6 Chinese Models Share Their Hometown Beauty Secrets: From Egg-White Face Masks to Peach-Blossom Nails
APRIL 17, 2015 3:04 PM
by LAURA REGENSDORF
Next month, when the parade of Met Gala attendees streams through the latest Costume Institute exhibition, “China: Through the Looking Glass,” they will be met with a visual feast that spans centuries and continents. A slinky one-shoulder dress by Tom Ford for Yves Saint Laurent calls to mind a Qing Dynasty court robe; a voluminous Roberto Cavalli design reinterprets blue-and-white porcelain. Of course, China has supplied the fashion world with more than just inspiration: An increasing number of today’s most sought-after models call the country home. With that in mind, we tracked down six runway favorites, from all-star Liu Wen to newcomer Luping Wang, to talk about local beauty traditions and the skin-care lessons passed down from mothers and grandmothers.
FEI FEI SUN
With her regal cheekbones and wide-set eyes, the 26-year-old has become a regular in the pages of Vogue and appeared on the magazine’s cover this past September alongside her fellow Instagirls. Hailing from Weifang, in Shangdong Province, the model has logged miles on the runways (including Chanel, Givenchy, and Alexander Wang) and on the streets of Manhattan, her adopted hometown.
What’s your first childhood beauty memory?
My mother’s red lips and her curly hair—when I was six years old, she would bring me to the hairdresser.
Any local beauty habits you observed at home?
My mother often told me to apply sunscreen before I went outside in the summer. She was insistent upon it, even on days when the sunshine wasn’t so strong.
What hometown health or wellness rituals do you miss?
Healthy eating was emphasized because my parents love vegetables so much. We ate light meals prepared with less salt and oil. My mother cooked red date soup for me once a week, with walnuts, brown sugar, goji, longan meat, and red bean. My hometown has a tradition of cooking this soup because it’s really good for skin and health.
Can you define the Chinese beauty ideal?
Smooth skin, beautiful bright eyes, and a feminine smile.
Who is your beauty icon?
I have always looked up to my mother; family is very important to me. Outside of our home, I looked up to Gong Li. She’s such a beautiful woman!