I should have paid attention in school when they were trying to teach me Mandarin. Its not my fault – I was traumatized by the language at an early age, no thanks to a teacher who refused to teach. So I remain pretty illiterate in the language till today.
And the reason I wish I could read Chinese is because I’ve learnt that Chinese women magazines are so much more informative if you enjoy cosmetics and fashion!
This revelation struck me while I was at my hairdresser last week. Some Mak Datin was hogging the English mags and I wasn’t interested in the Tatler, so I picked up a bunch of Chinese magazines.
Some were local, some were from Taiwan. But in the main, I was impressed. I can’t read Chinese but the pictures were sufficient. There was so much information in there!
Not only beauty products (and boy! Are there beauty products!) but also fashion and lots of tutorials. Every single magazine I picked up had a tutorial of some sort, be it how to draw eyeliner, how to put on blush, or how to apply eyeshadow, they show you multiple ways you can do it. They also have comparisons between products from different brands e.g. how different pen concealers fare and which is better.
The Chinese magazines from Taiwan were far superior in this regard. The one in the 1st picture is Vivi which I’m given to understand is the Taiwanese version of the original Vivi – a Japanese mag. I’m starting to understand why Asian cosmetics and brands do better in Taiwan and Japan. The mags are not only full of them, they tell you how to use them. The other pictures you see here are from local Chinese mags which, while not as cutesy as Vivi are as informative.
I’m also beginning to understand why there are so many Asian makeup “gurus” on Youtube and in beauty blogs. If you live in a country where magazines teach you important things like how to use eyeliner, it is no wonder they grow up more savvy in all things makeup, and it is no wonder that makeup and cosmetics sell well.
By contrast, I find that English or Western magazines aren’t as tutorial nor information friendly. The pictures are there, but other than show you what it is, they don’t “teach” you. In many ways, I feel like I’m reading a large glossy advertorial.
I also enjoy the focus on Asian makeup brands e.g. Kanebo, Shiseido, Anna Sui, Kose etc which is quite overlooked in the coverage by Western brands. Some of you may not know it, but I was and still am a fan of Asian cosmetics – they are more makeup-newbie friendly albeit more shimmery 🙂
I have one caveat though. I’m not into the looks created and shown, like that in the cover of Vivi above. The other more natural looks in the other 2 pictures are more wearable. I’m not into the whole look involving false lashes, colour contacts, curled hair dyed brown or blonde, and taking photos with that “Look at me! I’m so cute!” look. Vivi was full of girls who looked like that. It is no wonder I’m seeing a plethora of blogs with girls who look like this (or are photoshopped to).
So the next time I go to my hairdresser, I’m going to be skipping my regular dose of Cleo and Her World etc and will be picking up Vivi and any other Chinese women’s magazine they have lying around. I may not understand what they are saying, but their pictures are enough to teach me a thing or two 🙂 And then I’d tone it down to use for everyday so I don’t end up looking like a manga character LOL!
If you can read Chinese, lucky you! But if you don’t, do you enjoy flipping through Chinese magazines anyway to look at the pictures and tutorials?
Paris B
i adore my chinese mags to the point i stop reading english ones!
i supposed you are right, english mags usually aren’t tutorial enough most of the time, and it’s pretty much very ad-like. ahahaha. the chinese ones (imported) are much better than the local ones, but that said, the locals aren’t that bad, quality has been better compared to before 🙂
Since I can’t read I can’t tell which is better but both foreign and local mags give good picture tutorials which I find useful. Western mags or English mags should pick up that trend – I think it most useful for the majority and will encourage people to buy and keep the mags instead of tossing them out after a month or two.
i don’t toss my magazines. i keep them like how i keep my books! it’s insane to be honest.
but really, try give mina/ choc a read! i think those are more friendly for working ladies as opposed to vivi, vivi more of a funky look most of the time 😛 i think the layout thingy, it’s about getting used to it? hehe~
I absolutely hate it when my hairdresser “runs out” of English mags and I have to flip through the Chinese ones. Like you, I was traumatized at kindy stage and never got around to conquering what is supposedly my mother tongue.
I dislike Chinese mags for two main reasons. Firstly, the looks simply don’t appeal to me. The whole kawaii doll thingy …. Secondly, I find the layout in the pages to be very messy and crammed. That gives me a headache as i don’t know what to look at. LOL
That’s actually a bit sad because those are the mags that would actually show proper application for oriental eyes. I hate it when the English mags tell me to apply shadow up to my “crease” and I’m like “What crease?!?!!?”
LOL! I fully agree with you. It took me ages to figure out that I don’t have a defined crease! That said I must agree that the layout in Chinese mags are “messy” and they feature so many things on one page I get so confused. In that sense the local ones seem better – less messy yet tutorial friendly 🙂
I can read Chinese, but I don’t understand the Chinese beauty product terms. So in the end, I get stumped. I like the ones that feature Kelvin or Xiao Kai, both friends of Lan Xing Mei, the host of Queen (Nu Ren Wo Jui Da, Astro 317, 8PM) ahahah ^.^
It is at this point I say “Who?” :p
I think that they’re Taiwan’s most famous makeup artists. Celebrity status like Bobbi Brown and whatnot.
Oh ya I only recognize Kevin :p
I got a makeup book by Kelvin (in Mandarin, of course) for RMB25 in China for my friend. It was very informative, like those chinese mags. If you are interested enough, you would learn the language I’m sure. My mum’s boss learnt it through Karaoke sessions.
Sounds interesting, that book. I’m not about to go round belting out Chinese songs at Karaoke (easier to learn to speak than to read actually) but who knows if I might still pick it up. Wouldn’t just to read a mag though. From what I’m reading here, most just go at it for the pictures which might explain why there are so many pictures in Asian mags! 😉
I wish I had paid attention in kindie too! :p I buy Choc almost every month. They have a pretty thick beauty pull out and every month there’s a different focus (eg. eyelashes, foundation, skin problems). I’m not a fan of the cutesy style either but I find that the tutorials are helpful individually. And there are sooo many products featured in just one issue from the cheapest to the most expensive. They even do an unbiased and in-depth comparison of a product
Oh yes I like the fact they feature a whole bunch of products of different price ranges. There’s less segregation but I’m wondering if it might be because Asian and Japanese brands of cosmetics have so many sub brands that it doesn’t matter whether they feature the cheap drugstore version or the higher end department store version.
Me too! I love Japanese fashion mags like Vivi, but I can’t read a word of it. Same goes for Chinese mags (not too bad for Chinese mags, I reckon, since at least I can read a word or two compared to Japanese :P). I used to buy loads of Japanese mags when in Japan a few years ago; you don’t even have to learn how to read them, the photos suffice. Although I did force myself to learn katakana, just so I could understand the brand, the model and the price 😛
Hehe never a better way to learn a language than when you need to 😉 I love browsing Japanese mags too! Some bug me cos of the cute factor but the fashion is fun!
Totally agree with you that Asian beauty magazines are so much more useful than Wester ones. I just wished, I was able to read either Chinese or Japanese! > . <
Why is there no translated version? Haha…
You’re absolutely right Jess! Bring on the translators already!
Wow that’s so cool! I love the eyebrow of the second girl in the chinese mag! perfect!
Absolutely suits her pretty oval face eh? 🙂
LOL It’s my fault that I did not pay enough attention to the Mandarin teachers when they were trying to teach me Mandarin 😀
Actually, my cousin and my mom only flip through enjoying the pictures eventhough she can read Chinese 😛
Sorry, typed too fast, “eventhough both of them can read Chinese” 😛
Same! Thinking back I should have but I was way too traumatized 😛 I guess all mags are good for flipping through especially those with lots of pictures 😉
Same here, I love them more, I bought VIVI magazine when I visited HK, I guess their makeup tuts are more on the natural side and they have great step by step photos!
Yes! And they also have hairstyle tips which I find useful for those who like hairstyles
I just don’t buy magazines, period. Mostly because I’ll probably only read through once and then I don’t know what to do with them. So I just flip through at the bookshops 😛 But no, I’ve never touched the Chinese/Japanese magazines just because.
Even though I can read Mandarin (Chinese primary school and all), but the comprehension is pretty crap and it’ll take me longer to read than I would reading English.
I don’t buy mags too! Lol! I find it a waste of money cos I never look at them again. The only time I read mags are at bookshops or at my hairdressers 🙂
Not only are they more informative, they’re cheaper too!! Not Vivi la but chinese mags… haha… Sad, I don’t know chinese as well 🙁 I love flipping through them… I envy my friends who can read them… I used to cry in mandarin class cuz I had to stay back after school hours to study it… this was during my kindy years… Kind of sad now… I’m thinking of taking up mandarin again…
I love the mags not only for their makeup tutorials but some clothes are really nice too!
Yes! I love checking out the fashion too. Not always my taste but they’re good for looking at and getting some ideas 🙂
You too!!! :-)) Me also crazy about chinese mags for the beauty (and sometimes fashion) stuff! It is pure eye candy and the step by step how to makeup guides are really good! I also like With and Beauty321 or is that 123? (hehe!)
For some time, I have been thinking that chinese beauty mags might be my motivator to learn Mandarin too! 🙂
One more thing! Chinese mags do hair too! “How to” guides to styling your hair!
Yup! I found that very fascinating mostly because I dont’ do anything to my hair and it amazes me how anyone can 😉
That would be a great motivator won’t it? 🙂 I’ll settle with the pictures for now 😉
i am with you here Paris. I’m not chinese. but I buy chinese & japanese beauty magazine – but i can hardly read a word (except for the ones they write in alphabets). I like them cuz of the tutorials and hairstyles inspiration 🙂
Yay! I love how diverse the products featured are – not just the usual brands but more of a mix between Western and Asian brands – I don’t buy the mags though 😉
offers more toned down and mature looks compared to .
offers more sweet looks.
same here 🙁 i’m a “banana” too
and i just enjoy “reading” those chinese mags when im at the hairdresser’s..hahaha
so much so that i always take a copy of vivi/cawaii/etc to browse thru at borders 😀 bcos it would be senseless to buy a mag that i can’t even read…i will look at all the pics and the beautiful clothes! why can’t cleo publish these makeup tutorials?!
I think it would be awesome if the English mags had more of these tutorials, whether for simple or elaborate looks. We’d probably enjoy and buy more if there’s a reason to i.e. to keep and learn from it.
I bought a few ViVi, VoCE, Choc and I don’t remember what else when I was in HK early this year. I bought more when I was at HKIA. I can read Chinese but am not very good in that. I was never interested in my Mandarin lessons. I preferred reading Sweet Valley High than listening to the teacher *lol* I like the makeup tips in the mags. I’m not into the entire kawaii makeup or the poses.
English mags cost a lot here. My husband bought me a year of subscription of Cosmo US last Christmas. To be honest, I don’t really like the US version that much. I prefer the UK or the Australia ones!
Haha looks like its you and me both then, who aren’t into the kawaii looks and poses. Sometimes the photos really irritate me 😛 I feel weird saying that I hardly read women’s mags, or any mags for that matter. I catch up when I get my hair done, when I speed read to catch up! LOL
I love Japanese and Taiwanese mags, and my excuse for buying them is usually to brush up on Mandarin and Japanese 😛 I find it hard to read the text in the East Asian mags though, as they’re so small that I tend to get lazy and just look at the pictures.
The hair styling tips really leave me baffled and in awe that ordinary gals are able to whip up such elaborate hairstyles without a hairdresser! My own hair retains the same style and colour day-in-day-out 😉
That said, I still love Vogue UK and US as the features in these mags are pretty interesting. So for me it’s Vogue for a good overall read, and East Asian mags for eye-candy.
That’s a nice dissection of your mag reads! I must say some features in English mags are a good read but it could just be that I can’t read features in Chinese mags so I can’t appreciate them! Lol!
“With” is my face Chinese mag – chock full of fashion and beauty how-to pics especially haircuts and styles – shots of front,sides and back!
Hmm… Does it say “With” anywhere on the cover? That’s a pretty strange name for a mag but it sounds like a good read
WITH is lovely to read! 😀 not so much of a kawaii style, but more of an OL look most of the times 😀
I envy Asians in general for having these magazines. Here in Europe, just like you said it’s always like this: there’s a photo with a finished model and they say do this or that without any instruction about how to do it exactly. No details, nothing. With makeup, I don’t mind it that much, looking at the pic is enough, but with hairstyles…….what and where should I put and how to twist and…..argh total chaos for me XD
BTW, the girl on the last scan looks fresh and natural. But I like the dolish lok too. Wish I could wear it without being badmouthed >.<
I know what you mean about hair – I’d never be able to do my hair without pictures! Come to think of it I still can’t even with pictures :p Why would you be bad mouthed for doing the kawaii look? Lots of girls do 😉 maybe you can do something less dramatic?
hi, you have just inspired me to read chinese beauty mag!! what other chinese mag are there other than vivi which is good?
Honestly since I’m new I have no idea! I hope some other girls give some suggestions 🙂