The Taiwanese actress shot to fame in 2005 when she played a hopeless romantic in the TV drama It Started With A Kiss. She has won two best actress titles at Taiwan's prestigious Golden Bell Awards; one in 2008 (They Kiss Again) and another in 2012 (In Time With You).

Currently on a year-long break from acting, she is working on a master's degree in acting for screen in London.

As one of Kose Sekkisei's ambassadors, Lin was recently in town to promote the brand's latest suncare products.

What is the one product you would not step out of the house without?

Sunscreen. I've been using it since I was 13. The sun gives you vitamin D but it also causes wrinkles, cancer and dehydrates the skin.

I like Kose's Sekkisei Sun Protect Essence Gel ($50) as it feels refreshing on my skin, while it moisturises and protects.

What is the one grooming service you cannot do without?

A facial because it helps me to get rid of clogged pores and dead skin cells, which I can't do on my own.

I go to a small salon in the Taiwan National University area in Taipei.

What is your favourite perfume?

I like musky scents because I find them sexy. One of my favourites is Calvin Klein's Truth. I also like Jo Malone's English Pear and Freesia Cologne ($104 for 100ml) because it is refreshing and intriguing, all at once.

What is the most ridiculous thing you have done in the name of beauty?

I once tried snake meat herbal soup because it was supposedly good for the skin. It tasted like fish and chicken, and it was disgusting. I've not eaten it since.

Give us a beauty tip.

Don't frown. Over time, a line will form between your brows.

It is also important to be in a good mood as much as possible.

So, although I try to eat healthily 80 per cent of the time, I indulge in desserts, such as dark chocolate, to keep myself happy.

To keep my hair dark and healthy, I eat black sesame paste and use only organic shampoos.

And when my hair is wet, I never rub it with a towel as that damages the cuticles. Instead, I gently twist my hair in a towel to dry it. I don't dye my hair either.

My hair is so smooth that my hairstylist complains it is difficult for her to style it.

This article was published on April 25 in Urban, The Straits Times.

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