Beauty Trends in China

The definition of beauty can very different world wide. Here in North America, thin body frame and tan skin are symbols of beauty and health. However, in some African countries, being voluptuous is the lusted-after shape. In China, there are many beauty trends that are totally unheard of in here.

Chinese women are obsessed with their eyes. Forget coloured contact lenses, what about lenses to make you look like a Japanese anime character. These are contacts with a black circle that when popped into your eyes will add onto the circumference of the pupil. They are suppose to create the illusion of giant doey eyes that take up half of your face.

The most popular plastic surgery procedure in China is not the lipo suction, it is the double eye lid surgery. Never heard of it? That is not surprising. Not too many non-Asians need to have this surgery. About half of the Asian population does not have an upper-eyelid crease. For those who do, the crease falls about 7 mm above the lash-line, whereas for Caucasians, the crease falls about 11 mm above it. The procedure involves cutting away small amounts of fat, tissue and skin to form a higher or new crease.

In China, you will be very hard pressed to find a tanning salon or self-tanner products. In fact, I don't even think there is a Chinese phase for the activity of tanning unless you are referring to leather making. Being tanned in China has a terrible and old stigma associated with it. It means one worked outside as a labour or farmer and not of upper class. There is an old Chinese saying "Being paler will cover 3 ugly spots" (一白遮三丑). No wonder Chinese women, even some men go through great length to stay fair skinned. Expensive cream, powder, pills and dermatological treatments are all part of the estimated $18 billion dollar skin whitening market. More than 60 global companies like Dior and Clinque are competing for a share.

(photo courtesy of www.yinyangskinscience.com)