We'll be honest, Eu Yan Sang isn't necessarily the first brand we would think of when restocking our vanity shelves.

Like us, you may be surprised to know that the beloved TCM specialists, perhaps best known for its essence of chicken, have been quietly proffering herbal facial masks and other grooming accoutrements for the past 12 years.

This year, a whole slew of cleansers, serums and moisturisers have been added to Eu Yan Sang's Zing skincare line, all based on familiar Chinese medicinal ingredients like bird's nest and lingzhi.

Out of the lot, we're most intrigued by the new Zing Ginseng Rejuvenating Serum, an oil-free intensive treatment loaded with precious ginseng root extract that the brand says will ease the appearance of fine lines and sagging skin.

Other good stuff in the paraben-free formula include sodium hyaluronate, better known to beauty insiders as hyaluronic acid, that moisture-binding compound with the near-miraculous ability to hold up to 1,000 times its own weight in water.

Suitable for dry or combination skin types, apply twice daily as you would your regular serum: after cleansing and toning, before moisturising.

Oh, and in case you're wondering, Zing says that the serum won't leave you reeking of an herbal apothecary - all of the products have been carefully blended with anti-inflammatory lavender and tea tree oils, which also have the happy benefit of masking medicinal smells.

Zing Ginseng Rejuvenating Serum, $44 per 30ml, is available at Eu Yan Sang stores and online at www.euyansang.com.sg. You can follow the brand on Facebook.

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