As one of the biggest names in the Chinese entertainment scene, it would be difficult to find someone who hasn’t heard of Hong Kong-Taiwanese actress and model Shu Qi. Acting chops aside, Shu Qi is known for her good looks, with her luscious pout winning the sexiest lips title in a poll done by American media company E!. Another sign of her star power — though she has been absent from the screen in recent years, she has inked endorsement deals with Michael Kors as well as Tom Ford Beauty in the past few months.
Another reason to love her? The A-list actress doesn’t take herself too seriously and isn’t afraid to show off the less glamorous side of her, proving that she is just like us.
Want to know more about how Shu Qi manages to maintain that beautiful glow even at the age of 47? Here are eight beauty tips we’ve learnt from her.
Like some of us, Shu Qi deals with skin allergies and sensitivity from time to time. In an interview earlier this year, she also revealed that flare-ups and swelling tend to get worse at night.
If you have sensitive skin like the Shanghai Fortress star, consider doing a patch test before trying out new beauty products. And if you’re nursing an allergy, stick to gentle cleansers, moisturisers and sunscreens and avoid potentially irritating ingredients such as fragrances.
When Shu Qi was younger, she would go to bed after a long night of filming with her makeup on to catch a wink. She later realised that this wreaked havoc on her skin. Now, the star is more conscientious with her cleansing routine and makes sure to remove her makeup before sleeping.
But if a busy schedule or insomnia is keeping Shu Qi from getting her beauty sleep, the actress treats her tired skin to face masks and moisturising cream. She once shared that she likes to apply a thick layer of La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 almost like a sleeping mask before hitting the hay to hydrate her skin.
Shu Qi never leaves home without a lip balm. At night, we recommend slathering on a lip mask or petroleum jelly to seal in moisture and plump your pout.
To Shu Qi, fragrances are important because they hold a special evocative power. In an interview with Harper’s Bazaar Singapore in 2013, she said that fragrances have the power of bringing back memories, or even influencing decisions, citing how she once dated a boy because she liked his scent.
She was recently named Tom Ford Beauty’s attaché for the China and APAC regions, with her debut campaign promoting the Cherry fragrance series, including Electric Cherry, Cherry Smoke, and Lost Cherry. For those who remember, she also used to be the face of the Flower by Kenzo perfume between 2006 to 2009.
The other secret to Shu Qi’s amazing skin and toned physique is exercise. She often posts images of herself post-workout and it seems the 47-year-old is a fan of badminton.
Shu Qi is a firm believer in the mantra “You are what you eat”. The star avoids eating raw food, meat, sweets and peppers as much as possible. However, she also admits she’s someone who loves to eat and doesn’t deprive herself, occasionally indulging in sweet treats.
Unfortunately, ageism is a persistent societal problem, with celebrities bearing a huge brunt of it. So when Shu Qi posted a photo of her white hair on social media, netizens were quick to announce “the demise of Shu Qi’s beauty.”
However, the actress’ suave reply of “Please continue to watch me age gradually” shows us that Shu Qi is confident in her own skin. We stan.
Text: Ho Guo Xiong/Her World Additional text: Michelle Lee
This article was originally published in Sep 17, 2022 and updated on Jun 1, 2023.