Cover Shireen Kandiah for #LoveLaMer. Photo: Kim Mun/Hopscotch Photography.
Shireen Kandiah is one part director of strategy, partnerships, and communications at the Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers, one part supermum and loving wife to Raja Fuad Muammar. She is also a born-again La Mer enthusiast. We spoke to her during the #LoveLaMer campaign shoot, during which she described her relationship with the beauty brand after all these years.
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Above Silk top and pants: Ivan Young; earrings: Wanderlust & Co. Photo: Kim Mun/Hopscotch Photography.

Wonder woman

For a high-flying careerwoman, wife and mother, Shireen does seem to have it all under control. She had just rushed over after attending to her children, and sat down for a little chat before our shoot. How does she juggle everything, we wonder? She enjoys the mad rush of it all, it seems, and she confirmed it by saying, "I live in the corporate world and enjoy balancing out my family, good friends and passion." Indeed, she can often be seen attending the best soirees in town next to hubby Raja Fuad Muammar, even after what we imagine would be a long day of work.

"There are no rules here, you learn as you go along only doing the best you can," she admitted, sporting a wide grin and infectious laughter, after sharing that the first thing she thinks about in the morning is her to-do list.

Clearly such optimism must stem from somewhere, and she cites her passion for life, her family (the biggest source of encouragement and strongest supporters) as well as the need to help and empower people as her fuel for life. And so far, it has worked wonders.

See also: How Nadia Nasimuddin Rises To The Occasion With These Versatile Habits


"I live in the corporate world and enjoy balancing out my family, good friends and passion."


 

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Above The La Mer Renewing Oil, The Crème de La Mer vintage edition jar and the La Mer Revitalizing Facial Spray. Photo: Kim Mun/Hopscotch Photography.

Preface to perfection

"Given that I've lived through quite a few decades, I have to be honest, I had noticed many differences," Shireen laughed, and added, "One of the key differences to my skin is the level of dehydration. My skin tends to run dry most of the time and of course, there come the fine lines and suddenly ... wrinkles!" 

Throughout the years, Shireen had definitely changed her skincare routine quite a bit. She confessed that she is always looking for products – good products – that basically address all the changes she has gone through over the past few years. One of the brands with which she experimented with was La Mer.

She described her first experience with it. "A friend from the Middle East introduced it to me, and it was a life changer in my skincare routine. There was a soul behind the brand which appealed to me," she expressed. "I started using La Mer in my late-thirties, once I felt that my skin was getting very dry. My first product was the La Mer day moisturiser, and it worked very well."

Shireen's skincare routine:

Though I have my daily staples, I do love variety. However, I think it’s very important to have a consistent skincare routine to have good skin and it doesn’t need to be an elaborate one. For someone like me, who is always on the go, I have a simple 3-4 step morning and night time regimen.

In the morning, I cleanse with a good, creamy moisturising cleanser and then I use my La Mer Renewal Oil followed by the Crème La Mer moisturiser, then my SPF cream. In the evening, I remove my makeup as soon as I walk in the door, in order to allow my skin to breathe. I then cleanse, apply a night serum (a lifting one), a night cream and an eye cream. 

My tip: Remember to schedule a facial at least once a month and stay hydrated and healthy.

See also: From Mother To Daughter: Beauty Tips Marion Caunter And Mum Tiong Min Chor Exchanged In #LoveLaMer


"In terms of how my skin absorbed the moisturise, it also kept it hydrated. I really liked it as it wasn’t greasy or oily."


 

Reunited and it feels so good

Many years later, Shireen stumbled upon the brand once more – in her perpetual quest to switch up her routine and discover the best of the best. "It's like a rekindled love affair – it's now a must in my skin care regime, and a constant in my life and travels," she mentioned. "It was a discovery and a rediscovery of the next generation of an already amazing brand!"

Love rekindled aside, such a step-up in skincare is bound to turn heads and get her noticed. Did this happen? Yes, she said. "Close friends and family have commented that my skin looks radiant and seems to have a plump glow to it."

Our interview ended, but not before we asked her to describe La Mer in three words, to which she responded with carefully plucked and thought-out words – as expected of a La Mer enthusiast: "Revolutionary, Innovative and Non-negotiable!" She then added, "It really is the holy grail for skin care! It will really change your skin and life."

Watch the video below for the #LoveLaMer campaign shoot, featuring Shireen:

 

Above Shireen Kandiah's interview during the #LoveLaMer campaign shoot.

 

Location: Banyan Tree Kuala Lumpur

Videography: Dean Shaari, assisted by Khairul Imran
Photography: Kim Mun/Hopscotch Photography
Creative Direction: Syahlia Albina Sari
Styling: Andrea Kee
Makeup: Joey Yap
Hair: Cody Chua


Don't miss: La Mer And Malaysia Tatler Host A Dinner To Discover #LoveLaMer

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