Want to learn more about Victoria’s Secret’s first Asian model on the runway, Liu Wen? Read on for a brief bio and tips from the Chinese beauty.

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asian beauty tips, celebrity beauty must-haves, runway model spotlight

Growing up in Hong Kong, Aburatorigami, otherwise known as oil-blotting papers to most of us, have been a life-saver for me for longer than I can remember. But it wasn’t until recently that I discovered the story behind this Asian beauty staple and found my HG, TATCHA Aburatorigami.

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asian beauty gadgets, asian beauty tips, oil blotting paper

Just as promised, here is the 411 on Himegyaru (姫ギャル), a part of the Gyaru subculture that originated in Japan.

Hime basically means “princess” in Japanese and their biggest difference between Himegyarus and other Gyarus is their princessy manner, which is manifested through their clothes, hair, jewelry, accessories etc.

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asian beauty tips, gyaru, himegyaru, japanese subcultures

Moisturizing is definitely one of the biggest things in the Asian skincare regimen. Asian women strongly believe that a “watery”, radiant complexion makes a crucial base for good makeup and their secret to achieving that? Applying lotion religiously.

Unlike the regular moisturizers that we call lotion here in the US, “lotion” (化妝水) is a hydrating toner that should be applied after cleansing and before moisturizer. While some people argue that toners are redundant and just another marketing gimmick, I personally can’t live without them. My rationale? If your skin is dehydrated and you slap on layers and layers of heavy lotions, they will just sit on top of your skin and not get absorbed. But if you use a hydrating toner to soften the top layer of your skin first, it will help any moisturizer or treatment that follows to penetrate better into your skin.

The Proper Way To Apply Lotion/Toner

1. Pour the toner onto a piece of cotton pad and make sure the cotton pad is completely saturated with toner.

2. Apply in a patting motion until the cotton pad is dry.

3. Massage the toner into your skin and gently press the palm of your hands onto your face for a few seconds to help your skin absorb the toner.

You can also use your hydrating toner as a quick fix before you apply makeup. Simply saturate 4 pieces of cotton pads with your toner and apply one on your forehead, two on each cheeks and one on the chin. Leave on for 5 minutes or until the cotton pad becomes dry. Follow with your regular moisturizer.

Me with my Naris Up Skin Conditioner Lotion Co
A good hydrating toner will also make the perfect mask that is great for the cold weather. Check out this old entry on how to make your own.

Product Recs

Naris Up Skin Conditioner Lotion ($~7) I have the Skin Conditioner Lotion Co (left in the picture). It contains marine collagen to help with skin cell turnover and to keep the skin soft and elastic. Like most hydrating toners, it is clear, fragrance-free and slightly acidic. I apply this on my face every day after cleansing and it makes my skin so soft and supple! Plus at $7, you get a 360ml bottle which is good for 60 uses (it is recommended that you use 6ml with 4 pieces of cotton pads each time). Thumbs up!

Kose Medicated Sekkisei Lotion ($62) This oh-so-famous whitening lotion has been around forever and is still one of the best-selling hydrating toners in Asia. It contains Japanese and Chinese herbal extracts, aqua, alcohol, glycerin and more to brighten your skin while keeping it supple and soft. I find the whitening effect to be most prominent in the first couple of weeks. My skin did get more even and supple and my freckles faded a little too. The effect gradually subsided but if you use it religiously, it will keep your skin in good condition. I have been using this on and off for over 10 years now and I will always keep a bottle in my bathroom

Fancl Lotion ($17.50) This toner from the Fenatty series now contains Fresh Moist Collagen, Sweet Pea extract and a Moist Holding function to make sure your skin stays hydrated, soft and free from environmental damage. The texture is slightly sticker than the Naris Up and Kose lotions but it gets absorbed into the skin pretty fast. My skin just feels smooth and hydrated when I use this and like all Fancl products, this does not contain any preservatives, sterilizers, petroleum surfactants, fragrances and mineral oil so it is suitable for all skin types, including those with sensitive skin. The only drawback is the 60 day expiration date so unless you can commit to using this on a daily basis, the product may go to waste.

Rosewater
This can be found in a lot of skincare products and its well-known moisturizing and soothing properties makes it the perfect toner for all skin types. You can also find rosewater at most drugstores for less than $10. I highly recommend you ladies give this a shot.

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asian beauty gadgets, asian beauty tips, facial mask, my beauty routine/secrets, skincare

Unlike East Asians, South Asian/Arabic brides do their makeup very differently. The look is dramatic, bright and very sexy. I had a brief chat with the super awesome London-based makeup artist Angela Holthuis and scored a few pointers for you ladies.

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asian beauty tips, asian makeup, bridal makeup