If you’ve scrolled through TikTok recently, you may have come across an unlikely beauty influencer doing the rounds. Put down your biohacking skincare and LED face mask because Chinese grandmothers are being heralded as the true experts in longevity. “Chinese Grandmother” has racked up 500M+ views on TikTok with countless content creators replicating beauty and wellness hacks rooted in Chinese tradition. It’s part of a wider trend for ‘Chinamaxxing,’ which has seen a slew of Gen-Zers proclaim ‘You Met Me At A Very Chinese Time In My Life’, or so the viral meme goes.
It has seen this corner of the internet adopt practices that Chinese grandmothers have ringfenced for years – wearing house slippers indoors, drinking hot water, boosting their lymphatic flow via body whacking (yes, really), and relying on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to heal ailments. But it’s not just a social moment of cultural appreciation (or appropriation, depending on how you see it), it signals a broader wellness shift.
@nmmalaika got the slippers too #chinesebaddie @sherry ♬ original sound – alex
Why are ‘Chinese Grandmothers’ trending?
‘What people are calling the “Chinese Grandmother” trend is, in essence, a return to fundamentals, but not because people have suddenly rejected modern beauty – that desire for quick results will always exist,’ explains Ada Ooi, integrative Chinese medicine clinician and founder of 001 London. ‘What’s really happening is a response to overload. We are living in an era of constant information, new products, new technologies, and conflicting advice. When everything feels new, fast, and complex, people instinctively look for something that feels grounded, proven, and human.’
Longevity is perhaps one of the most complex beauty buzzwords of recent times, but Chinese grandmas have long taken a proactive approach to future-proofing their bodies through diet, movement and healthy habits. And, if you’re looking for the simplified blueprint to living and looking better for longer, they’ve got you covered.
@kailawenn GOOD MORNING Chinese princesses 👸🏻 your chinese big sister here bringing you guys along for a morning in my life workout plan 🔗 in bio! #china #chinesebaddie #chinese #asian #morningroutine ♬ original sound – kaila
‘The “Chinese Grandmother” trend represents a version of longevity that is lived daily through small, consistent habits,’ says Ooi. With a focus on warmth, rhythm, food, rest, and circulation, ‘it’s not about optimisation at extremes, but about maintaining balance over time. TCM sits uniquely between two worlds: it is both a formalised medical system practised clinically and a body of knowledge embedded in everyday life and households. What we’re seeing now is people rediscovering that intersection. Beauty and wellness are becoming less about intensity and more about continuity in how you live, every day.’
Born and raised in Hong Kong, ‘where medicine was part of everyday life’, Ooi learnt much from her grandmother about how ‘the body is always communicating with you,’ and now implements neuro-biology in clinic while practicing what she calls her ‘Longevity Reset’.
Here’s how to start your morning like a Chinese grandma, according to a longevity expert.
The ‘Chinese Grandmother’ morning routine
Ooi’s morning routine is built around three key longevity pillars: circulation, nourishment, and regulation.
1. Circulation
Ooi begins with gentle stimulation of circulation. This is where tools like the gua sha come in, not as a trend, but as a daily practice. ‘Using the 001 London MicroSculptor® No.3 The Three Slopes, I work across the scalp and face to stimulate yang(uprising) Qi (vital energy or life force in TCM), then stimulate the yin areas (inner arms and thighs) to boost the lymphatic system and balance systemic organ movements. I do some intentional lymphatic drainage movements to sculpt and depuff the face and apply The Imperial Qi Elixir, which has ginseng and angelica root (king and queen of herbs for Qi), both ingredients used in the imperial court, and of course, my grandmother used a lot’. The holistic ritual won’t take you more than five minutes and creates a full circuit of circulation, which gets you ready for the day and boosts radiance.
2. Nourishment
When it comes to the first meal of the day, ‘breakfast is always warm and savoury, often congee with tofu, seaweed, and seasonal vegetables’. Unlike most in the West, Ooi avoids coffee on an empty stomach. ‘In Chinese Medicine, we talk about Jing, which you can think of as your core energy reserve, the deep, foundational energy you draw on for long-term health, resilience, and ageing. Stimulants like caffeine, when taken without nourishment, can tap into that reserve too early in the day’. Note to self.
3. Regulation
To regulate the whole body and the nervous system, Ooi starts with some gentle exercise, stretching and tapping along the meridians depending on the day and her mood, and always ends with a few deep breaths.
‘Together, these pillars create consistency, maintain hormonal balance, optimise functional systemic health, and balance the nervous system, reducing cortisol spikes throughout the day, which directly impact skin health. Consistency built on daily habits is what drives health longevity,’ she notes.
‘Chinese Grandmother’ skincare secrets
The key principle is prevention rather than correction. ‘A “Chinese Grandmother” routine isn’t built around dozens of products – it’s built around function. Supporting circulation, maintaining hydration, and protecting the skin barrier are the essentials,’ notes Ooi.
According to Ooi, facial massage with gua sha is fundamental as the face and head have over 100 points and are densely packed with energetic points to keep blood and lymph moving. When circulation is optimal, the skin naturally appears brighter and more lifted over time.
Another non-negotiable is using products that hydrate, maintain the skin’s natural matrix, and support the skin without overwhelming it. ‘The idea is to work with the skin’s natural processes, not disrupt them. To future-proof the skin, consistency matters more than intensity. Gentle, daily rituals will always outperform aggressive, sporadic treatments.’
Slept on ‘Chinese Grandmother’ hacks
While ample traditional Chinese wellness practices have been documented and replicated online, some are flying under-the-radar. Ooi urges longevity junkies not to sleep on foot soaks. ‘A warm foot soak is like a gentle reset button for the whole system. In TCM, many key meridians begin or end in the feet, so immersing them in warm water helps “open” these pathways, encouraging the smooth flow of Qi and blood throughout the body. At the same time, the heat and pressure on the soles stimulate rich nerve endings that send calming signals up to the brain, shifting us out of stress mode and into a more restorative, parasympathetic state. The result is a subtle but measurable full‑body recalibration: muscles soften, circulation improves, and the mind feels quieter and more grounded.’
Modern adaptations of traditional practice have introduced the use of acupressure through wearable formats like topical patches. Designed to activate specific acu-points while delivering a cooling and aromatic herbal formula to calm the nervous system and reduce stress, they work by stimulating the skin–brain connection, helping to regulate mood, ease tension, and support better sleep.
This story first appeared on GRAZIA UK.
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