Asian-founded products have notoriously been lightyears ahead of trends and science within the western beauty industry. Most of the skincare hacks and glowy results we seek daily come from Asian-based revolutions. With this status in mind, it is important that the impact of Asian beauty is translated worldwide. Here are the top 10 Asian owned beauty brands you need in your makeup bag!
Yes, the name Patrick Ta does sound familiar, and that recognition is probably coming from your Instagram feed. From the Hadid sisters to the D’amelio’s, Patrick Ta is the Gen Z makeup guru of our dreams! Patrick Ta is a top celebrity makeup artist who recently launched his own makeup brand back in 2019. Shopping Patrick Ta’s wide range of beauty products will leave you feeling effortlessly famous.
Youthforia is simply ahead of its time when it comes to beauty products. To give you a hint, they are definitely redefining the phrase “beauty sleep.” Whether you guessed it or not, Youthforia does in fact make makeup that is safe to sleep in! It seems impossible to believe but it is both true and the best thing to happen to us beauty lovers. Founded by Fiona Co Chan, Youthforia follows Green Chemistry principles and is best known for their lip gloss products.
EM Cosmetics was founded by beauty YouTuber Michelle Phan. Like many influencers, Phan turned her social media success into a full-scale product line with beauty supplies for every face feature imaginable. Phan’s personal favorites of her products include the Lip Cushion balm, the Faded Clementine palette, and the Pick Me Up mascara. Most recently, EM Cosmetics collaborated with Nécessaire to build a self-care trio set of both brands’ products.
Live Tinted was born out of a viral sensation credited to Deepica Mutyala, who posted a now famous video of herself using red lipstick to combat dark circles. From there, Live Tinted has now become a multicultural movement that focuses on diverse and inclusive beauty for all. The Live Tinted product line is focused around the universal struggle of hyperpigmentation and features products that help combat this issue as well as a full merchandise line to build the community further.
Tower 28 is a clean, Asian owned beauty brand that is designed for sensitive skin. Their products are 100% clean, non-irritating, and derm tested. They also are a vegan, cruelty-free, and gluten-free beauty brand. Yes, it does keep getting better. Tower 28 products focus on the power of the lip and cheek look and have a full collection that caters to these areas. They also use their platform to inform their customers about clean beauty and what ingredients are harmful. Tower 28 truly just has it all!
CTZN Cosmetics is a genderless Asian owned beauty brand that was created for all skin tones. CTZN Cosmetics was founded by three sisters Aleena, Aleezeh, and Naseeha Khan of Pakistani ethnicity. Their goal was to make an inclusive beauty brand for all skin tones to feel represented. CTZN Cosmetics has worked to break stereotypes within the beauty community on an international level. Their brand allows customers to take quizzes to find the products that best match their skin tone while also allowing them to create custom beauty kits. While redefining inclusivity in the beauty industry, CTZN Cosmetics is also 100% vegetarian, cruelty-free, paraben-free and talc-free.
Jason Wu Beauty has a full line of beauty products that has something for any routine. Clean and cruelty-free, Jason Wu Beauty is built on the idea of effortless and creative beauty. As a bonus to an already seamless brand, Jason Wu Beauty also donates 1% of its net sales to Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) and for the month of May, will be donating 10% of brow product sales to the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF).
Emilie Heathe is a beauty brand that was developed as a way to celebrate individuality. With the slogan, “created to create,” Heathe has a line of beauty products that include nails, lips, and brows. Her products are meant to be used as a way to create a masterpiece of ourselves. However, Emilie Heathe doesn’t just sell beauty products but their line also extends to home fragrances and jewelry. Emilie Heathe, above all, is also a sustainable and clean Asian owned beauty brand.
KimChi Chic Beauty is another Asian owned beauty brand founded by a celebrity. For any RuPaul’s Drag Race fans, Kim Chi was a competitor on Season 8 and is best known for their exceptional makeup skills. It is no surprise that KimChi has since developed her own major cosmetics brand, but it is also one that is so diverse in products and a major move for any beauty guru who loves to experiment. KimChi’s products are filled with color, glitter, glam, and fun. There is no such thing as a dull moment with KimChi and their product line is no exception.
U Beauty is a minimalist skincare brand that is dedicated to relaying an authentic beauty experience. Founded by Tina Craig, she built U Beauty as a way to build on her own beauty routine. U Beauty uses siren capsule technology to deliver key anti-aging ingredients to the products. They have a small but essential line of products that is to the point of better skin. U Beauty is also completely packaged using recyclable materials and one tree is planted from each order.
Overall, there is a whole world of beauty to explore outside of mainstream brands that dominate the industry. These Asian owned beauty brands have all been built on a purpose and work to make a change within the beauty community. Products are clean, cruelty-free, and a must-have for your makeup bag!
Written by Daniela Jolie
