Mandarin Month: An Extensive Chinese Language Guide to Your Skin Care and Makeup
Due to the 40 percent likelihood of rain today, we are postponing our Mandarin Month Social on the Q Bar roofdeck to Sunday, June 25, which calls for sunny skies. Apologies for the change in plans, we tried bribing the officials in the Weather Bureau to stop the rain, but it didn't work.
In the lead up to our Mandarin Month mixer on June 24 June 25, where you'll be able to meet with Beijing's best Mandarin schools, we'll be dishing out some language-learning advice on a daily basis. Read on if you don't want to wait to get started on improving your 中文. Mandarin Month is sponsored by Sanfine International Hospital.
Ever tried to use conditioner to moisturize instead of body lotion? It's easier to make that mistake than you think, with products often labelled in Chinese alone.
This is especially true if you're taking your pick from a range of local products to try and save money. That's why we've put this list together to help you decipher the Chinese labeling, not only for products found in stores such as Watsons, Mannings, or Sephora, but also if you're taking on the big, bad, world wide web in your search for skincare products.
Basic skincare products
Facial cleanser/face wash – 洗面奶 – xǐmiàn nǎi
Toner – 爽肤水 – shuǎngfū shuǐ
Moisturizer – 保湿霜 – bǎoshī shuāng
Body lotion – 身体乳 – shēntǐ rǔ
Essence/Serum – 精华液 – jīnghuá yè
Body wash – 沐浴乳 – mùyù rǔ
Hand cream – 护手霜 – hùshǒu shuāng
Sunscreen/sunblock – 隔离霜/防晒霜 – gélí shuāng/fángshài shuāng
Lotion – 乳液 – rǔyè
Cream – 霜 – shuāng
Facial mask – 面膜 – miànmó
Chapstick/lip balm – 润唇膏 – rùnchún gāo
Shampoo – 洗发水 – xǐfà shuǐ
Hair conditioner – 护发素 – hùfà sù
Next level necessities
Facial scrub – 磨砂膏 – móshā gāo
Whitening – 美白 – měibái
Pore refining – 去黑头 – qù hēitóu
Exfoliating – 去角质 – qù jiǎozhì
After sun – 晒后修 – shàihòu xiūfù
Alcohol free – 无酒精 – wú jiǔjīng
Anti-wrinkle – 抗老防皱 – kànglǎo fángzhòu
Waterproof – 防水 – fángshuǐ
Balancing – 平衡（酸碱） – pínhéng （suānjiǎn）
And if you want to put these new words into context:
My skin is dry/combination/normal/oily.
我的皮肤是干性/混合/中性/油性的。
Wǒ de pífū shì gànxìng/húnhé/zhōngxìng/yóuxìng de.
I’m looking for moisturizers, could you help me?
我想买润肤霜，你可以帮我吗？
Wǒ xiǎngmǎi rùnfū shuāng, nǐ kěyǐ bāngwǒ ma?
I heard that <xx> is good, have you tried it?
我听说 <xx> 很好，你用过吗？
Wǒ tīngshuō 《xx》 hěnhǎo, nǐ yòngguò ma？
Don’t forget to put on some sunscreen before heading to the beach.
去海滩之前别忘了抹点防晒霜。
Qù hǎitān zhīqián bié wàng le mò diǎn fángshài shuāng.
And what about if you want to access Taobao's massive makeup collection?
Cosmetics – 化妆品 – huàzhuāng pǐn
Foundation compact/stick – 粉底盒/条 – fěndǐ hé /tiáo
Liquid foundation – 粉底液 – fěndǐ yè
Concealer – 遮瑕膏 – zhēxiá gāo
Brow powder/pencil – 眉粉/笔 – méifěn/bǐ
Loose powder – 散粉 – sànfěn
Eyeliner – 眼线笔 – yǎnxiàn bǐ
Eyeshadow – 眼影 – yǎnyǐng
Mascara – 睫毛膏 – jiémáo gāo
Lipstick – 唇膏 – chúngāo
Lip gloss – 唇彩 – chúncǎi
Blush – 腮红 – sāihóng
Makeup remover – 卸妆水 – xièzhuāng shuǐ
Nail polish – 指甲油 – zhǐjiǎ yóu
Q-tips – 棉签 – miánqiān
Perfume – 香水 – xiāngshuǐ
Here's what to ask about those products:
Is this mascara waterproof?
这款睫毛膏防水吗？
Zhè kuǎn jiémáo gāo fángshuǐ ma？
What color of this liquid foundation do you think suits me?
你认为这款粉底液的什么颜色适合我？
Nǐ rènwéi zhèkuǎn fěndǐ yè de shénme yánsè shìhé wǒ ？
It’s a bit too pale/dark.
这颜色太浅/深了。
Zhè yánsè tài qiǎn/shēn le.
You don’t need 20 layers of nail polish, girl.
姐们，你不需要涂20层指甲油。
Jiěmen, nǐ bú xūyào tú 20 céng zhǐjiǎ yóu
Sometimes Sephora has great deals on makeup.
有时候丝芙兰卖的彩妆打折力度很大。
Yǒu shíhòu sīfúlán mài de cǎizhuāng dǎshé lìdù hěndà.
Bro, are you spraying perfume as air freshener?
哥们，你把香水当空气清新剂用呢？
Gēmen, nǐ bǎ xiāngshuǐ dāng kōngqì qīngxīn jì yòng ne?
Why there are so many whitening products instead of tanning ones?
为什么这么多美白而不是美黑产品？
Wéi shénme zhème duō měibái ér búshì měihēi chǎnpǐn？
Keep on track with your studies with all of our 2017 Mandarin Month content here, and don't forget to register for our June 25 mixer here.
If you are interested in becoming an exhibitor at our Mandarin Month Mixer on June 25, please call 5941 0368 or email sales@truerun.com. For media partnership opportunities, please call 5941 5379 or email marketing@truerun.com.
Photos: Goodhousekeeping.com, Huffingtonpost.com, Huffingtonpost.au, fashionfoodsoul.files.wordpress.com
