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| That 700 Masks Claim by Chinese Media Wasn’t a Guess, Says Fan Bingbing. (Photo: FanBingBing) |
If flawless, porcelain-like skin sounds like something straight out of a fairy tale, seeing Fan Bingbing in real life might convince you otherwise.
The 44-year-old Chinese actress was in Singapore for the official launch of her skincare brand, Fan Beauty Diary, and made an unforgettable appearance at Jewel Changi Airport.
Dressed in a glittering, ultra-dramatic ballgown, she looked every bit the modern-day royal — composed, elegant, and completely unfazed by the attention surrounding her.
The brand, founded in 2018, has steadily grown into a major name in the beauty space and is now available exclusively at Watsons. Earlier the same day, shoppers at Ngee Ann City were treated to a surprise visit, sending the store into full fan frenzy.
And if star power could be measured by entourage size, Bingbing’s status is unquestionable. Around 15 team members were already in position ahead of her arrival for interviews, with the atmosphere shifting instantly when someone excitedly announced that “jiejie” — Mandarin for “big sister” — was on her way.
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Despite the structured chaos, Fan Bingbing moved with ease, even while being assisted through the room in her stiff, sculpted gown. She briefly debated grabbing a snack before her packed interview schedule, then cheerfully decided, “Let’s eat afterwards!”
Up close, the rumours don’t just hold up — they overdeliver. Her skin is smooth, clear, and luminous, with no visible signs of fatigue despite her intense schedule.
So what’s the secret?
Masks. A lot of them.
Fan Bingbing casually confirmed long-standing media reports that she uses at least 700 facial masks a year. Her maths is simple: two masks a day adds up quickly. During product testing, she has gone as high as six masks daily, though she stresses that this is strictly beyond normal recommendations.
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As the face and founder of her own brand, she personally tests every product before release, joking that she may be her own biggest product manager.
While she doesn’t pay for items from her own line, she does invest heavily in products from other brands to understand trends, textures, and performance across the market.
Her skincare commitment borders on legendary. When asked to choose between giving up her phone for a day or skipping her skincare routine, the answer came instantly — the phone can go.
This discipline has been part of her life for three decades. Even after late nights or social events, she insists she has never gone to sleep without removing her makeup. On extreme occasions, she has woken up in the middle of the night just to cleanse, apply a mask, and return to bed.
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Surprisingly, for someone often labelled one of the most beautiful actresses of her generation, Fan Bingbing says she has never felt insecure about her looks. She credits this to being firmly self-focused, choosing not to be swayed by outside opinions or online noise.
She also takes a relaxed view on filters and photo retouching, laughing that fans sometimes say her selfies are her least flattering. For her, perfection isn’t the goal — consistency is.
Having received compliments since childhood, she carries her confidence lightly, without performance or pretence. It’s less about vanity and more about knowing herself.
So here’s the real question: if you had to choose, would you give up your phone for a day to protect your skincare routine? Or is that a step too far?