'Face-kini' taking Chinese beaches by storm
As temperatures begin to soar in eastern China’s Shandong province, a new trend is sweeping across the country’s beaches.
Behold – the “face-kini”.
While it could be classed as a descendant of the more infamous balaclava, the face-kini has been designed for a number of far more practical (and legal) purposes.
At face value, they are simply a way of protecting skin from sunburn but are equally useful in repelling jellyfish.
However, there is a deeper explanation as well.
Women in Asian regions generally avoid developing a tan (particularly in the face) as it is often seen as a sign of peasantry. On the flipside, fairer skin is seen as a sign of beauty remaining unmarked by physical labour.
You can find the latest range of face-kinis at swimwear shops in China for around $3 each.
Australia has the highest incidence of melanoma in the world, whilst China has some of the lowest rates of skin cancer.
