Chinese TV show explains hair tips! Watch this now!!

I know this is in Chinese, but trust me: you don’t need to understand Chinese to be able to get what is going on.

In the video, the girls explain 3 ways to do great curly hairstyles.  Check it out! (If the video doesn’t show, click here: http://v.qq.com/cover/x/x2da7n78gqxr3ac.html?vid=w001118emt3)

Asian pimple prevention technique

I think a lot of people have this problem because they don’t eat healthily and don’t properly care for their skin.  Remember to avoid needlessly touching your face (think of all the crap you touch on a day to day basis – do your really want this on your face?!) and NEVER pop your pimples (use makeup to cover up those unsightly whiteheads, if needed).  Popping pimples causes scarring.  Don’t start habits you are going to regret!

For ladies who are prone to above surface acne (i.e. pimple acne, not rosacea or other below the surface acne), I have a few tips to share that will help you cut down on your acne problem immensely:

1. Wash your face several times a day with a gentle cleanser – Most women wash their face twice, but if you have extra oily skin you may need to wash more than this.  Use gentle, circular strokes and never use a cleanser that makes your skin feel sensitive, itchy or overly dry.  Listen to your skin.  After you wash your face and pat yourself dry, it should feel as though your skin is breathing.  I don’t quite know how to describe it; it feels like oxygen is going directly into your body through your skin.
2. Avoid oily and overly spicy food – many Chinese people have extremely oily and acne prone skin and this is because they eat so much oily food.  Westerners consume a look of cheese, which also contributes.  Try cutting out all except (except for olive oil) for a week and watch what happens.
3. Consume a lot of water – I know!  You’ve heard this 7 trillion times before, but that is because it is true!  And don’t drink water that comes in plastic bottles.  I drink water from a water cooler (still not extremely healthy, but fairly good).  Better is to drink water packaged in glass bottles.  There are some nice French varieties, but they are a little expensive.
4. Don’t overuse face cream – face cream is great in the right dose.  Over dosing can cause oil buildup.  This is why wearing skin masks must be done for short periods only.  Wearing a lot of moisturizer on your face is going to cause your pores to clog, plain and simple.
5. Don’t touch your face – I already shared this one
6. Don’t wear hairstyles that have bangs laying on your forehead – weird?  It’s true.  If your forehead is acne prone and you have you hair laying on it to cover it up, try not doing this for a few days.
7. Eat fruit or yogurt every morning to help clean your digestive system out – our face often reflects our insides
8. Don’t allow yourself to get tired – when your eyelids feel heavy, this is a sign that your skin is drooping.  Get to bed quick!
9. Don’t go to bed wearing your makeup – why why WHY do Western women do this?  Someone please explain!
10. Don’t look at a computer screen for extended periods of time – over the years, the radiation coming off the screen will make you age tremendously
11. Change your pillowcase and bedsheets very often (or even every day)
12. Avoid the sun
13. Use moisturizing masks regularly

That’s it!  Follow this list and your pores should remain squeaky clean. 

Different skin creams for different climates

When it comes to choosing a face cream, everyone has their secrets.  Some look for SPF, others for no oil, others for extra moisturizing and still others for whitener.  Often these choices come as a result of a woman’s culture, habits and of course skin type.  In this article, I want to explain some of the broad face cream categories and how you can choose a face cream that is appropriate for your climate.

Firstly, let me just say that some of the creams I use in China, I do not use in North America.  Why?  Simply because of the differences in conditions between these two places.  It is important to base your skin cream decision on the weather that you typically will be facing.  Let me try to break down different climates and the manner in which you should approach each:

Hot and dry climates - why I say ‘dry’, I mean ‘desert dry’!  This is the only climate where I would suggest using a cream that contains moderate amounts of oil.  Normally, oily face creams clog pores, but in dry weather this oil acts as a barrier to the elements and helps keeps moisture in.

Hot and wet climates - it is very important you do not use oily moisturizers in wet climates.  Doing so will cause your skin to grow sub-surface acne (sometime referred to as ‘blotchiness’) and blackheads.  I suggest using a water-based face cream.  In these climates, you do not have to worry so much about moisture evaporation (the air is already humid), so applying only a few times throughout the day should do the trick.

Cold and dry climates - if you live in an area that does not get much precipitation but still has temperatures below freezing, you really need to be careful.  In these areas, the weather can do irreversible damage to your skin.  Without proper protection, your skin could thicken, which causes premature aging and noticeable markings.  Use a water based moisturizer that you can reapply often throughout the day.  Because there is no heat associated with the dryness, your skin is not apt to lose its moisture.  This is good in that it makes it easier for you to maintain beautiful skin despite the elements, but bad in that it can make it easy for your to breakout in pimples if you use an oil base face cream.  Be sure to never travel in this weather without something covering your face (and NEVER use abrasive scarves made from wool).

Cold and wet climates – I hate these most of all!  Canadian winters, for example, are cold and wet due to precipitation.  This kind of weather makes people think they should be applying oil based moisturizers, when really this is the worst thing you can do!  The combination of air moisture and oil will make your skin break out big time.  Use a light, water based skin cream and wash your face often.  This combination of washing and moisturizing will really help you maintain a clear, bright complexion in such dull weather.

And if after reading this you still don’t know what moisturizer to use, move to California.  The weather there is always perfect. 

Chinese blackhead tips - get rid of them once and for all!

Blackheads result when the excess oil on your nose changes colour on being exposed to air.  Blackheads are not dirt (contrary to popular belief).

The secret to getting rid of them comes from within the body as opposed to outside.  I see girls using pore strips all the time and this is not the answer.  Actually, this will only make your pores bigger and more hole-like!

The trick to getting clear, clean-looking pores is to create a healthy cholesterol balance in your body.  This involves diet, exercise, stress levels and water.  For diet, avoid unnatural saturated fats.  Avoid all polyunsaturated fats.   And always avoid eating fats and sweet foods in the same meal.  I often see girls eating cheese and fruit together and, sure enough, they have unsightly blackheads.

For exercise, you don’t have to work out strenuously everyday, but breaking a daily sweat is helpful.

Try to relax when you are not working.  Do some deep breathing and clear your mind every night before you go to bed.

As always, drink lots of hot water everyday.  Hot water helps to keep your digestive tract active.

Following these rules should do wonders for your blackheads!

Asians don't have body odor. Here is the secret why...

Everybody stinks sometimes.     The difference between people involves the amount of time it takes after showering to start stinking again.

I once read that people of Asian ancestry produce less of a certain chemical released in sweat glands that produces odor.

Anyway , if you are one of those people who shower in the morning and start to smell again by lunchtime – don’t worry! There

are tricks you can employ to avoid smelling.

1 – Bring a change of shirt to work.  This is the very best way to refresh yourself during the day.  If you coworkers ask why you keep changing your clothes, just politely tell them you like to feel fresh.

2 – Use scented baby wipes under yourself a quick midday “shower”. It can make you feel very fresh in a few minutes’ time.

3 – Spray yourself with deorderizor often.  Perfume is too strong and can irritate your coworkers, but a mix of 40% alcohol, 40% water and 20% lemon juice can do just the trick.

4 – Do your workouts midday.  If you have a flexible schedule, try working out before lunch at a gym.  Sweating out toxins can help to reduce odor as well.

5 – Use antibacterial soap.  I know you’ve heard this before, but it really works!  Use a foaming sponge to help froth up the soap a bit.  Then apply it to your underarms (and other stinky areas) and wait for a minute before rinsing (to let the soap do its job).

Asian dry skin/chapped lip remedy

In China, people believe in the powers of energy.  You know when you have dried lips and you feel the need to keep licking them to keep them moist?  This means your body has too much fire.  Today I am going to teach your want to do if you have too much fire.

Firstly, if your skin is dry, you need to stop eating wheat and other acid foods like pineapple, kiwi, Cola, and garlic.  Consume more oils, like olive oil.  Avoid sweet foods for a few days.  Doing this will help put you back in balance.

Secondly apply pure aloe (available as a leaf in some supermarkets) liberally over your mouth area.  If this is not available to you use a quality lip balm.

Drink lots of water.  Your chapped lips should heal within days.

Stay out of the sun! Here's why we Asians avoid it like the plague

A lot of western women like to get the “travelled” look that comes with having a bit of a tan.  But please think about the long term effects this has on your skin!

Asian women avoid the sun like the plague for fear it causes premature wrinkling.  The sun dries out your skin and removes vitamins from it.

So how can you avoid the sun in a hot clmate?

Use an umbrella – I know for western women you may feel like doing this may make you look as though you are from colonial times, but using an umbrella is the number 1 way to avoid sun damage to your skin.

Use sunscreen – of course!

Wear loose clothing that has sleeves – Just bring a long-sleeved shirt with you that you can throw on whenever you need to walk somewhere in the sun (like from your office to your car).

Wear a hat – Large rimmed is best.

Follow these tips and keep your skin supple!