Be wary of employees dragging you into their store and handing you every item you touch if you ever go shopping in China. These sales tactics caught me off guard, especially as I was browsing through beauty shops on Ghangzhou’s Shangxiajiu Shopping Street. Despite the store employees’ aggressiveness, China has a large selection of beauty items that piqued my interest. I discovered how to keep my nails gleaming, why slathering bean sprouts on your face is a good idea, and about an anti-pollution cleanser that is currently trending across the country. Here is a list of Chinese beauty products to be aware of.
The Nail Polish
A woman outside a salon asked if I wanted a mani/pedi for $10CDN while I was avoiding the storeowners in Shenzhen who tried to entice me into their establishments. I certainly do. I sat in a large red comfy chair, ready to have my limbs pampered. Everything was fine until the woman removing my nail polish almost screamed when she noticed the discoloration on my natural nails. Because I wear a lot of nail polish, my natural nails have a stil de grain yellow tinge to them (can someone get me a base coat for Christmas?).
The nail technician immediately applied Snazii Herbal Fungal Nail Treatment Essence ($20, aliexpress.com) to my nails and cuticles. There was a clear distinction. My nails sparkled like diamonds! Rhubarb, kudzu root, and “secret herbs” are among the ingredients in the oil. If it removes fungus and promotes nail repair, I won’t question the secret herbs. Consider China Glaze’s unique offering if you’re looking for a formula with longevity. Its polishes harden with China clay, a shinier finish ingredient used in porcelain. China clay produces a glossy finish that is both beautiful and functional.
Oolong tea
Oolong tea is a popular Chinese tea.
It’s made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, which also produces green and black tea. The distinction is in the manner in which the tea is processed. Green, dark, and oolong teas are created through the oxidation process. Green tea is made from fresh tea leaves that have not been oxidized, a chemical reaction that occurs when the leaves are exposed to air and is responsible for the color and flavor of various types of tea. Oolong tea is made when leaves are wilted in the sun and slightly bruised to create partial oxidation, whereas black tea is made when leaves are fully crushed to enhance oxidation.
Photo by petr sidorov on Unsplash
In China, tea is the answer to everything. You’re experiencing a headache? Tea. You’re worried? Tea. Have you got oily skin? Tea. While in China, I drank oolong tea every day, and according to my research, it can brighten your skin, clear age spots, and improve eczema. Three cups of brewed oolong tea per day relieves eczema itching, redness, and scarring and is the ideal winter skin solution for those who suffer the most during this time of year.
Pollution Removal
There is smog in Beijing. It is a major environmental issue that has a negative impact on the overall health of those who live in the city, or any city for that matter. Smog in the air is most likely hitting your face, causing your skin to age faster (among other health issues). The Chinese cosmetics industry jumped at the opportunity to develop anti-pollution products, including those that combat PM 2.5 particles, which are smaller than 2.5 microns in size and can penetrate your skin. Anti PM 2.5 is now found in cosmetics such as Pond’s Whitening Refreshing Cleanser ($6, pchome.com). What is the secret ingredient, exactly? Activated carbon dissolves pollution on the skin and deep cleans the pores.
Tiger Balm
A 2010 study found that using a patch containing methyl salicylate and menthol resulted in a 40% greater pain reduction versus a placebo in people with mild to moderate muscle strain. The distinct scent of Tiger Balm reminds me of my father. After work or a strenuous activity, he’d slather it all over himself, and the smell of the balm would hit him like a brick wall. It’s a distinct odor that I noticed most men in China wearing. I smelled it first in a cab and noticed the driver had the balm in his cup holder, then again as I walked down different streets in Ghangzhou. If you work out or sit in an office chair for the majority of the day, Tiger Balm is your solution for relieving shoulder and neck pain. Tiger Balm appears to be popular among the Chinese, implying that it is effective.
Bean sprouts
Bean sprouts have been used for centuries in Chinese medicine to help nourish the body and calm the skin. Wei Mung Bean Sprout Stress-Reliving Soothing Mask is made from the bean sprout’s secretion, which is most concentrated just before it blooms. Although the price for a 6-pack of sheet masks that you leave on your face for 10 minutes is a little steep, bean sprouts as a beauty ingredient continue to pique my interest. Bean sprouts’ crunchy, tasty goodness can be extremely beneficial to overall health because they are high in plant protein, have no fat, and are low in calories. They help with weight loss, bone, heart, and liver health, treating brain disorders, and improving digestion.
