Beijing’s an urban jungle, and in any jungle, we need tools to survive and thrive. As urban jungle dwellers, we’ve managed to blend practicality with style, resulting in the modern bag. Here, form meets function, and what looks stylish and fashionable on the outside contains all our essential survival tools on the inside. Inspired by this, we ask expats each week, “What’s in your bag?” and get insights into which essentials they keep on hand when out and about in the capital city.
Hello, I’m La-Toya – a name given to me by my father, which means “ a flower that blooms and grows inspite of the darkness”. I hold this name with great pride. I’ve been in China for almost 5 years now and the strength to remain here during this pandemic without seeing my loved ones for just over 3 years comes from the power of my name! So thank you Daddy!
I am from South Africa, Durban, popularly known as “the seaside paradise no matter the season” .
China has been absolutely amazing these past few years, seasons have come and gone and many lessons have been learnt. Lesson number one, “a cute fashionable backpack goes a long way” I love this backpack because my boyfriend Johnny bought it for me when I was feeling a little under the weather.
The second humbling lesson was that winter in South Africa is nothing compared to Beijing winters. South African winters are less harsh with temperatures averaging between 16 to 24 degrees Celsius.
Needless to say my favorite weather in China is summer. The weather is just right for perfect skin. However in winter my skin does need a little more TLC which at first it was very difficult to do so because I never really found products for people of color that were nourishing and gentle on my skin. Which is why my boyfriend and I started our own skincare line called Grace and Gina’s named after our mothers (His mother’s name is Grace by the way)
With this being said I have to mention that skincare is crucial to me. When my skin glows everything else flows. Skincare to me is a lifestyle. In my backpack I always carry my SPF 50+ sunscreen! For people of color especially, we need our daily dose of a physical sunscreen, reapplied every 2 hours! Because ain’t nobody got time for saggy, wrinkly skin.
Next up is my Grace and Gina’s hemp lip balm which contains all my favorite ingredients such as vitamin E, hemp seed oil which is a natural sunscreen and Shea butter. This awesomeness in a tube will leave your lips feeling plump and pout ready!
Let’s talk about ashy hands! Now we all have to visit the tap more frequently due to the current pandemic but nobody wants dry, flaky skin, right? Therefore these two are my everyday essentials, a stack of wet wipes and my Whipped Shea butter lotion that contains niacinamide which treats hyperpigmentation and minimizes fine lines and wrinkles. My next favorite ingredient that makes this my essential is panthenol, keeping my hands moisturized and hydrated.
The daily champion has to be my rose water spray bottle! It’s hydrating, smells divine and can be used at any given moment for a quick refresh.
People know me to be an over thinker, I always have loads to say and ideas flowing so keeping a journal and pen in my back pack is top priority. I usually enjoy dressing up,going to restaurants with friends and sometimes solo followed by a walk around the city so I always carry my AirPods and Polaroid camera with me.
My favorite snack at the moment is the Pedole seaweed which is absolutely tasty with no artificial flavors! (You have to try it out!) I literally have it with me everywhere I go.
My Invisalign case, floss, a toothbrush travel kit, and masks are all part of my backpack essentials correcting my gorgeous smile definitely came with extra weight!
Want to share your Beijing survival tools with us? Shoot us an email at editor@beijing-kids.com, message our Official Jingkids WeChat account (ID: beijing-kids), or leave a comment below!
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Images: Courtesy of La-Toya
