Cheap, Natural Remedies for Shanghai Beauty Bummers Tuesday, 17 August 2010 07:14 Written by Andrea Burzynski

With all of the challenges that living in Shanghai poses - pollution, extreme weather, constant noise – it can be tough to keep rocking those good looks of yours.  What’s a beauty like you to do when you can’t read the bottles at Watson’s, and don’t have your favorite products from home?  Luckily, there are easy ways to look like a million RMB that don’t require any sinister “whitening potions”, and will leave you with enough money to go out and flaunt your awesome looks.

Bummer #1: Dull, flat hair

All of the minerals in Shanghai’s water can cause hair to look lackluster and limp, and can be a particularly vexing problem for blondes.

Solution: Vinegar isn’t just for dumplings and chips – it’s for hair, too!  Mix four parts vinegar to six parts water.  There should be enough of this mixture to coat your hair.  After shampooing, pour the mixture over your head, massage it into your scalp, and let it sit for a few minutes.  Rinse it out, and condition if desired (you can shampoo again if you’re worried about smelling like a salad).  This helps remove minerals and product build-up, making your hair bouncier and shinier.

Product: Shanghai White Vinegar, 2.80RMB for 500ml, Lianhua

Bummer #2: Sensitive skin

Many things in this city can irritate your skin – dry indoor air during the winter, mosquito bites during the summer, or shock at adjusting to a new environment.

Solution: That old Quaker guy was right – oatmeal is good for you.  Take half a cup of oatmeal, seal it in a plastic bag, and press with a heavy object to grind it into fine fragments.   Pour the oatmeal into a stocking or a coffee filter, secure the end, and toss into a hot bath.  Let the water cool for about ten minutes, and then go soak.  The colloids in the oatmeal will placate your skin.

Product: Morning Smile oatmeal, 5.70RMB for 280g, Lianhua

Bummer #3: Flaky, blah skin

Maybe it’s because the air in your office is dry, maybe it’s because you’ve been drinking too much jiu and not enough water.  Whatever the reason, your skin is flakin’ out on you.

Solution: In addition to curing scurvy, lemons can brighten your epidermis.  After washing with a gentle cleanser, rub a wedge of lemon over your skin, avoiding the area around your eyes.  Let the juice do its thing for two minutes, and then rinse off.  You can finish with a dollop of moisturizer.  The lemon’s citric acid eats away the dead cells on your skin’s surface, revealing a softer, brighter layer.  Those with sensitive skin may be better off with pineapple or papaya, which have a similar but less intense effect.

Product: Lemons, 8.15RMB for three, Lianhua

Bummer #4: Puffy eyes

The constant stream of new venues opening in Shanghai may be great for your social life, but can leave you looking like a baozi the next morning.

Solution: Who needs a fancy gel masks that make you look like a spa superhero when you have… spoons?  This one requires just a few seconds of forethought: before you hit the hay, slip two spoons in the freezer.  The next morning, press the chilled spoons over your eye area for a few minutes.  The cold constricts your blood vessels, which reduces puffiness and dark circles.

Product: Metal soup spoons, 14.80RMB for two, NGS

Bummer #5: Frizzy, out-of-control hair

Shanghai’s humidity can get otherwise sane hair all bent out of shape, and wrestling it into the confines of a rubber band can make it look more like you’re ready for a meeting with the treadmill than with that new client or cutie you met last weekend.

Solution: Chopsticks aren’t just for eating – they can also be an unexpected accessory.  For a sexy secretary look that will reign in the frizzies, pull your hair back as if making a ponytail, twist, and wrap into a bun.  Stick the chopsticks through, starting close to your head, and catching the bun to secure.  There are several variations on this style, so you can twist away to find one that suits you.

Product: Decorative wooden chopsticks, about 25 RMB for five pairs, Yu Gardens

Bummer #6: Aging skin

All of the pollution and environmental toxins here can make even the healthiest among us dread that our youth will be obscured by premature wrinkles.

Solution: You probably know about the health benefits of drinking green tea, but did you know you can also apply it topically?  Make an extra strong cup, and allow it to cool to a lukewarm temperature.  After washing your face, dip a cotton pad in the tea, and swipe it all over your face for a dose of wrinkle-fighting antioxidants.   Rub moisturizer onto still-damp skin to seal in the goods.  Remember, beauty comes from the inside out, so drinking a few cups a day will help too.

Product: Wangman Tian Longjing looseleaf tea, 31.50RMB for 200g, Lianhua

Comments 

 

#5 RE: Cheap Natural Remedies for Shanghai Beauty Bummers — sunshiiiiiine 2010-08-24 21:33

Perfect (:

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#4 RE: Cheap Natural Remedies for Shanghai Beauty Bummers — Andrea 2010-08-19 12:06

Thanks ladies! Glad you enjoyed and found it useful.

Fun fact: there's actually an expression in Chinese that translates as "you look like a baozi" to say that someone has puffy, tired-looking eyes.

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#3 RE: Cheap Natural Remedies for Shanghai Beauty Bummers — aLeGnaRoMa 2010-08-19 10:31

Hey, this is a very good article. Well-written, informative, and a fun read. Thumbs up!

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#2 RE: Cheap Natural Remedies for Shanghai Beauty Bummers — buzza 2010-08-17 18:19

Andrea - this is such a great article. Thanks so much! :)

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#1 RE: Cheap Natural Remedies for Shanghai Beauty Bummers — julia 2010-08-17 10:55

Andrea - great article... very useful and great to see some cheap remedies to those problems that we all get!

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