Glitter, serums and soundtracks: Inside Estelle Fly’s J-beauty inspired ritual

To Estelle Lim, who goes by the stage name Estelle Fly, getting ready doesn’t begin with makeup. It starts with a ritual. In Japan, where she spent two years performing as part of the idol group Sea*A, skincare wasn’t just a routine. It was a moment of calm before stepping into the spotlight. “Before any makeup touched our face, we were given 20 minutes for facials, massages, masks,” she recalls. “It wasn’t about covering up. It was about honouring the skin you’re in.”

That experience redefined her entire relationship with beauty. Performing across Japan, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, and South Korea as a young Singaporean artist, Estelle began to view beauty not just as something visual, but something felt. “Beauty isn’t just how you look. It’s how deeply you care for yourself,” she says.

Before entering the industry, her approach was more trend-driven. “I was heavily influenced by the Y2K Korean and Japanese looks such as smokey eyes, nude lips and hyper-defined everything. I followed those trends not because they felt personal, but because that’s what I thought beauty had to be.” But as she grew into her artistry, her beauty routine began to reflect something more inward-facing. With every performance and new city, she developed a more intuitive sense of what made her feel strong, expressive, and herself.

These days, her rituals are anchored by a mix of skin-prep and sound. Skincare is essential—serums, masks, a good primer—but just as important is having music or a podcast playing while she gets ready. “It grounds me. It reminds me that beauty is an experience, not just an outcome.”

Off stage, Estelle keeps her look lightweight and matte. But on stage is where the drama comes out. “Defined eyes, glitter, a soft but juicy lip, and hair that moves with me. There’s something powerful about letting your hair catch the light mid-performance.”

Makeup, for her, is more than just part of the costume. It helps translate her music into something you can see and feel. “Music is intangible. It’s energy. So everything visual becomes a translator. My makeup and styling set the tone.”

With her upcoming EP ZONE, she’s pushing her visuals even further. “It’s about self-possession, feminine power, and knowing exactly who you are. The visuals and beauty looks that go with it are bolder, more defined. It’s giving my voice an identity, but also claiming space in a way I never used to.”

On young Singaporean performers still discovering their beauty identity, Estelle says: “Start by choosing yourself. The world will give you a hundred versions of who you should be, but none of that matters until you decide what’s true. Beauty isn’t something you put on. It’s something you claim. So wear the thing, try the look, and be loud about it.”

Credits:

Photography: Angela Guo

Art Direction: Adeline Eng

Hair: Aung Apichai from Artistry Studios using Kevin Murphy

Makeup: Lasalle Lee using Rare Beauty 

Clothing: 

Fur coat, Longchamp

Jacket, Moncler

Top and boots, Longchamp

Blazer, MCM

About this series: 

The way we dress, style our hair, and paint our faces is more than aesthetic. It’s a reflection of who we are. Like a mirror, beauty captures identity shaped by culture, connection, and the places that leave their mark on us.

In celebration of SG60, this six-part series spotlights homegrown performers who’ve taken their craft to international stages. Touring the globe has not only elevated their music and performances, but also transformed their personal style.

Here, they open up about the beauty rituals they’ve picked up abroad, the signature looks that define them on and off stage, and how life on the road continues to shape their glow.