Shu Qi, 49, bares it all in birthday selfie with husband—Her no-makeup beauty secrets revealed

As an actress, Shu Qi is no stranger to bold, vibrant lip colours. In a livestream with e-commerce influencer Li Jiaqi, she shared that just one swipe of red lipstick is all it takes to boost her confidence—it’s her go-to for an instant complexion pick-me-up. Though she admits the endless shades, from tomato red to brick red, can be a little overwhelming, that hasn’t stopped her from having fun with it. Ever the beauty chameleon, Shu Qi loves mixing different formulas to create custom hues, adding depth and dimension that complement her outfits and ever-evolving style.

You only need foundation where it counts. In a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse shared on Instagram, Shu Qi gave fans a peek into her glam routine. In the clip, her makeup artist is seen applying a foundation just a touch lighter than her natural skin tone to the center of her face, before blending it outward. The technique offers coverage exactly where it’s needed most, while creating that effortlessly natural, second-skin finish Shu Qi is so known for.

Like some of us, Shu Qi deals with skin allergies and sensitivity from time to time. If you have sensitive skin like the Shanghai Fortress star, consider doing a patch-test before trying out new beauty products.

And if you're nursing an allergy, stick to gentle cleansers, moisturisers and sunscreens and avoid potentially irritating ingredients such as fragrances.

One staple on her vanity? Clarins Double Serum. This plant-powered, dual-phase formula is a multitasking marvel, tackling a range of skin concerns in a single, skin-loving step.

When Shu Qi was younger, she would go to bed after a long night of filming with her makeup on to catch a wink. She later realised that this wreaked havoc on her skin.

Now, Shu Qi is more conscientious with her cleansing routine and makes sure to remove her makeup before sleeping.

But if a busy schedule or insomnia is keeping Shu Qi from getting her beauty sleep, the actress treats her tired skin to face masks and moisturising cream.

Shu Qi once shared that she likes to apply a thick layer of La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 almost like a sleeping mask before hitting the hay to hydrate her skin.

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Shu Qi never leaves home without a lip balm. At night, we recommend slathering on a lip mask or petroleum jelly to seal in moisture and plump your pout.

For those who remember, Shu Qi used to be the face of the Flower by Kenzo perfume between 2006 to 2009. To Shu Qi, fragrances are important because they hold a special evocative power.

The other secret to Shu Qi's amazing skin and toned physique is exercise. She often posts images of herself post-workout and it seems the 46-year-old is a fan of badminton.

Shu Qi is a firm believer of the mantra "you are what you eat". Shu Qi avoids eating raw food, meat, sweets and peppers as much as possible. However, she doesn't deprive herself, occasionally indulging in sweet treats.

Unfortunately, ageism is a persistent societal problem, with celebrities bearing a huge brunt of it. So when Shu Qi posted a photo of her white hair on social media, netizens were quick to announce "the demise of Shu Qi's beauty."

However, the actress' suave reply of "please continue to watch me age gradually" shows us that Shu Qi is confident in her own skin. We stan.