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Home » Musings » Revelation: I enjoy Chinese women magazines more than English ones!

Revelation: I enjoy Chinese women magazines more than English ones!

October 12, 2010 Paris B 62 Comments

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!

vivi mag
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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!

how to do makeup
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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.

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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

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About Paris B

Paris B is a 40-something beauty and skincare enthusiast with a practical and very critical view of beauty products and the world of beauty. Her mission on My Women Stuff is to deliver clear, honest reviews and facilitate discussions about beauty trends and life, tempered with a healthy dose of humour. Let the buyer's remorse be ours not yours! When not testing the newest skincare creams and lotions, or playing with makeup, find her testing her culinary skills in the kitchen at Chez PB. Read more about us here or leave a comment below or connect with us on social media at Instagram, Facebook and Twitter!

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62 comments ... Read or JOIN THE DISCUSSION

  1. Jennifer says

    October 12, 2010 at 10:26 pm

    I love chinese magazines (Vivi, With, Mina, etc) so much more because of their content (like written articles sometimes) and makeup tutorial. I also love English mags, but just for their sense of style (simplicity and trendy), although i must admit that the chinese mags and english mags have totally different sense of styles 😛

    Reply
    • ParisB says

      October 12, 2010 at 10:57 pm

      Very different indeed! I think people’s styles are influenced by the types of mags they read. I wonder what that says about people who don’t read mags like me 🙂

      Reply
  2. Shay says

    October 13, 2010 at 5:58 am

    I love Japanese magazines translated into Chinese. Such magazines are from Taiwan, e.g: Vivi (actually I like this least, too cute), With, VoCE, Queen….

    Yes, I like the tutorials but also the fashion part. Especially in With. For VoCE, its very much on makeup and skin care, but more focus on makeup (I think) less fashion. For the Queen magazine, its more focus on skin care (compared to VoCE) but also hugely on makeup and a fair bit on some DIY massage or exercises, hair, etc.

    Reply
    • ParisB says

      October 13, 2010 at 9:59 am

      Thanks for the recs! I’ll peep at those the next time I’m at the bookstore 🙂 I gotta agree with you about the fashion – I would flip through all these Japanese mags that feature autumn fashion and go absolutely green with envy because they all look so good! Makes me want to pull on my knee high boots and coat… and expire from the heat 🙂

      Reply
  3. Steph says

    October 13, 2010 at 10:20 am

    Hahaha, I actually got my first makeup lessons from Chinese magazines when I was a teen. I used to accompany my mum on her hair appointments, and coming from a small town where they don’t speak much English, the hair salon only stocks Chinese mags. I’m a certified “banana”, but the pictures in the tutorials gets the message across well enough. 🙂

    Reply
  4. Eli says

    October 13, 2010 at 11:25 am

    I tried to learn chinese but failed miserably as I couldn’t see the sense in it. Think i would have made an effort if Mum had thrown an interesting storybook at me.

    Taiwanese mags are waaay more infomative but their looks aren’t appropriate for my colouring. Apparently the Indian Vogue mags give great makeup tutorials and editorials in English as well. Trying to look out for copies but they are hard to come by. =/

    Reply
  5. Jess says

    October 13, 2010 at 4:30 pm

    I enjoy looking at their tutorials on the Chinese mags and start pulling my hairs for not able to read it. Sigh… what more those Japanese magazines.. our English magazines mostly one published the model before and after makeover tempting us to buy the products and steps in teaching us how to makeup not so helpful!

    Reply
    • ParisB says

      October 13, 2010 at 5:44 pm

      I’m glad Chinese and Japanese mags have a lot of pictures then Lol!

      Reply
  6. Janie says

    October 13, 2010 at 4:54 pm

    English magazines always feature expensive make-up, skincare and branded designer clothes ….. Who can afford to buy that?

    Reply
    • ParisB says

      October 13, 2010 at 5:43 pm

      The Mak Datin hogging the mags! 😉 In many ways that’s sorta true although I like some of the looks they show for a budget. some of the Asian brands featured in Chinese mags aren’t cheap too! I see a lot of SK-II in there as well as higher end Asian lines.

      Reply
  7. giddy tigress says

    October 13, 2010 at 9:28 pm

    Gosh, I had no idea Chinese mags were so informative! I was just at my hairdresser’s today, but I didn’t pick up the Chinese mags….I’ll make it a point to do so soon! 🙂

    Reply
  8. reeka says

    October 14, 2010 at 11:44 am

    same here! dont understand what it’s written there, but I loooveee browsing those japanese/taiwanese/chinese beauty&fashion magz. usually i “read” them at sbux in borders. paying 1 cup of greentea latte, got bunch of magz to read.

    Reply
  9. silverbaby13579 says

    January 12, 2012 at 12:09 pm

    I find that not only do they inspire me makeup-wise, but fashion-wise as well! So creative and not afraid to experiment and mix styles – I went from high school tomboy to someone who’s definitely more confident and excited, even, to use makeup and dress more feminine (a huge 180 that shocked everyone around me!).

    I do give credit to the many step-by-step tutorials that lured me in as that’s actually what taught me how to use products – it’s nice to see products being advertised, but if you don’t know how or where to apply them, they’re somehow less attractive…

    I luv my Jap mags <3 <3 <)

    Reply
  10. Ling says

    October 11, 2012 at 7:12 pm

    OMG I love Chinese beauty magazines too – just for the photos of course 🙂

    Reply
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Welcome to My Women Stuff, a beauty blog based in Malaysia, written by veteran blogger, Paris B. What you can expect is honesty, critical views & a healthy dose of shared life lessons sprinkled amongst beauty product reviews. What you shouldn't expect is a page filled with unnecessary narcissistic photos. MWS is a blog for those who love to read, because we love to write! Read More about MWS and Paris B

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