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[Wellbeing]: DIY Skincare

Living in Shanghai ain't for the faint of heart. The pollution, the stress, the crowds, the nightlife. Here's a few tricks of the trade for better skin.
Last updated: 2015-11-09


Living in Shanghai ain't for the faint of heart. The pollution, the stress, the crowds, the nightlife... it all adds up to one thing: questionable-looking skin. But fear not, seekers of beauty and clean pores, there are loads of things you can do to protect your skin from the harsh realities of living in the city...

Here's a few tricks of the trade for better skin:

Exfoliation may just be the key to youthful skin. Regular exfoliation (once a week is fine) removes dead/clogged skin, decreases pore size over time, and allows your skin's natural oils to be released.

Hooray Beer! Got leftover beer from last night's party? Mix 1/2 cup beer (or 3-4 tsp of beer foam) with 1/2 cup warm water, dab the mixture onto your face, and let air-dry. The hops agent found in beer has antibiotic effects on your skin. Not all beers are created equal, of course, and some beers, like India Pale Ales, have more hops than others. If you're really curious, I suggest traipsing over to Kaiba for some high-quality high-hops content beer and using the leftover on your skin.

Get puffy-faced in the mornings? While chubby can be cute, you're likely retaining fluids, which means you're probably dehydrated -- your body reacts by increasing blood vessel size to hold onto water, resulting in that puffy look. If you hate the taste of plain flat water like I do, try Mizone sports water, found in any FamilyMart -- the Lychee flavor's my favorite.

On coffee... the good, the bad, and... more good. There is mounting scientific evidence that in addition to having anti-inflammatory benefits for your skin, coffee may help decrease the risk of skin cancer. Yet another reason to have that cup o' joe in the morning. I recommend Arabica Roasters for organic, fair-trade coffee that hits the spot.

I love my sugary foods, believe you me... but, too much sugar is, in fact, one of the biggest causes of premature aging. Excess sugar in your bloodstream can lead to glycation (which is when a sugar molecule attaches itself to a protein molecule and damages it...clingy little buggers) which, in turn, damages collagen and leads to wrinkles and saggy skin. FeiDan has a wide selection of healthy imported foods that should keep your mind off of sugar for a while...

Consider silk sheets. Silk contains 18 amino acids which help keep your skin baby soft and looking young. Silk is also more hydrating than cotton. I also recommend sleeping in the nude to maximize comfort. Sleeping nude on silk sheets... what could be better than that? The fabric market on Lujiabang Lu is your ticket to silken slumber.

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