In the arena of NYC fashion, Tina Leung has been a permanent fixture for years. But thanks to Bling Empire: New York, now streaming on Netflix, Leung’s influence has superseded the front row. And while her outfits were certainly a standout, her candid discussion about mental health is what made her a fan favorite.
“I just knew that if I wasn't myself a hundred-thousand percent, then I would regret anything that I did,” Leung says. “So, as with everything in life, I just came into it with an open mind. And after a while I just forgot the camera was there.”
Leung’s busy lifestyle along with the show’s shooting schedule contributed to some of her more vulnerable moments, including what turned out to be a panic attack on the group’s trip to the Bahamas. “I don't think I've had one before or I don't remember having one. So I didn't know what was happening,” she recalls. “I didn't even know there was a camera on me. They said, ‘The mic is still on. Do you mind if we use this? I think it'll help other people to see what you're going through.’ They were very nice to ask me if it's okay to use that part.”
Since the show aired, she says she’s received an overwhelming amount of support from fans. “Everyone has their things and everyone has trials and tribulations and highs and lows,” she says. “But the response I got from all the DMs, the comments, the emails was overwhelming, and it's still coming through. So I think that surprised me a little. I didn't know if people would have such a strong reaction to these things that I go through, especially when not knowing me personally.”
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Another thing she learned via the show is drinking more water, something all of us can probably relate to. In the beginning of the season, costar Dorothy Wang calls out Leung for not staying hydrated. “Priscilla Freire, my makeup artist is like, ‘You learned that you need to drink water,’” she deadpans. “But I still don't do it. I'm drinking Starbucks right now.”
Hydration aside, when it comes to self-care—and skin care—Leung doesn’t mess around. Ahead, Tina Leung shares her favorite skin care products for Glamour’s Drop the Routine.
My treatments
I went to Joanna Czech recently, and she's such a skin guru. I also love the Valmont collagen facial. They use this mask at the very end that, when I come out, my skin is bouncy and clearer. In Paris I like to go to Biologique Recherche and then do the whole test. I love seeing how dry my skin is. And then they keep the results from all the different times that you go so you can see if you've improved at all.
My self-care routine
I put my foot down with morning things because I know my brain just doesn't work well in the morning. It was an epiphany recently, I would say to myself, “I am fucking 40 years old. I think I deserve the right to be able to allow myself to work when I want to work, considering I've come this far.” I don't have to wake up at 6 a.m. and be made to feel bad if I don't. So I think that's helped a lot because, honestly, in any time zone, for some reason I'm just not good in the morning. So I don't run myself ragged, especially because I always have so many nighttime activities.
I also have these apps that I use once in a while. I have one called Balance that helps me sleep. Chani app has some good meditation on there as well. And I learned transcendental meditation a while ago. I also have this guy, Shalom, that helps me with meditation, and I get that once in a while just to center myself. It's on Zoom, and him meditating across the screen from me increases my meditation, like my whole body's vibrating. When I open my eyes, I see the particles and in the air; it's crazy. So that kind of just helps recenter me. It's like a tune-up once in a while. And baths, I love baths.
My cleanser
U Beauty Skin Conditioning Wash. It takes everything off, but it feels like a cream. I don't know how [founder Tina Craig] got the texture. I told her I have to go with her one day to visit the factory. It looks so interesting to see how they mix everything.
My serums
At night I alternate using The Environ Youth Essentia Vita-Peptide C-Quence Serum. It's a sequence, and now I'm on level two. I alternate between that and the U Beauty Resurfacing Compound. And I tried the MAC Hyper Real serum with the moisturizer afterward, and I found it so juicy and hydrating, and it does seem to work well with makeup. The makeup seems to stick on better.
My sunscreen
Supergoop has a setting powder and setting spray. They have so many different types, but it's just so light and it's slightly tinted, which is nice. I also like Barbara Sturm Sun Drops because it's so light.
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My lip treatments
I like to use the Dior Lip Glow and the Lip Maximizer. They come in so many different colors and the maximizer helps with the plumping. Also, Jason Wu Beauty has a lip plumper that makes my lips really big. I also love the Clarins Lip Oils.
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My skin care tool
Priscilla introduced me to this dermaplaning tool—because I have this hair that grows on my forehead and when I bleach my hair, all the hair that lines my hairline is bleached blonde except for what’s on my forehead. And we'd be trying to cover it with makeup, but it wouldn't work.
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My body treatments
I use U Beauty's The Arm Compound all over my body, and the Super Body Hydrator, because I now am taking better care of my body skin and not just my face skin. Because as you get older, wrinkles happen everywhere.
