FOR a veteran songstress who positively sparkles on stage, home-grown singer Kit Chan sure is into simplicity.

And that’s especially when it comes to her beauty regime.

The penchant for keeping things minimal means that when she’s not working, the 37- year-old is typically bare-faced.

In an interview with my paper at French label Yves Saint Laurent’s concept store in Orchard Turn, she said: “I don’t usually wear much make-up because I don’t go out a lot. I’m keeping a pretty low profile these days.”

But that was not always the case. In fact, when growing up, Chan went through a “weird, experimental” phase.

“I did actually wear blue lipstick (at one stage). It was a treat for me, but my mum was so angry (that I bought it) that I could put it on only after I left the house,” she recalled with a laugh.

After a six-year hiatus, Chan will return to showbusiness in the restaging of 1996 Mandarin musical December Rains.

Despite being “older and more mature now”, one thing remains constant for the husky- voiced chanteuse when it comes to make-up: She adores a bright, bold lip.

“I love really bright lipsticks,” she said, adding that style icons such Madonna and Marilyn Monroe often sported a sexy red pout.

“Marilyn just epitomises my idea of glamour – ultra-feminine sexiness,” she said.
December Rains will likely see Chan in period costumes.

The $1.5-million musical by Toy Factory Productions will play out against a backdrop of Singapore from the 1950s to 1980s.

It follows a pair of lovers whose relationship is complicated by strikes organised by Chinese students and riots by workers.

Here’s a surprise: The singer, who gained popularity in the 1990s for her moving Mandarin and Cantonese ballads, has always come across as a bit of a glamour queen.

However, the chatty lass insisted that she is very much a “T-shirt and jeans” type of girl.

“My ideal outfit would be skinny jeans, a baggy T-shirt and a blazer,” she said.

“The combination makes me feel ultra-confident because I can move, am comfortable and yet I feel smart and stylish.”

As for skincare, less is more, said Chan, who favours Japanese products and pharmacy brands that “really work”.

“Find something that really works and stick to it,” she said.

But back to showbusiness: Does Chan, who is said to be in the midst of recording an album, think that the home- grown music scene is thriving?

Yes, she replied readily.

“The scene is more vibrant than ever,” she said.

“But we need to nurture the scene as a whole (to give our musicians the recognition they deserve).”

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