The apex of male beauty today is achieving a sense of self, a concept where one takes ownership of the way he presents himself to the world be it baring flaws or flaunting attractions that genetics bestowed upon him. It has nothing to do with the everchanging approval of others but is instead a heroic attitude that these men adopt in how they telegraph their personal selves — a certain toughness, a moral nerve, and a discipline to be the best they can be every day.
Naz aka @SkintNaz, Brand Founder
Hi Naz, who do you see when you look into the mirror?
I see someone confident in their own skin and comfortable living his truth. Skincare helped me gain confidence and discover myself, and I realised skincare was how I viewed myself and others.
What were you like before you discovered skincare then?
I was reserved but since starting my social media accounts, I found a wholesome and humble community in Singapore and around the world. We share personal experiences about acne and our favourite products and with that kind of shared personal experience, you forge a sense of community.
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What is so interesting about your content is that you’re able to express yourself coherently. It’s never demeaning or shallow but instead, engaging and informative.
I used to have aggressive cystic acne which dwindled my confidence. I researched the science of skin so that I could be more informed about the ingredients and what specific functions each has, and that established my knowledge. The skincare community helped me to build my knowledge too.
What was the ingredient that helped your cystic acne?
It was niacinamide, a game-changer product introduced to me. The Ordinary’s serum that contains it is affordable and direct in what it does.
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Is there anything regarding skincare you are quite obsessed with?
Recently I’ve been obsessed with sun protection; it’s getting rampant on TikTok now as people are realising its significance. I’m also obsessed with the message of neutrality in skincare — it’s no longer reserved for women and is all about being in touch with your well-being.
What do you want to say with the #SkinOnNeutral hashtag you coined?
I’m trying to say that it’s being fine with yourself. We have to acknowledge that sometimes, imperfections might not be okay if you deem that it’s not but you have to be knowledgeable about what will work for the condition you have. Don’t be moved by other people’s opinions because you’re in control of yourself and the decisions you make for your skin.
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With your brand Newdtral and the Siriusly Bright Serum, it feels like it’s something trendy — the usage of popular ingredients like Niacinamide and Stellight — but resonates with a wide generation of people.
Newdtral’s first product was a serum that contained niacinamide and Vitamin C because existing ones can be expensive. Having hyperpigmentation or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation can be a long-term struggle; I decided to develop the Siriusly Bright Serum to target both conditions efficiently.
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How long did it take for you to develop the Siriusly Bright Serum?
It took me just over a year from ideation to production. Interestingly, I developed it during National Service and was texting suppliers from my bunk. I would meet my family to discuss the launch plan when I booked out. I would incorporate the serum and future products into my routine. Whatever I’ve launched or am planning to is never trendy or rides on the social media wave if it doesn’t fit into my #SkinOnNeutral messaging — it can do more damage than good.
TikTok tends to propagate DIY hacks that I’m not a fan of.
Lastly, what is next for you or the brand in the later quarter of the year?
I’d like to get the messaging of the brand out. Not to say that the product comes second, but it acts as a catalyst for the messaging. Being a local Singaporean skincare brand, and yes many are great, some have a high price range. It’s understandable as they source their ingredients but I’d like to make Newdtral affordable and effective.
I’m planning to go into social media full-time by expanding myself to a bigger audience in Singapore and overseas.
Kevin Brendan aka @KevinsBrendan, Musician
Hi Kevin, who do you see when you look into the mirror?
I see imperfections that used to bother me but I’m in a place now where I can make peace with them. One thing that always bothered me was the colour of my skin; I grew up with an identity crisis where I never wanted to look the way I did. Through conversations with people who loved me and deep reflection, I started to realise that there’s nothing I should hate about myself.
That’s strange of you to say because when we first spoke, I thought you were very “realised”.
It took a lot of time to get here and I wouldn’t say that I’ve finally found myself. I’m the amalgamation of all my experiences and inspirations. Fun fact: I had a phase where I was into Korean pop, culture, and even their noses. I wanted to get rhinoplasty but luckily, I had no money at the time if not I would change my entire face.
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How did you arrive at your current look?
I tailor whatever inspiration I get to my features. When everybody was doing the Kylie Jenner full-glam beat, I adapted it by thinking about what made sense for me — for example, could I do the heavy brow? I’m also inspired by Boy George, David Bowie, Freddie Mercury, and others like Sam Smith or Rihanna who are just out there living their lives.
I take visual cues that I like from them and marry them with my features to get the look I have.
If you don’t mind me asking, do you ever regret putting on a full beat?
It’s the worse because you’re giving yourself more trouble by adding an extra step to your routine. I like the look of makeup after a long day though when it fully settles into your skin. It makes you look like a rock star. [Laughs]. There are periods where I could be performing five nights in a row and am drenched in perspiration after, but for some reason, I like how I look. The smudged liner, glowing skin; how it looks lived in.
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Let’s talk about how everyone is obsessed with your blush placement.
[Laughs]. It’s not a placement in particular but in fact, the fans? Forblush,Ialwaysstartatthesamepointofmy product I use. Most people with darker skin tones don’t often think that a blusher would show but when you introduce hues like orange or purple, it wakes the skin up. The whole glass skin situation was interesting too as there was nothing tailored for men or people of darker skin.
I decided to cheat by focusing on highlighting the skin which really, was just me changing the placement of where I used cheek products.
What is the placement so we can finally answer your fans?
For blush, I always start at the same point of my contour — in between the eyes and the cheekbone. I bring it down just a little bit and go over and under the nose to give a sun-kissed glow. I just use any blush I have on hand.
What do you do on days when you’re not feeling the best then?
On the days when I’m physically or mentally tired, I just apply skincare because it makes me feel ready to do something. At the very least, I would comb my brows to help me feel together.
Is there anything regarding skincare or even makeup you are quite obsessed with?
One thing you would never not catch me wearing is a lip tint as my lips are one of the things I’m most insecure about because I have naturally dark ones. For skincare, I could be hungover as hell but I would always wear sunblock. There are days when I would even just wear sunblock itself.
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It might be a question that answers itself but is anything too “out there” for you?
At this point in my life, I would do something if I can reason myself out and make things work. Right now, I have the confidence to wear anything. I was just telling someone that at the Jacquemus show last year, I thought it would take me so much courage to wear all the red and pink looks the male models wore but I would say why not If you asked me right now.
Do you think it’s a matter of psyching yourself up psychologically?
You have to think about how much external validation means to your happiness. It always feels good especially as a performer because you can only grow when you get critical feedback. I seek criticism and validation because if I don’t rouse a response, be it positive or negative, I’d never know if I did a good set. Some people might say they’re above it but how would they get better at what they do?
It’s scary to me. As long as it makes sense to you; you have the full power to make that choice.
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Lastly, what is next for you in the later quarter of the year?
I have three new songs coming out with a good friend of mine and they’re a bit experimental. I have two other original songs too and I’m exploring a lot more makeup looks for my social media. Events are coming back and it’s exciting to meet people to explore new things.
It’s all about finding like-minded people to form a community.
Isaac aka @Kinwye, Student
Hi Isaac, who do you see when you look into the mirror?
I see myself — the parts I love and don’t. It depends on the day, what I focus on and what calls out louder to me.
So what calls out the loudest then?
The parts that I don’t love about myself but that’s when you learn to compensate by working around them. Honestly, the biggest thing for me is makeup. When I’m having a bad day, slapping on a full face of makeup changes my mood instantly.
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Come to think of it, the first time I came across you was a picture of you at your 21st birthday party with a full beat.
That was fun as it was the first time I did such a look. Looking back, I looked botched but I truly felt the “main character” energy. It was the first time that I realised I could use makeup every day to translate the confidence I needed in real life.
It feels like your look hasn’t changed in the past few years. It’s always about a great pair of brows, demi-matte skin, and moisturised lips.
ow, what a fan! [laughs]. Growing up in a conservative Christian household, there were a lot of things ingrained into me, especially the way I could express myself. Having a great pair of brows was important to me because my mom would always tell me they were great the minute I came out of her womb.
She lied because I was a C-section baby! [laughs]. I realised though that just having great brows wasn’t enough because I had to cover my blemishes too.
Everything else eventually fell into place when I stepped into adulthood because it meant that I had full control of the way I could present myself. I’m not here to account for myself to anybody anymore and it’s been a fun journey.
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What are you trying to say about this look you have?
A part of me wants to tell the world that I’m put together and that I know how to clean up well. Being bare-faced however requires vulnerability which requires me to constantly tell myself not to put anything on. Thus, putting on makeup means that I’m present and I’m making an effort to be where I want to be.
It’s my way of saying that whomever I’m meeting is important to me.
With your acting gigs, how far are you willing to change your look?
Pretty far because I wouldn’t mind doing a full ”à degrees change. I play roles that are not like me — the last portrayal was as a man getting married to a woman. It wasn’t so much about my external expression as it was my internal one. Sometimes, it’s hard to access the latter but the external one makes up for it when I look in the mirror and realise I have to wear another person’s “skin”.
Would you say it’s how you approach makeup and experimenting with what you’ve got?
Makeup videos used to focus on how you could transform yourself into a different person but I would say that in the last two years, it’s more about enhancing who you are. That sat a lot better with me because growing up different, you spend so much of your life trying to be someone else. To go from one extreme to another might feel familiar for some but it doesn’t mean it’s right.
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You seem to love going to the beach a lot too so if you know where this prompt is heading.
[Laughs]. I used to be worried that my Fenty concealer might no longer match my skin tone but what I like about going to the beach is you don’t have to care about your image. Some people might go there with a full beat but for me, you’re just there to have a good time without caring what you look like.
Of course, I use sun protection.
Is there anything regarding skincare or makeup you are quite obsessed with?
Not really for skincare because I’m still throwing things to the wall and seeing what sticks. For makeup, I’m obsessed with blushers and bronzers. The scary thing though is that most of the time, you’re not fully conscious of how you look. I’m content with how I look though I recognise that this is not my peak. It’s not my final form — I’m just a baby Pokémon making his way to the Elite Four.
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What do you think is “peak you”?
It’s when I’m proud of what I’ve done with my face. For now, I’m proud of my skills and what I can do but there’s probably a product out there that’s going to change the game.
Lastly, what is next for you in the later quarters of the year?
I’d like to clear school and at the risk of sounding cocky, I know what I’m good at but it’s also about honing my skills while protecting myself as an artist and person. Institutionalised education insidiously brings you down as an artist so I’m learning how to retain who I am. Someone told me a long time ago that I come across as authentic because I don’t sugarcoat how I feel and it’s something I’ve learned to embrace.
Photography Reuben Foong
Styling Tok Wei Lun
Grooming & Hair Rick Yang | ARTISTRY using Make Up For Ever and KEUNE.Haircosmetics
Once you’re done with this story about male beauty, click here to catch up with our August 2022 issue!
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