“I’ve needed to be a author for so long as I can bear in mind. I wrote many tales rising up, they usually all featured blonde, blue-eyed girls. It wasn’t till I went to Smith Faculty and was launched to the idea of internalized racism that I noticed I might been subconsciously distancing myself from my Chinese language heritage my complete life. I had been planning on learning overseas in London—I used to be an English lit main—however I pivoted and determined to check overseas in Beijing as a substitute. I reconnected with my roots and it modified the course of my life.

CAREER
I graduated from school in 2009, through the recession in the US. It wasn’t a simple time to discover a job, so it felt like a simple resolution to maneuver again to Beijing, whose economic system was booming. I began as an intern at a neighborhood expat journal, labored my method up, and ultimately grew to become the model and life-style editor.

When 4 years flew by, my household requested me to maneuver again. They needed me to affix the household enterprise, which is an insurance coverage brokerage in San Francisco—and I did with the utmost reluctance. I used to be hit with a heavy dose of actuality and reverse tradition shock. My complete id was misplaced as a result of I used to be shifting from journalism to insurance coverage and transferring from Beijing to San Francisco. I’d grown accustomed to the day by day hardship of being in another country, and I nearly felt bored at dwelling. Throughout that point, I began sharing my outfit and life-style pictures on Instagram as a way to manage.

At Wang Insurance coverage, I’m the Chief Advertising Officer. I deal with our advertising, after all, and our social media, however I’m additionally a industrial insurance coverage dealer. Our agency insures individuals personally, however on the enterprise facet, which is what I deal with, we insure small companies—loads of native espresso outlets, bars, eating places, producers, fuel stations, you identify it.

As for Instagram, it was only a gentle pastime for me at first. It took a number of years to construct a following, however for the longest time, Instagram actually was only a approach to reclaim my id. It’s humorous, however I nonetheless bear in mind getting supplied my first free bottle of alcohol. I had this considered, ‘Wow, you may get free issues?’ It was such a brand new trade. As I began getting marketing campaign and partnership gives, that’s once I began treating it like a job.

I get up at 6AM and work on Instagram for the primary three to 4 hours of my day. That’s something from creating content material to answering emails to taking pictures, which I additionally do on the weekends. After that I am going to the workplace and work till 6PM, and I’d attend an occasion or one thing at evening. I like that I can have a steadiness of each worlds, and I don’t take that as a right.

BEAUTY
I’ve at all times been actually into make-up. I bear in mind secretly borrowing my older sister’s eyeliner as a tween, and for a few years, I wouldn’t depart the home with out it. I might truly do a full smoky eye. All of it goes again to the Eurocentric magnificence beliefs I internalized. I undoubtedly seen myself as ‘never-as-pretty’ as blue-eyed, blonde girls, and doing a smoky look was nearly a method for me to masks my eyes. I’m doing a extra pared-back look now. Partially, it has to do with being in my thirties and being extra comfy with myself, but additionally, the shift in direction of extra ‘pure’ magnificence lastly helped me be taught to embrace myself.

SKINCARE
I took my pores and skin as a right till the previous few years, once I realized that it’s trying extra boring and customarily wants extra hydration. My focus now’s preventative anti-aging, however I attempt to hold it low-lift. Within the morning, I wash my face within the bathe with Farmacy’s Whipped Greens Cleanser. It doesn’t make me get away, and it cleans actually, rather well. After I step out, I exploit the Grown Alchemist Detox Serum. I really feel prefer it provides moisture again to my pores and skin. I’m additionally a fan of minimalist packaging. [Laughs]

I didn’t put on sunscreen in my twenties. I used to be like, ‘Oh, I simply need to be tan.’ However now, I at all times, at all times use it. I like the Glow Recipe Watermelon Niacinamide SPF 50. It provides you a glow beneath your make-up, and it goes on actually easily and blends nicely. I’m additionally attempting so as to add extra ‘clear’ skincare to my routine. I’m certainly not solely utilizing these merchandise, however I actually love True Botanicals’s Pure Radiance Oil. My youthful sister launched me to the model. I’ve been hooked on oils for some time, and this one feels so good and locks the moisture on my pores and skin.

At evening, I double cleanse with Shu Uemura’s Ultime8 Chic Magnificence Cleaning Oil to take away make-up. If I’m too lazy to scrub my face or if I simply did gentle make-up, I’ll use Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micellar Water on a cotton pad as a substitute, adopted by a toner. My absolute favourite is the Farmacy Deep Sweep 2% BHA Toner, however I just lately ran out, so I’m at the moment utilizing Glow Recipe’s Watermelon Glow PHA+BHA Toner, which I additionally love however use much less incessantly because you’re apparently not supposed to combine retinol and PHA+BHA. I observe it up with the Farmacy Cleanser from the morning.

I’ve gotten actually into the Estée Lauder Superior Night time Restore Serum. I used to be gifted it some time again, however I did not use it. Then I noticed this older Asian girl on TikTok. She was glowing, and he or she mentioned she’s used the serum for many years, so I began utilizing it daily, too. It’s a bit sticky, which I actually like, nevertheless it blends nicely. I observe it up with the Caudalíe Vinoperfect Radiance Darkish Spot Serum and the Farmacy 1% Vitamin A Retinol Serum. Generally I’ll add within the Kiehl’s Hyaluronic Acid 1.5% Serum and the Kiehl’s 5.0% Niacinamide Serum.

I at all times come again to the Kiehl’s Extremely Facial Cream. It’s simply impartial and straightforward. Additionally, Revea opened a bit studio in San Francisco some time again, they usually used a machine to check my pores and skin texture and tailored a moisturizer for my pores and skin. Actually, I used to be extremely skeptical, however the moisturizer is superb. I’ve dry cheeks however an oily brow, and the moisturizer actually helps with hydration with out making me oilier. After which I end the evening with L’Occitane’s Immortelle Divine Eye Balm.

BODY
Each time I get within the bathe, I exploit the Luv Scrub Mesh Physique Exfoliator. It seems to be like a fishnet. [Laughs] I normally use the Nécessaire Physique Wash with it as a result of I don’t like merchandise which are highly-scented, and Nécessaire’s is fairly refined.

I have to put on physique lotion daily as a result of I can’t stand the sensation of dry pores and skin. I hold the Almond Milk Focus from L’Occitane by my mattress. I do know some individuals don’t like the sensation of lotion on their pores and skin, particularly after they’re in mattress, however I find it irresistible. It feels actually luxurious. After which I normally add Nécessaire Physique Oil on high.

MAKEUP
After I’m doing a full make-up look, the very first thing I seize is the Saie Hydrabeam Concealer in HB Two, which I normally use underneath my eyes, round my nostril, and possibly, a spot on my brow. After that, I exploit the Westman Atelier Important Pores and skin Basis and Concealer Stick, and it’s my absolute favourite basis. Liquid basis is so messy and simply sits on high of my pores and skin, however the Westman Atelier stick actually melts in. It seems to be like a second pores and skin, simply tremendous pure. I exploit shade Atelier VIII, which is supposed for these with rosy undertones. And I’ve at all times beloved Bobbi Brown—I used her merchandise all via school—and now I particularly love the Miracle Balm in Bronze from her new line, Jones Highway. It provides you this lovely dewy look.

I do the strategy the place you set all the merchandise on after which set them with a sprig—I’m utilizing the M.A.C. Prep + Prime Repair+ Setting Spray proper now. I let the spray sit for a second after which mix all of it along with the Huda Magnificence Tantour Brush and a Beautyblender. I used to mainly smear all of my make-up on, however I’ve realized to push it into my pores and skin. It takes longer, nevertheless it seems to be higher and extra pure.

I set my undereyes with the Charlotte Tilbury Flawless End Setting Powder in Honest—it actually makes your pores and skin look airbrushed. Then I’ve a hack: I do know everyone loves the Laura Mercier Translucent Free Setting Powder, however I get it in Translucent Medium Deep and use it nearly like a bronzer. I put it throughout my cheeks and brow. It distributes tremendous evenly and provides you a glow. I am going over it with the Make-up by Mario SoftSculpt Bronzer in Medium. I even use it as the bottom for eyeshadow, too. And for blush, I like the Uncommon Magnificence Mushy Pinch Liquid Blush in Hope, or the Glossier Cloud Paint in Daybreak. They’ve a lot endurance. My bronzer may fade by the tip of the day, however you’ll nonetheless see the blush.

I’ve tried many alternative merchandise, however Asian brows are very exhausting to laminate and maintain in place. Plenty of those I’ve tried get clumpy. The one I’ve had essentially the most success with is the REFY Forehead Sculpt Form and Maintain Gel. I let it dry for a minute after which go over it with Glossier Boy Forehead, in both Black or Brown. Earlier than I bought my eyebrows microbladed, I might additionally use the Anastasia Beverly Hills Excellent Forehead Pencil and a Profit forehead equipment, however I’ve gone extra lowkey and pure.

A part of my less-makeup-journey has been ditching the eyeliner pencil that I used to smoke out my whole eye and switching to liquid eyeliner on simply my high lid. I actually just like the Stila Keep All Day Liquid Eye Liner as a result of it has each a typical and a micro-point. I additionally discover that it lasts a extremely very long time—round six months for me.

I went via a lash extension part, however I had so many dangerous experiences. It was additionally an costly and time-consuming behavior, so I used to be like, ‘By no means once more.’ Now, I simply do 10 layers of mascara. [Laughs] I’ve beloved all the Yves Saint Laurent ones, however I’m utilizing the Lash Conflict Excessive Quantity Mascara now. I like when tubes are a bit extra dried out and on the finish of their life. I really feel like they work higher.

HAIR
I’m actually clueless about hair. I by no means model it. I don’t brush it. I truly don’t even personal a hairbrush. My hair texture is drier and rougher than the standard smooth Asian hair, and once I did brush it in highschool, it could get frizzy. I simply run my fingers via it now, and a few days per week, I’ll put some Gisou Hair Oil on the ends.

Individuals say you’re not presupposed to, however I wash my hair daily as a result of my scalp will get oily. Additionally, I swear if I don’t wash my hair and it touches my face, I get away in a rash. I simply shampoo my scalp with out washing my ends. I change my shampoo and conditioner all the time, however proper now, I’m utilizing the Dwelling Proof Excellent Hair Day Shampoo and Conditioner. I like the R+CO Bleu De Luxe Reparative Shampoo, too. Every so often, I’d use the La’dor Tea Tree Scalp Clinic Hair Pack to eliminate build-up.

FRAGRANCE
I’m fairly delicate to scents so I’m actually choosy in regards to the perfumes I put on. I’m truly serious about getting a bit fragrance cupboard as a result of they’re extra like show items in my dwelling. However for particular events or nights once I need to add some oomph, I’ll put on Tom Ford Ombré Leather-based. It’s woodsy and masculine, which I’m most drawn in direction of. If I would like one thing a bit extra female, I am going for Le Labo Santal 33 or Byredo Younger Rose. If there’s ever any trace of floral in a fragrance, I would like it to be offset by a woodsy ingredient.”

—As informed to Daise Bedolla

Photographed by Meiwen See in San Francisco on July 12, 2023