Facekini? Absolutely hideous!

**Osakan** · August 27th, 2012, 07:48 AM

So we've endured the rise of the tankini (a tank top and bikini bottoms), mankini (a bikini for men) and burkini (a hybrid of a burqa and bikini). But are you ready for the most hideous beachwear trend yet, the facekini?

As modelled above, these full-face Lycra masks are designed to protect pale complexions from harsh UV rays at the beach — not, as you might think, to hide the wearer’s identity during an armed robbery.

While a wide-brimmed hat, staying in the shade or factor 50 suncream are enough for most of us, facekinis are hugely popular in China. As an added bonus, the makers claim they also ‘repel insects and jellyfish’ — along with, we assume, any eligible men walking past.

Read more: Ready for a facekini? Hideous full-face lycra masks cramp the style of fair complexions in China | Mail Online

**fgg** · August 27th, 2012, 08:04 AM

i can think of a few people who'd look fabulous in this.

**Mercer** · August 27th, 2012, 08:12 AM

Yeah, at least better.

**greysfang** · August 27th, 2012, 08:15 AM

I nominate Marilyn Manson.

**heart_leigh** · August 27th, 2012, 08:40 AM

Interesting. It's not only in China, but there is an obsession with looking fair and having light skin in Asia. As a Filipino, I have seen aunts carry umbrellas wherever they go to shield themselves from the sun's rays so they don't become darker.

**BITTER** · August 27th, 2012, 08:42 AM

It makes me think of Pulp Fiction, and not in a good way.

**fgg** · August 27th, 2012, 08:48 AM

Originally Posted by heart_leigh

It's not only in China, but there is an obsession with looking fair and having light skin in Asia.

i've heard that about india as well. i believe it is regarded as a classist thing - wealthier people have lighter skin or something along those lines.

**witchcurlgirl** · August 27th, 2012, 09:01 AM

It existed in the west, until about the 1930's.

**MohandasKGanja** · August 27th, 2012, 09:07 AM

This looks like something burn victims wear.

My BIL dated someone from Taiwan. When they were visiting us in DC in the summer, she had an umbrella over her head everywhere we went. It's kind of like the other side of the tanorexia phenomenon.

**Osakan** · August 27th, 2012, 09:29 AM

I thought Japan was bad but thank goodness I don't see this at the beach.

Fun for the whole family!

Looks like they are having a blast!

http://en.paperblog.com/the-face-kin...e-time-289150/

**Seth82** · August 27th, 2012, 09:31 AM

those are absolutely awful.

how could anyone wear one and not feel stupid.

**HWBL** · August 27th, 2012, 09:36 AM

Originally Posted by heart_leigh

Interesting. It's not only in China, but there is an obsession with looking fair and having light skin in Asia. As a Filipino, I have seen aunts carry umbrellas wherever they go to shield themselves from the sun's rays so they don't become darker.

I don't think it's always to "not become darker". Both my parents were born and raised in Indonesia (my dad would be 100 this year if he still were alive, my mom recently turned 90), and it was just considered common sense to not stay out in the sun, especially in the middle of the day (hence the afternoon naps) and carry or sit under a parasol, wear a hat or sit under a tree in the shade.

**Novice** · August 27th, 2012, 09:41 AM

Originally Posted by heart_leigh

Interesting. It's not only in China, but there is an obsession with looking fair and having light skin in Asia. As a Filipino, I have seen aunts carry umbrellas wherever they go to shield themselves from the sun's rays so they don't become darker.

Ooh! Parasols! My granny bequethed a paper japanese one I bought her for one of her birthdays. She loved it.

Originally Posted by MohandasKGanja

This looks like something burn victims wear.

My BIL dated someone from Taiwan. When they were visiting us in DC in the summer, she had an umbrella over her head everywhere we went. It's kind of like the other side of the tanorexia phenomenon.

Or, she was protecting her skin from the nasties.

Originally Posted by Seth82

those are absolutely awful.

how could anyone wear one and not feel stupid.

Well, skin cancer is one of the nastier cancers, plus as someone that can burn in 10 mins of english sunlight & have got sunburn from walking across a car park in Britain,..... I'd rather have memories of being in my late teens & sitting on a beach in San Tropez in a long sleeved top, leggings and a big hat. The locals nodded knowledgeably at me & comp'ed me stuff where as the holiday-makers stared. Much better that memory than a more recent one of having moles cut out......

**KrisNine** · August 27th, 2012, 09:55 AM

Originally Posted by heart_leigh

Interesting. It's not only in China, but there is an obsession with looking fair and having light skin in Asia. As a Filipino, I have seen aunts carry umbrellas wherever they go to shield themselves from the sun's rays so they don't become darker.

I see this here all the time. I live in Southern California and there is a large Vietnamese community here and the women wear these massive sun visors and gloves when they drive or are out in the sun.

**MohandasKGanja** · August 27th, 2012, 10:02 AM

Originally Posted by KrisNine

I see this here all the time. I live in Southern California and there is a large Vietnamese community here and the women wear these massive sun visors and gloves when they drive or are out in the sun.

I forgot about that. We have a neighbor about two doors down, who is Asian and probably in her late 50's. She walks from her house to work, and she is always wearing a giant green sun visor. It looks like she is about to go work as a pit boss in a casino or something...

Originally Posted by Novice

Or, she was protecting her skin from the nasties.

I hate this way of going about it (the neoprene masks). It is disturbing. I think a bunch of people wearing Guy Fawke's masks would look more hospitable. At least, they'd be smiling.