight this week:
Kora Organics Sun-Kissed Glow Body Oil

Let's be real: Singapore's scorching heat is more likely to leave a sunburn than a sun-kissed glow. To get our fix (of the latter, obviously), we turn to the trusty body oil. Cream of the crop offerings are a tall order — they are lightweight (we don't want to feel the grease); moisturising (yet we want the grease to work); and radiance-boosting (we want the grease to play hide-and-seek) in equal measure — all of which Kora Organics Sun-Kissed Glow Body Oil claims to deliver. This first-ever organic-certified shimmer slick also bronzes, nourishes, and hydrates the skin through its potent blend of essential fatty acids. Desert date, rosehip, sunflower seed, and sea buckthorn oils turn up to leave a smooth and luminous sheen in their wake. We like what we hear so far. Just how well does its promises hold up? Only one way to find out. Or four.
Waiting for Winter
I'll admit this much: I've never applied a tinted body oil in my life. Not if you discount those old school (read: streaky as hell) Jergens tanning lotion America was obsessed with when I was a college. What can I say? Not even I, Miss Don't-Tell-Me-What-To-Do, was immune to peer pressure when I was a young adult. Pasty wasn't really a lewk when everyone was sporting a glow in the dead of winter. It isn't much of a lewk now either — have you seen the highlighters that have engulfed the beauty industry lately? To give my body the same kind of luminosity (and life (because I haven't had time to lay out in months), I reached for the Kora Organics Sun-Kissed Glow Body Oil. Things I liked: the subtle tan it gave me (I'm not even sure if I can call it a tan considering how light it is), which looked quite real and alive during the day. After sundown, I looked a tad yellow, due to the undertones of my skin. Ah to be Asian! It's a great product to start with if you're new to the body glowing process like I was, since the sparkle's pretty tame too. No one was going to accuse me of swallowing a disco ball if you catch my drift, which is reflective (hehe) of Fenty Beauty Body Lava Body Luminizer's finish. Things I didn't like: the sticky feeling it left my with; my skin didn't drink this up as much as I would have liked it to. To be fair, it's probably just the sunflower seed oil, which can be intensely moisturising as it's mostly made up of linoleic acid. Hey, perhaps this would be great for mature skin! At some point, I'd love to haul this to my next wintry vacation to redeem the mistakes of my youth, so Kora Organics must come up a mini version soon.

Jolene Khor

Beach in a Bottle
Hailing from Australia, I love nothing more than tan, glowing skin. My mom didn't endorse it; she constantly told me I looked like a farmer's daughter because I was so dark. But it didn't matter because I loved it! So how did I go with the Kora Organics Sun-Kissed Glow Body Oil? I really wanted to like it. I really really did, especially because I went to high school with Miranda Kerr. First thing's first: I think it's extremely well-priced. I mean, it would take you a thousand years to get through that big bottle. The shimmer and the colour convincingly faked a week or two's worth of vacation on the Amalfi coast — not complaining! It was not orange, but a beautiful natural sheen. I even tried it on Yvette King (affectionately nicknamed 'snowflake' by me) and it looked like a million bucks on her porcelain white skin. Caution: while the body oil gives you an immediate tan, it takes a long time to apply because the hole which dispenses the product is so bloody small. Almost nothing comes out without a vigorous shakedown. Don't attempt when you're in a hurry! Also, because the oil is quite greasy and thick, it didn't absorb well into the skin. All in all, this looks great, doesn't feel as great.

Fiona Bennett

When Skincare Meets Makeup
I'm a walking contradiction when homeopathic therapy is involved. I've always applied logic and evidence-based information to my skincare products. But tell me that there is a rose quartz crystal acting as a shaker to energise the Kora Organics glow body oil and I won't even raise an eyebrow of skepticism because I could use some deep healing. Kora Organics Sun-Kissed Glow Body Oil's formulation provided a very subtle bronzing tint to any skin tone that I've tested on... but hardly anything that is truly noticeable. What I did appreciate was the warmth and saturation it gave to deeper skin tones, as we do tend to get ashy when our skin is dry. Though it claims to be buildable, it ended up giving me a greasy finish the more I applied, leaving me feeling very uncomfortable. Given our humid climate, I felt clammy to the touch. That aside, this product's featured ingredient is rosehip oil which is a wonderful linoleic acid. Known for its skin regenerative properties, it does help to soften the edges of your skin (e.g. elbows) to give it a smooth finish. Despite this, it shouldn't be used to replace a proper moisturiser that your skin may need.

Christian Maranion

What's that Smell?
Miranda Kerr has launched Kora Organics Sun-Kissed Glow Body Oil, and I'm struggling to say I'm a fan. Just like the founder's personal aesthetic, this body oil does offer a natural glow thanks to it's lightweight formula that doesn't coat your skin the way most of the thick cream bronzers we own do. A huge saviour is the fact that the body oil is built with organic products, especially with some of my favourite oils such as rosehip and sunflower seed. That's all great, but the product's pitfall is its unbearable scent. The combination of oils gives it a raw nutty scent I found unpleasant. Moreover, it overpowered my perfume. Sure, the formula is aligned with how it's marketed, as it is indeed a buildable body oil. Several layers in, this product tells me a different story — I ended up with a very greasy finish. Speaking of finishes, I liked the subtle sheen on my skin when I had two light layers on, and it works as an everyday product that adds a little depth to a "work look". If you're looking for a way to heighten your holiday tan, you have dry skin and you're cool with the scent, this might be for you.

Monica Selva De Roy
Kora Organics Sun-Kissed Glow Body Oil is available online and at Sephora stores.
The Clubbers
a.k.a. the people who will never lie to you, the beauty enablers you never thought you'd have, the voices of reason when logic goes out the window on payday, and when Sephora goes on sale.
Jolene Khor
Beauty Editor of Buro. Singapore
The fashion and beauty editor at Buro. Singapore swiped on her first glitter lip gloss at age 12 and have never looked back since — except the rare (only not so rare) occasions when she wants to feel better about her makeup skills as an adult. That kohl eyeliner look wasn't working out despite the fact that she was listening to The Cure and quoting Oscar Wilde. Her mother is thankful that K-beauty happened though that means her glow isn't just genetic. These days, her worst crimes are knocking out with full makeup on and forgetting to apply sunscreen on her neck. Old habits die hard.
Christian Maranion
Hair Specialist & Makeup Artist
Nine years. That's how long Christian Maranion has been in the hair game. Having honed his craft, he then began dabbling in makeup, finding equal joy in killing it at both. He has worked with the likes of Vanessa Fernandez aka Vandetta, Tabitha Nauser, and Charlie Lim. He also frequently collaborates with names such as Sephora, Elizabeth Arden, and Kat Von D to up their beauty game. Don't be fooled by appearances — though he may love dark humour and even darker outfits, he is a pocketful of sunshine.
Fiona Bennett
Makeup Artist & Hairstylist
Fiona Bennett is a makeup artist and hairstylist by profession, and a wife, mother, and part-time Kardashian expert when she's not hustling. Hailing from Australia, she reluctantly came to Singapore with her husband almost six years ago but she's grown to love it so much she wouldn't want to be anywhere else. She began her journey (sometimes by force) pinning her friends down to make them up before going out — only now she gets paid for it! You might find the self-proclaimed beauty-obsessed Fiona snapping up the latest products in the department stores on weekends. You name it, she has probably tried it.
Monica Selva De Roy
Henna & Makeup Artist
Monica doesn't have enough heads for the hats she wants to wear. When the sun's out, she's selling ultra cool tech that makes logistics look sexier than ever. Then, she slaps on some face cake to moonlight as an actress on Vasantham; from nasty stepmother to varsity mean girl, she's seen them all in the realm of antagonism. Oh, her makeup and henna businesses keep her busy during the weekends too. Amidst all this, she's finding time to test and review makeup — if that's not true love, what is?
BE BOLD. BURO247.SG