CHINA - CUP CUP AND AWAY

One dumpling, two dumpling, three dumpling - floor.

As soon as I landed in Beijing - China, after a delicious feast of dumplings to cure my Yum Cha cravings I had from missing home (Sydney - how ironic that the things I miss are asian cuisine), I set out looking for traditional Chinese remedies.


I became skeptical about purchasing cosmetics in China from articles I've read. China is the land of all things fake and hyper produced so I didn't feel right making any product purchases, especially any that involved testing on animals.
China is however highly regarded for its traditional medicines & therapies so I decided to give the art of 'cupping' a go 

 Disclaimer: pictures to follow are graphic and NSFW.

Initially I set out in search of Acupuncture as It's always been something I've wanted to try and after I've started getting a slight tingle in my lower back I've thought about natural therapies. I always look forward to my chiropractor visits, but wanted to try something a bit out of the norm.
Acupuncture is only done by licensed professionals within hospitals in China and I wasn't able to book an appointment with a reliable doctor that came with good credentials. So acupuncture will have to wait until next time.


I'd first heard about cupping a few years ago when celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie and Victoria Beckham had been papped with circle shaped bruises on their backs and shoulders. I decided to see what all the fuss was about and found a nearby massage parlour recommended by the hotel I was staying at and booked in for a massage followed by dry cupping - also known as Hijama. I wasn't sure what to expect and I'd been told that it didn't hurt.

Gwyneth's doing it..

Victoria Beckham's doing it... everybody's doing it!

After my massage had finished the therapist told me he was going to apply the first cup.
I heard the sound of a hissing lighter and the next thing I knew I felt a vacuum like suction and slight heat on my back. I winced at this new feeling. It felt a bit like I was being pinched. I tried to relax as the next glass cup went on. I could hear a suction "cupping sound" and felt more and more cups being applied to my upper & lower back and shoulders. Soon I felt like my entire back was pulled tightly however it was a peaceful type of pain. It was tolerable and felt as comforting as it hurt.
The therapist told me he had finished and to "wait while the bad toxins in your blood are removed" Hmmm ok. 

CUPS ON

So I lay patiently for what felt like 15 minutes and then the therapist started to remove the cups with a POPPING sound as each one came off. 
My back felt tender, especially after the massage and I couldn't wait to rush home and take some back selfies in the mirror to see how my newly cupped back was looking.

CUPS OFF

I had a little moment of shock and the first thought in my head was WHAT HAVE I DONE TO MYSELF?!
 I was expecting to feel lighter and refreshed like I'd had all the bad chi sucked out of my system. Instead my back hurt and felt very hot. I was drained and just felt like lying down in this heavenly bed:

Soon after my back was tender and remained so for the following 2 days. The marks are still very prevalent and I'm hoping they clear up before I go on annual leave next week. 

Cupping - Instagram style

There have been many formal studies conducted on the Chinese art of cupping however no proven benefits and in the same token, no negative side effects have been observed. Is this just a matter of your inner chi?


They say cupping has a detoxifying effect and is meant to restore the flow of healthy blood throughout the organs. It has also been used in ancient Egyptian and Greek traditional healing practices. 


I feel like this is a 'something to try once in your life' kind of procedure. I'm not noting any benefits, just some tough looking bruises peeping out of my shirt. Could this explain why I've been listening to a lot of 2Pac recently? A friend of mine noted that I looked like I was "taking the leopard print trend a little too seriously". Ok so the marks aren't in anyway attractive but do actually make me feel as though some sort of toxins were released.

iPhone case and bruises BTYB China. Thanks.

The therapist told me that the spots that appear redder and darker are the ones which contained the most toxins. For me this was in my shoulders, so does this mean I have bad shoulders? Bad blooded shoulders? They've always worked ok for me, so I'd hope not.


Has anyone else tried cupping or something similar before? Any noted benefits? 






GBI x

SOUTH KOREA - SEOUL SKIN HEAVEN

Seoul is one of my favourite destinations - and not only for the Korean BBQ and cute street cafes. As well as being the capital city of South Korea, it is also widely known to be one of the biggest beauty and plastic surgery hubs of the world. 

After speaking to some of the local girls, I quickly gained an understanding of the general attitudes towards beauty in South Korea. No price is too high and they will undergo any procedure in search of 'perfection'. This is reflected in the large number of advertisements for cosmetic surgery surrounding the streets and metro stations.

On the recommendation of my Korean friends, as soon as I arrived I descended down the hill of the gorgeous Grand Hyatt  and hot footed it to Myeong dong, the shopping mecca of Seoul City.

On every street corner you will find a colourful shopfront booming with the latest Korean pop song and doll like girls luring you in to try the products. 

Some of the stores I visited and stocked up at were The Skin Food, The FaceShop and Nature Republic. 

Seoul really is a shoppers heaven - the prices are more than reasonable and there is a huge range of fabulous products to choose from, so it's no surprise the beauty industry in Korea is exponential. 

I'd heard a lot of positive reviews from friends on the brands I've chosen to review, specifically about the collagen face masks. Most all of the product details on the back are in Korean so I'll try and be as specific about the ingredients as possible.

1. SKIN FOOD - Gold Caviar Collagen Mask Sheet, 35 gm $4 USD.

I'm not going to lie. I'm a sucker for a good face mask, ESPECIALLY one that contains collagen (just felt my face tighten as I typed that). 
I always like to apply masks the day before an event to give my skin a much anticipated glow. I left the mask on overnight, to soak in the collagen benefits, and wake up in the morning to find my face is moisturised and firmer. This is one product that delivered on it's promise of a "firmer, tighter complexion".
Easy to apply and flexible enough to suit any face shape. I'll spare you the pics of this one in action.


The mask contains Russian Caviar Extract and Pure Gold Particles and is truly the bentley of face masks. 
There is little to no hint of fragrance which is why this mask is perfect for over-night application.
Another thing to add is the efficiency of a face mask sheet - compared to a 'peel off' mask which I find can be harsh and damaging to our face when removing this off our precious skin.
I now know what all the hype from my Korean friends surrounding this mask was about!


FLY ACROSS THE WORLD FOR IT? Actually, yes! I'm planning to head back to Seoul in the coming months and this gem is on the top of my list. Going to stock up big time. SKIN FOOD - GET READY.

2. NATURE REPUBLIC - Aloe Vera 90% Soothing Gel, 300ml $3 USD

The healing qualities in Aloe Vera based products are wonderful. Whenever I can I always stock up on Aloe Vera juice which is said to aid weight loss, boost your immune system and generally detox you from the inside out. The taste is pretty delicious too.


I first tried this gel straight after a day at the pool to help soothe my bronzed limbs and it worked a treat. The cooling sensation was everything I wanted in an after sun gel and it literally smells good enough to eat. Luckily, I had some watermelon within reach at the time or this could have made for a pretty interesting review.


FLY ACROSS THE WORLD FOR IT?

I'd highly recommend this product, not only is it incredibly affordable, it's lightweight and delivers on it's promises to soothe. I would however say there are other products on the market that will give you the same result. This one just feels and smells so natural and fresh. Will definitely be purchasing this one again.

3.THEFACESHOP - Night Flower Firming Body Essence, 300ml $10 USD

Aside from the gorgeous packaging, the first thing that caught my nose eye about this product was the fragrance. Although normally not a big fan of heavily scented products, it was everything I'd imagine 'Night Flower' to smell like. Luxurious and sensual with amber undertones. Yes please. 
The lotion glides on like a silky dream and leaves you smelling like a pretty flower. Aw. Great for everyday use however I can't as yet comment on the 'firming' qualities that the product suggests.
A girl can dream right?

FLY ACROSS THE WORLD FOR IT? Not just for this one. I've tried plenty of pretty smelling lotions and this is just another one of them. My skin did feel a little greasy about 30 minutes post application which isn't convincing.

I adore the range of cosmetics that South Korea has to offer. Most of these brands pride themselves on being 'from earth and nature' and will generally deliver on what they promise. And with good reason - there's no fooling the Korean beauties who know and appreciate a good product. Seoul is really an amazing place to visit, not only for the excellent shopping, and fresh tasty cuisine, there are so many different landmarks and sights to see. I'd recommend the DMZ tour first hand - this really opened my eyes to the history of North & South Korea.

GBI x