Cover Melissa Tan is a former model turned sustainability and climate activist who enjoyed her recent facial treatment at Clé De Peau Beauté (Photo: Daniel Adams)

Melissa Tan and Kimberly Lee share their insights on balancing work and personal life, as well as the importance of self-care

Modern work can be demanding and sometimes leaders can lose sight of their well-being amid the hustle. Comparatively, the modern working woman faces unprecedented challenges and pressures from juggling many roles in and out of the workplace.

A study by Deloitte found that 53 percent of women said they experienced more stress than the year before, while almost half of the women reported burnout at the workplace. Within the same study, 33 percent of female workers said they took time off from work because of mental health issues related to jobs. These numbers show how crucial it is for women to manage their mental health and find ways to cope with stress.

Read more: Support women in STEM with Clé de Peau Beauté and Unicef

We caught up with two professional working women who lead incredibly busy lives: Melissa Tan, country coordinator for Fashion Revolution, a global movement that aims to transform the fashion industry into a more ethical and sustainable one and Kimberly Lee, managing editor of Makchic, an online publication that caters to Malaysian parents, for a glimpse into how they maintain a work-life balance.

In collaboration with luxury beauty brand Clé de Peau Beauté, Tan and Lee were treated to a facial treatment session at its newest outlet in One Utama. They shared their experience and how the facial massage helped them feel refreshed and rejuvenated.

The model, influencer and eco-warrior who inspires others

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Photo 1 of 5 Melissa Tan creates digital content on sustainable living, fashion and climate action (Photo: Daniel Adams)
Photo 2 of 5 Tan receiving a facial treatment using the latest Clé De Peau Beauté products (Photo: Daniel Adams)
Photo 3 of 5 The Clé de Peau Beauté outlet in 1 Utama Shopping Centre offers a wide selection of products and services (Photo: Daniel Adams)
Photo 4 of 5 Tan checking out some of Clé De Peau Beauté's products in the store (Photo: Daniel Adams)
Photo 5 of 5 Tan's favourite Clé De Peau Beauté solution is the Firming Serum Supreme (Photo: Daniel Adams)

As a sustainability advocate, model and influencer, Tan wears many hats. Juggling multiple roles can be overwhelming, but she cultivates joy and curiosity in her personal and professional life. She brings the two worlds together by finding opportunities within work to be an advocate.

“When I transitioned to zero-waste living and minimalism, I utilised my platform as a model, influencer, host and producer to share about it. I saw it as an opportunity to normalise and transform the culture,” she explained.

For Tan, self-care primarily involves taking time for oneself. It means being comfortable in one’s own skin and finding ways to replenish oneself in various ways. “Not through consumption, but by getting to know oneself better, slowing down, meditating and finding joy in every moment,” she said.

Read more: A Malaysian climate activist’s journey to Antarctica

Tan mentioned her love for Clé de Peau Beauté's Firming Serum Supreme, “I appreciate its comforting effect, especially after a long day. When I wake up in the morning, my skin feels incredibly moisturised.”

The serum is based on the latest skin science developed by Clé de Peau Beauté and helps to reduce the signs of ageing. It makes the skin firmer, smoother and more lifted. For optimal results, Clè de Peau Beauté recommends performing its Lifting V-Force exercise facial resistance training twice a day when applying the serum. A video demonstrating the exercise can be found at the end of this article.

She added that she enjoyed her facial treatment at Clé de Peau Beauté. The one-hour experience allowed her to gain a better understanding of her skin and offered her the chance to unplug and fully engage in the self-care session.

From lawyer to media maven and children’s book author

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Photo 1 of 5 Kimberly Lee is a busy mother who also works as the managing editor for the online parent portal Makchic (Photo: Daniel Adams)
Photo 2 of 5 Lee having her skin analysed by Clé De Peau Beauté's expert consultants (Photo: Daniel Adams)
Photo 3 of 5 After her facial session, Lee samples some of the products at Clé De Peau Beauté's store (Photo: Daniel Adams)
Photo 4 of 5 According to Lee, the contemporary woman is smart, classic and confident (Photo: Daniel Adams)
Photo 5 of 5 Lee says she loves the texture of Clé De Peau Beauté's Le Serum and Radiant Cream Foundation (Photo: Daniel Adams)

Kimberly Lee is a former litigation lawyer who switched careers to join the media industry. With multiple feathers in her cap, Kimberly Lee understands that time is precious and that family comes first.

“I’m a huge proponent of taking the time for self-care and prioritising your mental well-being,” said Lee. “As mothers, we’re sometimes so busy caring for others that we often forget to care for ourselves. The mental load of motherhood is real. Parental burnout is real.”

“What do I personally love doing to unwind? A good spa and mani-pedi session, a delicious meal, catching up with good friends and spending quality time with my husband, travelling,” she added.

Read more: 5 quotes on self-worth, mental health and manifesting confidence

Growing up, Lee said she used to struggle with low self-esteem and body image issues but has learned to accept and celebrate the things that make her different. Ultimately, beauty comes from how one sees oneself, embraces flaws and recognises their value.

“The contemporary woman is smart, classic and confident. That’s also how I would describe Clé de Peau Beauté. The brand has a subtle beauty and sophistication that I admire,” she said.

She added that she admires the beauty brand’s collaboration with UNICEF, which supports the education and empowerment of young girls—something that Lee personally relates to.


Meet more honourees from Malaysia from the Gen.T List 2023.

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