Why This Top Asian Model Just Washes Her Face With Warm Water

POPSUGAR: Thank you for taking the time to speak with us about beauty and skin care. Let's dive right in! What do you consider to be the biggest skin challenges?

Lily Kwong: The biggest skin challenges for me is probably just [having] sensitive skin [when it comes] to makeup. For photo shoots or events, I'm often working with makeup artists who are using their own makeup kits. And if you have sensitive skin, you can have allergies to different brands and types. That's why I was so inspired by Dr. Macrene's foundation — the 37 Actives foundation — because it's all natural ingredients with some really powerful and potent natural elements, like coffee and green tea, and amino acids. To have all of these good, natural ingredients embedded in a foundation, which is kind of my biggest irritant, was really exciting to me.

PS: That sounds amazing. Besides the foundation, which other 37 Actives products do you rely on?

LK: I only use her products. After experimenting with so many different kinds of creams and washes and toners, I found that my skin would respond the best to her cream [the 37 Extreme Actives High Performance Anti-Aging Cream ($210)] and cleanser [the 37 Actives High Performance Anti-Aging Cleansing Treatment ($79)]. And I user her cream twice a day and her cleanser once a day to take off my makeup. I call [the cream] a pot of gold. It balances any brown spots or sun spots. It also helps with antiaging, and it just feels purifying and regenerative.

PS: What is your overall skin care routine?

LK: I know this is internal, but I always start my day with hot water and lemon, and I feel like that purifies me from the inside out. So that's the first thing that I do. And then I use warm water on my face — not hot water; I just wash with water. And then I put Dr. Macrene's cream on.

And at night, I've been using a sulfur cleanser, and the sulfur kind of helps to balance my skin. I feel like in New York we're so subjected to the elements and pollution, and it's just really clarifying.

And I've recently been using just coconut oil that I get at natural grocery stores. I more use that on my body, not on my face, but I found out it does really amazing things. It also just smells incredible and I think aromatherapy is really powerful and boosts mood and joy and happiness. I would dunk myself in a coconut oil pot if I could.

PS: Besides coconut oil, do you use any other at-home ingredients for DIY remedies?

LK: I use neem oil on my hair. Dr. Hauschka sells it. That's definitely natural. I mean, I drink a lot of tea, which I feel has beauty effects — peppermint's really powerful. I use lavender oil. Again, that's more of a mood booster, especially in New York, where there are so many kinds of terrible smells that ruin your day. Dabbing a little lavender essential oil on my wrists just feels very calming.

PS: So, as a fellow Asian, I'd love to know if you think there are any beauty challenges that are specific to Asian women and if you have any secrets or tips to combat them?

LK: I found that for me, I completely get an Asian glow if I drink alcohol. I'm pretty allergic to it, so I get really red, and it irritates my skin. Dr. Macrene actually helped me realize that I'm really allergic to red wine. I stopped drinking red wine and I saw huge benefits to my skin. I would just break out every time that I drank it. I think it brings a rosacea out a bit. And I think a lot of Asian women struggle with that. Some of my friends who are Asian just take a Benadryl before drinking because it is an allergic reaction. I think that's the biggest [challenge] for Asian women's skin.

PS: I guess we're pretty lucky in general, so there has to be something, right?

LK: Exactly! We age well and have all these other incredible benefits, but not being able to drink much is not such a bad thing in the long run.

PS: Speaking of aging, how do you feel about the aging process and how will it change your skin care habits?

LK: I recently noticed that I am much more wary and careful when I'm in the sun. I use SkinCeuticals SPF sunscreen.

When I was younger, I just didn't even consider it. I was just constantly running around in the sun, and now I really try and actually wear a hat. There were times this Summer when I felt like those little Asian women in Chinatown with the umbrellas [because] I would carry around an umbrella.

With global warming and then also getting older, baking out in the sun is actually much more damaging. That's something that I've gotten more careful of as I've gotten older.

PS: New York Fashion Week might be over, but are you still in the midst of Fashion Month?

LK: Yeah, a little bit. New York is a big one for me because that's where I live, but there's a chance I'll be going to Paris Fashion Week this season. But I'm still following the shows and getting dispatches from friends who do the whole circuit. I definitely still feel connected to Fashion Month!

PS: Have you learned any fun, unexpected beauty secrets from modeling or from other models?

LK: I know a lot of models [go to saunas] — I've actually read these very interesting studies of the great benefits of saunas and steam rooms, not only helping with bloating and getting out toxins, but on overall health. It really prolongs your life, according to a lot of studies.

I'm a member of Equinox, so I try to steam after every workout. It just feels very refreshing, but I also feel like I'm sweating out anything I don't need.

I know a lot of the Russian models go to the Russian baths in the East Village. I've been there a couple times and got whipped by the reeds that are supposed to get your blood flowing.

PS: That place is a lot fun, but yes, a little intense!