Pockets of peace II: Natalie Eng takes a self-care—and self-love—respite with Chanel Beauty

On a mission to relax, Eng descended upon the Chanel Privé at Ion Orchard, the brand’s first standalone Privé boutique in Asia that combines a skincare, make-up and fragrance retail experience with beauty treatments in elegantly appointed cabin rooms. Retail therapy was the first order of the afternoon, with Eng honing in on the recently reformulated Sublimage L'Extrait with the highest concentration of rejuvenating vanilla planifolia, swertia and precious oils; and the new Sublimage L’Extrait de Nuit, a nighttime repair concentrate also formulated with active fractions of vanilla planifolia, combined with Himalayan swertia extract, a powerful, naturally derived chronopeptide that accelerates skin’s repair mechanisms that are activated in deep sleep.

“Since trying Chanel Sublimage a few months ago, starting with the luscious La Cremes, my curiosity has piqued to try the rest of the collection…including the new L’Extrait de Nuit”, she muses.

Inspired by Gabrielle Chanel’s apartment, Chanel Privé is bedecked in a signature palette of black, white and gleaming gold, with cabin rooms flanked with gold wallpaper and coromandel panels. “Sensoriality is always the goal when it comes to self-care, and self-love, so I’m here to try Chanel’s Le Soin Fascia Sublimage Les Extraits facial”. 

Equal parts efficacious and absolutely indulgent, the Le Soin Fascia Sublimage Les Extraits treatment acts on the look of all of the skin’s youth parametres with a hefty combination of ingredients that rejuvenate and repair deeply, with techniques that not only release tension from the facial muscles but help to lift, sculpt and tone.

Following thorough cleansing steps, a treatment-only sugar scrub was applied to the face in circulation motions to gently exfoliate Eng’s skin, softly sweeping away any build up of clogged impurities and dead skin cells. This made way for optimal renewal and the absorption of ensuing products, which were delivered using the exclusive La Fascia de Chanel massage. This unique “art of touch” technique developed for the house of Chanel comprises deep, slow stretching of the facial fascias, or the connective tissue between skin and muscles that hold everything together, to help trigger myofascial release to melt away any water retention, stress and tension held within the face, increasing blood circulation and lymphatic drainage. 

These long, gliding strokes were aided by the ultra-silky and -concentrated Chanel Sublimage L’Extrait for fortified restoration; before another treatment-exclusive collagen mask was applied to seal it all in.

Armed with that post-facial glow, a much calmer vibe and some Chanel Sublimage treats in hand, Eng left Chanel Privé to her next stop: to whip up an intimate dinner feast for friends. “I express my love by doing something thoughtful or kind for them, so you could say it’s acts of service. And more often than not, my pockets of peace are shopping and eat, because I either get something for them that I think they’d like, or cook for them. That, and uninterrupted quality time together”, she expresses. “How I give is also how I like to receive, along with uplifting words of affirmation and hugs, which make me feel most loved”.

“I’m making a flan pâtissier”, said the patisserie extraordinaire. A master of delicate, highly intricate desserts, Eng, too, employs the “art of touch” when it comes to desserts ever so naturally. Out of the oven came a heavenly smelling pastry, filling the room with aromas of butter, cream and vanilla, before she laid its golden glazed top with a segment of gold leaf. After preparing the table for dinner—complete with white florals, candles and her other favourite way to unwind, wine—Eng sneaked a quick touch-up with a swipe of Douceur D'Equinoxe Exclusive Creation blush and Rouge Coco Bloom, before her guests arrived for, like she said, “uninterrupted quality time” spent around good food and great conversation.

Watch the video above for a peak into Natalie Eng’s “Pockets of Peace II”.

The Chanel Sublimage range is available online, and at all Chanel Beauty counters and standalone boutiques. For appointments at Chanel Privé, call 6603-1468 or visit B2-47 Ion Orchard.

Director of photography: Daryl Eng Jun

Content director: Dana Koh

Branded content editor: Shairah Toufeekh

Hair and make-up: Angel Gwee

Locations: Chanel Privé and V-Zug Singapore