Yahoo Finance Asian-owned beauty brands you need to know about
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When it comes to the beauty industry, there’s no shortage of options these days. The sheer number of products that address different skin concerns, types and complexions continues to grow every day.
If you’re looking to update your skin care or makeup routine, be sure to check out the Asian-owned beauty brands below. From cleansers and serums to lipsticks and nail polishes, these Asian-owned beauty brands are changing the game with great products you’ll use and love every day.
Acaderma
Founder: Dr. Shuting Hu
About the Brand: Acaderma is a game-changing, Asian-owned beauty brand that combines skin care and science. Founded by an actual doctor, all of the brand’s products feature clean formulas and cutting-edge ingredients designed to benefit your skin. The brand’s Invisible Shield Defense Serum is a beauty award winner, and the Oasis Barrier Booster is EWG verified.
Akar Skin
Founder: Kate Chen
About the Brand: After experiencing the transformative power of superfoods on her acne-prone skin while on a trip to Tibet, Kate Chen was eager to create a clean, plant-based skin care line. Enter Akar, an Asian-owned beauty brand that uses 100% natural ingredients and features everything from cleansers to a high-end moisturizer.
Blk Cosmetics
Founder: Anne Curtis
About the Brand: Put yourself on the waitlist for this stunning cruelty-free lip treatment oil from blk cosmetics. It’s made with watermelon seed oil, vitamin E and hyaluronic acid for super glossy and moisturized lips. You’ll be the envy of all your friends on Zoom.
Cle Cosmetics
Founder: Lauren Jin
About the Brand: Cle Cosmetics is an Asian, clean beauty brand making skin care and makeup for “real womxn.” Each of its products is centered around the latest Korean beauty technology for better-looking skin. Start with its anti-aging Vitamin C Elixir; top it with the CCC cream and finish with a little of the Essence Moonlighter Cushion for an instant glow-up.
Clean Circle
Founder: Lena Chao
About the Brand: Many of us know by now how bad single-use cotton rounds are for the environment. But Clean Circle’s reusable makeup remover pads are a sustainable solution. These machine-washable rounds are made of 100% bamboo velour, designed with finger pockets and a pointed tip to help you get to all those nooks and crannies when you’re cleansing.
cocokind
Founder: Priscilla Tsai
About the Brand: As a conscious beauty company, cocokind is an Asian-owned skin care brand offering beauty solutions made for everyone. Priscilla Tsai launched cocokind in 2014 with three values in mind: clean, conscious and accessible, which is exactly what the brand’s products represent now. The first products introduced at the start of cocokind were the matcha, turmeric and beet sticks, which continue to be best sellers today.
CTZN Cosmetics
Founder: Aleena, Aleezeh and Naseeha Khan
About the Brand: The world of beauty gets bolder every day, and CTZN Cosmetics is the South Asian-owned vegan beauty brandhelping you explore color. Created by three South Asian sisters for every CTZN of the world, the brand offers a plethora of nude and skin tone-appropriate makeup. Some of these include a line of double-sided lip duos, a lip liner, and eye pigments.
Em Cosmetics
Founder: Michelle Phan
About the Brand: YouTuber-turned-boss Michell Phan’s beauty brand, Em Cosmetics, is all about playing up and playing with your natural features. The brand offers lightweight makeup in many forms, including tinted SPF and a beautiful blush serum. The brand carries a plethora of products in natural, earthy tones and is a fresh take on minimalist beauty.
Emilie Heathe
Founder: Emilie Heathe
About the Brand: After working for several top beauty brands, Emilie Heathe stepped out on her own to create her clean beauty brand. The line includes a collection of stunning nail polishes made without harsh chemicals and instead includes nourishing ingredients like bamboo, rice and sea buckthorn. Emilie Heathe’s product offerings also include a clean, exfoliating lip balm and a brow powder.
Evereden
Founder: Kimberly Ho
About the Brand: The team behind this adorable beauty line for babies and pregnant people is committed to natural, non-toxic ingredients. Evereden’s products are formulated in partnership with dermatologists to ensure they meet the highest safety standards. Whether you’re looking for a nourishing belly serum for your growing bump or you want something gentle yet effective to cleanse your little one’s hair and scalp, evereden makes caring for all your baby’s beauty needs easy.
Femmue
Founder: Kelly Chung
About the Brand: Femmue is an Asian-owned beauty brand that leverages the power of flowers in its highly effective skin care products. All of their skin care serums and oils feature natural ingredients like Camellia Japonica seed oil and rose oil that enriches your skin with antioxidants, helping you to unlock your best complexion ever.
Fur
Founder: Lillian Tung and Laura Schubert
About the Brand: Hair removal doesn’t typically get much love or attention in the beauty community, but that’s what makes Fur so special. The beauty brand makes clean hair removal products that are vegan, cruelty-free and all made with non-toxic ingredients. If you’re looking to keep ingrown hairs at bay, try their super popular concentrate. Want a smooth shave? You don’t want to miss their awesome shaving cream options.
Glow Recipe
Founder: Christine Chang and Sarah Lee
About the Brand: Glow Recipe is a one-stop destination for some of the best Korean beauty and skin care products on the market, with fresh branding that organically attracts the Gen-Z audience. In addition to having effective formulations, Glow Recipe has some of the most Instagrammable skin care products you’ll see today. A couple of best sellers to add to your cart are the Blueberry Bounce Gentle Cleanser and the Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops.
Read more about Glow Recipe here.
Good Light
Founder: David Yi and Michael Engert
About the Brand: Seeking to obliterate the binary in beauty, Good Light presents personal care products aimed at being gentle and effective for everyone. Starring a simple skin care line with a water-based cleanser, a milky toner and a probiotic serum, self-care is done in three easy steps. As the brainchild of David Yi, the brand highlights non-toxic ingredients, utilizing the E.U.’s clean standard (which contains over 1,300 banned ingredients) and is even vegan and cruelty-free.
Hero Cosmetics
Founder: Ju Rhyu, Dwight Lee and Andrew Lee
About the Brand: When you’ve got a pimple emergency, look no further than Hero Cosmetics‘ line of pimple patches and other blemish remedies. Co-founder and CEO Ju Rhyu discovered hydrocolloid acne patches and never looked back. Now, through Hero Cosmetics, her mission is to educate and let everyone know the secret of their pimple patches. Some of the best-selling products from this Asian-owned skin care brand include the Mighty Patch Original and the Rescue Balm, a pimple recovery cream.
Jason Wu Beauty
Founder: Jason Wu
About the Brand: Though known for fashion design, Jason Wubuilt his beauty brand from a more accessible standpoint. Jason Wu Beauty produces inclusive products that don’t pack down your natural beauty. The brand offers simple but luxe products like earthy eye makeup and a multi-use lip, eye and cheek stick. Plus, there’s even a freckle pen to enhance those natural features.
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Jin Soon
Founder: Jin Soon Choi
About the Brand: You might recognize JINsoon as one of the most influential nail spas in New York City. Founded by Jin Soon Choi, the brand is known for its “9-free” and “10-free” nail polish formulas — meaning its polishes are free of known harsh chemicals like formaldehyde, toluene, DPB, camphor and formaldehyde resin. Add thisAsian, clean beauty brand to your at-home nail kit – don’t forget the brand’s popular flower art collection and its award-winning honeysuckle and primrose cuticle oil.
Krave Beauty
Founder: Liah Yoo
About the Brand: YouTuber and beauty influencer Liah Yoo founded the skin care brand Krave Beauty after gaining experience working at Korea’s largest beauty company, AmorePacific. The Korean skin care brand’s mission is to challenge the fast-paced industry to slow down and help people press reset on their skin care routines. Krave Beauty has a cult following that swears by its four hero products. Two you should definitely add to your cart are the Matcha Hemp Hydrating Cleanser and the Great Barrier Relief Skin-Soothing Serum.
Read more about Krave Beauty here.
Kulfi
Founder: Priyanka Ganjoo
About the Brand: Priyanka Ganjoo, the founder of Kulfi Beauty, didn’t see herself represented in the beauty industry when she was growing up, so she changed the narrative by building an inclusive beauty brand that shines a light on South Asian beauty. Dive into this gorgeous brand starting with the Underlined Kajal Eyeliner in Rain Check, a bold blue shade. The waterproof and smudge-proof formula really comes to life on deeper skin tones.
LAPCOS
Founder: Jennifer Lee
About the Brand: When it comes time to update your skin care routine, be sure to check out LAPCOS. The Asian-owned beauty brand specializes in cruelty-free products that feature high-quality ingredients combined with game-changing technology to ensure they actually deliver results. In addition to skin care products, LAPCOS also offers treatments for your body and hair.
Live Tinted
Founder: Deepica Mutyala
About the Brand: Live Tinted’s founder Deepica Mutyala went viral back in 2015 when a video of her covering her under-eye circles with red lipstick blew up across the internet. A few years later, Mutyala launched Live Tinted as a “digital community that explores diversity beauty.” She debuted her first makeup product, the Huestick, in 2019. It’s an eye, lip and cheek multistick that’s still one of the brand’s best sellers to this day.
Read more about Live Tinted here.
Maelove
Founder: Jackie Kim
About the Brand: Beauty lovers across the internet can’t stop raving about Maelove’s best-selling Glow Maker Antioxidant Serum. It has nearly 10,000 five-star reviews and has sold out multiple times. As a brand, Maelove is committed to science, quality, clean ingredients and customer satisfaction. Given how popular their product lineup is, they’re definitely hitting the mark.
Mai Couture
Founder: Mai Tran
About the Brand: Mai Couture’s 2-in-1 blotting papers are a makeup bag staple. The portable and travel-friendly blotting sheets come infused with bronzing powder on one side for sun-kissed color on the go. The makeup sheets also come in blush, foundation and highlighter!
Mishti Makeup
Founder: Mishti Rahman
About the Brand: When people kept asking founder Mishti Rahman what lip color she was wearing, she finally decided to create her own lipstick. The hero product in the Mishti Makeup brand is a universally flattering lip crayon designed with the pigmented color of lipstick and the precision of lip liner. It’s vegan, cruelty-free and $1 from each purchase benefits charity.
Peach & Lily
Founder: Alicia Yoon
About the Brand: Korean skin care brand Peach & Lily’s mission is simple: to empower its customers to transform their own skin. The worry-free skin care brand highlights the importance of providing customers with both the knowledge and the products needed to achieve healthy skin. Two of Peach & Lily’s most popular products are the cult-classic and best-selling Glass Skin Refining Serum and its Acne Spot Dots.
Read more about Peach & Lily here.
Pink Moon
Founder: Lin Chen
About the Brand: Lin Chen is the founder and CEO of Pink Moon, an Asian-owned wellness brand that started as a consultancy and is now a marketplace that highlights sustainable beauty brands. When shopping on Pink Moon’s website, it’s easy to find exactly what you want, thanks to the brand’s specific filters ranging from “TSA-approved” to “low waste” and “essential oil-free.” The brand’s Midnight Melody Body and Hair Oil can be used on your body, hair and in your bath, making it a great addition to any skin care regime.
Read more about Pink Moon here.
Proven Skincare
Founder: Ming Zhao
About the Brand: Proven Skincare has been talked about in the skin care world for a few years now — and definitely for good reason. It’s called the “world’s most personalized 3-step skincare” with formulas that are clinically effective and unique to your skin, diet, environment and lifestyle. All it takes to achieve glowing skin is your personalized sunscreen, cleanser and night cream.
Saturday Skin
Founder: Sidney Beck
About the Brand: Saturday Skin is one of the few Asian-owned, clean beauty brands at Sephora. The brand’s mission is to make your skin look and feel as good as it does on a luxurious weekend morning, every single day. Try the brand’s Waterfall Glacier Water Cream for mineral-rich moisture or use the Pore Clarifying Toner for balanced, clear skin.
Savor Beauty
Founder: Jia Kim
About the Brand: Savor Beauty is a tribute to traditional Korean self-care rituals. It’s an amazing natural skincare line that uses certified organic ingredients. If your skin feels dry and irritated, add Savor Beauty’s Lavender Milk + Honey Face Cake Mask to your cart. It’s perfect for soothing your skin and helping your face to feel velvety smooth.
Soko Glam
Founder: Charlotte Cho
About the Brand: Soko Glam is an online marketplace specializing in curating Korean beauty and skin care products. The brand’s goal is to inspire good skin habits and to help you perfect your K-Beauty routine. The company believes skin care is a personal journey that should evolve with you through different life stages, styles, environments and experiences. Some best sellers to add to your cart are the Good (Skin) Days C’s The Day Serum and the Neogen Real Ferment Micro Essence.
Strange Bird
Founder: Tina Chow Rudolf
About the Brand: If you’re of the mindset that skin care is self-care, then you should definitely check out Strange Bird. The brand is on a mission to make skin care spiritual with restorative natural ingredients and flower and crystal essences infused into each of its products. The brand even inscribes grounding mantras on all of their products, feeding your spirit inside and out.
Sundays
Founder: Amy Ling Lin
About the Brand: Sundays is a wellness-inspired nail care brand that offers non-toxic products and services. The brand’s gorgeous colors come in a vegan, 10-free, cruelty-free, non-toxic, clean formula that really lasts and shines, so you don’t have to sacrifice health for beauty. Start off with No. 25 — it’s the perfect everyday shade!
Then I Met You
Founder: Charlotte Cho
About the Brand: Charlotte Cho, a licensed esthetician, launched the Korean skin care brand Then I Met You to create high-quality skin care items and inspire consumers to see their skin care routine as a form of self-care. Then I Met You wants everyone to commit to a skin care routine as it can “yield meaningful connection and rewarding results.” Two of the brand’s most popular items include the Living Cleansing Balm and Soothing Tea Cleansing Gel.
Read more about Then I Met You here.
Topicals
Founders: Claudia Teng and Olamide Olowe
About the Brand: Founders Olamide Olowe and Claudia Teng created Topicals because there is a lack of skin care available to those with common skin conditions. One in four Americans have a skin condition or disease, and dermatologist visits aren’t cheap. The young founders are setting out to address common skin conditions like eczema, hyperpigmentation, psoriasis and more with their first two products. Like Butter is a hydrating mask, and Faded is a brightening and clearing gel.
Read more about Topicals here.
Tower 28
Founder: Amy Liu
About the Brand: Tower 28 creates easy-to-use makeup products for those with sensitive skin. In fact, all of the Asian-owned beauty brand’s products follow the National Eczema Association’s ingredient guidelines. The brand’s Bronzino Illuminating Cream Bronzer and ShineOn Lip Jelly are favorites amongst customers.
Read more about Tower 28 here.
Velour
Founder: Mabel Lee
About the Brand: Meet lashes you can live in. A single pair of silk lashes from Velour can be worn up to 25 times! Mabel came up with the idea for these high-end lashes in her dorm room a decade ago, and now A-listers like Beyoncé and Kate Upton wear them — they’re that good. Plus, 10% of net proceeds currently go toward organizations supporting the #StopAsianHate movement.
Yina
Founder: Angela Chau Gray and Ervina Wu
About the Brand: Taking their inspiration from Chinese Medicine, Yina’s co-founders set out to create products that blend beauty and wellness. Their sustainable products are both luxurious and highly effective, proving that you really can have it all.
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