This week's cover girl Celest Chong is best known for her long, sleek tresses which - eat your heart out, girls - require little effort to look that good.

'All I do is shampoo and condition it daily,' says the Singapore actress-singer.

Her hairstylist, celebrity crimper David Gan, coaxes her to go for hair treatments but she does not heed his advice.

'I have my mum to thank for my hair,' says the 31-year-old who lives with her mother in Bishan.

However, when it comes to caring for her skin, it is a different matter altogether: She has a rigorous skincare regimen based on a three-day cycle (see below).

Chong, who is single, moved to Taiwan in 2005 and later Beijing to develop her acting and singing career. She released two Chinese albums and starred in one Taiwanese drama serial and a Chinese movie during her time abroad.

She returned to Singapore early last year because of a family emergency and can now be seen in Red Thread, a Channel 5 family drama in which she plays the kind-hearted love interest of Adrian Pang.

You will also see her in an upcoming Channel 8 drama serial where she plays 'a teacher who eats non-stop'.

She is also set to sign on with acting, singing and modelling agencies in Toronto.

These days, the naturally tanned actress with a penchant for outdoor sports like wakeboarding and surfing makes it a point to avoid being out in the sun for long. Instead, she keeps fit by rope-skipping and doing yoga indoors.

The effects of her beauty and exercise regimen are obvious - her skin is even toned and glowing and she slipped effortlessly into a skin-tight Herve Leger dress for this shoot.

She declares: 'If you want to be pretty, you cannot be lazy.'

What is your skincare regimen?

I believe in the basic three-step regimen of cleansing, toning and moisturising. I take good care of my skin by using only products that work for me.

I find that Japanese brands like Kanebo, Kose, SK-II and Shiseido are kinder to Asian skin. I also have favourite products from non-Asian brands, including Benefit, Elizabeth Arden and La Mer.

You say that you use three masks at a time?

Yes, every third day, I will use three masks - one after another.

I follow a three-day cycle, which was recommended to me by my eldest sister Margaret.

On day one, I use a hydrating mask.

On day two, I start with a cleansing or purifying mask, which can be either a clay or peeling mask.

I follow up with a mask to address specific problems - such as a whitening or pore refining mask - and end with a moisturising mask.

On day three, I give my skin a rest.

I usually leave each mask on my face for about 15 minutes. After the final mask, I wash my face with a cleanser to remove all residual essences.

What are your favourite beauty finds from Taiwan and China?

I discovered a make-up artist brand in Taiwan called Tze which makes foundation that can be used with an air brush (an applicator that sprays on foundation) for a flawless finish.

Another brand I like is Beautymaker by Taiwanese make-up artist Kevin Chou. His concealer is so good. It has a slightly watery consistency and is very finely milled so it conceals without emphasising fine lines.

Unfortunately, you can't get these brands in Singapore.

Describe your make-up routine if you have only five minutes.

I will put on the Beautymaker concealer and foundation - either Make Up For Ever High Definition foundation ($75) or Prescriptives make-up base - followed by pressed powder by French brand Chantecaille. The latter two are not available here.

Then I will define my eyebrows using Shu Uemura's Hard Formula eyebrow pencil ($35) and Benefit's Brow Zongs shaping kit ($62), put on some Lancome's Hypnose mascara ($49) or Majolica Majorca's Lash Beautifying Mascara Frame Plus ($25.90), apply Benefit's Benetint ($64) on my lips and its Posietint ($64) on my cheeks.

That's it, I'm done.

This article was first published in Urban, The Straits Times.