Last month we went on a whirlwind trip to Shanghai with Lancôme, a brand that’s been part of my beauty routine for many years now. It’s a pinch-me opportunity to work with brands that I love, and this project was all the more special as it took us back to the country where I was born. This was my first time back in Shanghai since visiting with my grandparents as a child, and I was so excited that Nick could join! On the flight over he was anxiously practicing his Chinese – mostly phrases to order his favorite local dishes like xiao long bao (soup dumplings) and hong shao rou (pork belly), of course ; )
delicious breakfast (fresh soy milk, tea egg, sticky rice, congee, dragonfruit) with a view
Our trip to Shanghai was a reminder to me of how important a good skincare routine is. The hours on a plane, the long work days, and especially the hot, humid weather followed by harsh air conditioning can take a toll on one’s skin. The weather in Shanghai made it all the more impressive how good everyone’s skin looked around the city. But it makes sense, as many women in Asia really focus on skincare starting at a young age, and makeup often comes only secondary to that.
I can’t say I thought about skincare much in my early 20’s, but now I know it’s never too early nor late to start. I worked closely with Lancôme to shoot a campaign for their Chinese market, modeled after my everyday skin issues and spotlighting their Génifique serum.
I came to learn that Génifique is a household name in Asia. When I mentioned the product to my relatives from my younger cousin to older aunts, they each adoringly referred to it as “oooh, the little black bottle!” This serum is their best-seller amongst skincare, and with consistent use, is formulated to restore radiance and smoothness to your skin while fighting those pesky fine lines and dry patches.
For those who don’t typically use serum, it should be applied twice a day in the morning and at night, after washing and toning but prior to putting on any sunscreen and moisturizer. A serum like Génifique should be the first layer of product that touches your skin after cleansing. To apply, I use the topper to drop one pump of serum into my hands, then pat it gently but firmly all over my face and neck. It has a cool, gel-like feel upon first contact and absorbs quickly into your skin.
While in Shanghai we were also invited to do a street-style fashion shoot with Lancôme x Grazia magazine along historic Wukang Road. This is located in the former French concession area of the city, where it was interesting seeing the mix of Eastern and Western influences in the neighborhood. Our shoot actually turned out to be quite the snacking tour, as there were popular bakeries and creameries along the path, and we couldn’t resist getting treats at each stop!
picking up fresh flowers at this cute shop // JOA dress sz xs (Target version)
munching on a croissant between shoots
“The Bund” is the area along the waterfront and a rather popular destination for visitors. We walked along the river, then moseyed over to a rooftop bar (Sir Elly’s) to watch the colorful sunset from higher up. I didn’t expect the Shanghai skyline to be so futuristic! Nick’s favorite building is what he dubbed the “beer bottle opener” to the upper right of my head here.
Our trip was a short one, but filled with amazing people and teams who truly made us feel welcome. We can’t wait to go back sometime, as there were so many places we wanted to explore (and eat at!) that we didn’t get to this time around.
Thank you to Lancôme for partnering on this post!
