21 Beauty Products from AAPI-Owned Brands BAZAAR Editors Love
We're already halfway through Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, which was created to celebrate the cultural histories of Asian Americans and those of Melanesian, Micronesian, and Polynesian decent. To support Asian and Pacific American businesses in May and beyond, we ask BAZAAR editors to share their picks for the best beauty products from AAPI-owned brands. From hydrating shampoos to culty matte lipsticks, our list features a mix of tried-and-true and emerging brands, like Tower 28, COSRX, Sunnies Face, good light, and more. For a closer look at some of our most coveted makeup, plus hair-, skin-, and bodycare essentials, keep reading for 19 of the best products from AAPI beauty brands to shop now and love forever.
(Images courtesy of Tower 28/Sunnies Face/Sephora)
Tatcha
sephora.com
$68.00
"I love, love, love Tatcha’s Water Cream moisturizer. It has a satisfying whipped texture, but it’s super light—ideal for oily skin. The scent is faint but pretty, and the mint green packaging is fun: The tiny little spoon gets me every time." —Izzy Grinspan, deputy digital director
(Sephora)
Tower 28
tower28beauty.com
$15.00
"This is one of my favorite lip glosses. It’s provides a nonsticky shine that makes your lips look juicy and plump." —Mariah Morrison, senior social media editor
"No matter how tiny my going-out bag is, Tower 28’s Lip Jelly is always in it. The sheer color (I personally love Coconut, a rosy pink), nonsticky finish, and moisturizing formula combine to make it a makeup-bag MVP." —Lindy Segal, interim digital beauty director
(Tower 28)
AAVRANI
aavrani.com
$36.00
"I’m a firm believer that you can use oil cleansers without a double-cleansing routine, and love this one from AAVRANI for removing makeup, excess oil, and grime in one fell swoop. I also love that it has soothing ingredients like aloe and camellia to help soften and rehydrate skin too." —LS
(AAVRANI)
good light
goodlight.world
$12.00
"If there's one kind of beauty product I always keep on hand, it's a multitasker, and this all-purpose balm from good light is one of my new favorites. I use it on my lips, nails, and generally anywhere that needs an extra bit of moisture." —Tiffany Dodson, associate beauty commerce editor
(Good Light)
JUARA
juaraskincare.com
$23.00
"I keep tubes of JUARA’s Coconut Illipe Hand and Nail Balm everywhere: in my desk drawer, next to my bed, even in my car. The nourishing, faintly floral formula instantly soothes chapped skin, smooths raggedy cuticles, and melts into the skin, leaving it soft but not sticky." —Genevieve Monsma, interim beauty director
(Juara)
Ellis Brooklyn
sephora.com
$105.00
"As soon as I smelled this perfume, I was hooked—it's literally summer in a bottle. It features notes of fig, bergamot, jasmine, and coconut that lingers on my skin all day long." —TD
(Sephora)
Fable & Mane
sephora.com
$29.00
"I can’t explain how delicious this shampoo smells. I use it on my daughter as well because it’s so clean, so now it reminds me of her too." —Kerry Pieri, fashion contributor
(Sephora)
Three Ships
credobeauty.com
$35.00
"I first came across Three Ships in my past life as a retail reporter. Co-founder Connie Lo was one of my go-to resources for perspective on the world of DTC beauty. Now, her plant-based beauty brand is at the center of my top shelf. I use this face cream in the morning and at night. My skin can get very dry, very easily, but this cream keeps it radiant and hydrated. Plus, it has a clean, fruity scent that I love." —Halie LeSavage, fashion commerce editor
(Credo Beauty)
Sunnies Face
sunniesface.com
$16.00
"There is no better matte lipstick than the Fluffmate by Sunnies Face! Whether you’re looking for warm neutral hues or punchy coral reds, the Filipina-founded brand has a shade for every pout. Up until this week, you had to go through specialty Asian beauty retailers to buy their products, but they finally launched this week in the U.S. Stock up! " —Bianca Betancourt, culture editor
"I don’t typically reach for matte lipsticks (or lipsticks at all), but this cult-favorite lipstick brand from the Philippines has become a go-to for me. This lipstick glides onto my lips and leaves the most gorgeous pigment with the lightest touch. It absolutely lives up to the hype. I love the shade Nudist—it’s the perfect pinky-nude color." —Katie Intner, assistant beauty editor
(Sunnies Face)
COSRX
sokoglam.com
$21.00
"This essence is a saving grace for my dry, sensitive skin. I use this product daily in my a.m. and p.m. routine to combat irritation and strengthen my skin barrier. Don’t worry, no snails were harmed in the making of this product." —MM
(Soko Glam)
Tatcha
sephora.com
$65.00
"When my face is in need of some exfoliating, this product is my go-to. All you need is an 'almond-sized' amount of the powder and the tiniest bit of water to transform it into an ultra-smooth foam. It’s also one of those wondrous exfoliators that keeps the skin feeling renewed rather than stripped after every wash." —Chelsey Sanchez, associate culture editor
(Sephora)
Squigs
squigsbeauty.com
$34.00
"To relax after a stressful day, I love taking a moment to massage my scalp with this spirit-lifting hair oil. Not only is it lightweight and nongreasy, but it also has a subtle orange scent that's not overly aggressive." —TD
(Squigs)
Shikohin
shikohin.com
$36.00
"I really enjoy a body scrub, but they often leave what feels like a beach at the bottom of my shower and on my skin post-shower. I have been indulging in this Shikohin scrub, which is made from rice and hemp, along with calming CBD. It leaves a hydrating sheen on my skin—sometimes it can even become a skin moisturizer when I’m in a rush!" —KI
(Shikohin)
Tower 28
tower28beauty.com
$34.00
"My acne-prone skin is extremely temperamental, which means I end up with irritated skin a little too often. This soothing serum from Tower 28 is truly like magic. As soon as I apply it, any lingering redness I may have had on my face is gone in under a minute flat—no exaggeration. And it feels as gentle and hydrating as splashing water on my face." —TD
(Tower 28)
DAMDAM
sephora.com
$48.00
"When my skin feels dull from days of makeup, I pull out this clay mask from DAMDAM (founded by a former editor at Harper’s BAZAAR Singapore). It refreshes my pores and evens out any redness without leaving my skin feeling stripped." —KI
(Sephora)
Pili Ani
piliani.com
$20.00
"I’ll be wearing Pili Ani’s Moisturizing Tinted Lip Butter all summer long. I love how buildable the shades are, so you can go as sheer or as saturated as you want. The lip butters are also infused with elemi oil, which helps to lock in moisture." —Jamie Wilson, beauty editor
(Pili Ani)
Glow Recipe
glowrecipe.com
$15.00
"I love this toner—I've been using it for a while now, because it instantly stops my face from having that dry, tight feeling. I don't normally like fruity scents, but this is not at all overpowering." —Leah Chernikoff, executive editor
(Glow Recipe)
Venn Skincare
$65.00
"Venn Skincare’s Moisture-Balance all-in-one cleanser is one of my favorites. I love how the texture feels on my skin, and it does an amazing job of removing makeup without leaving my face feeling dry. It's my go-to cleanser especially if I'm traveling." —JW
(Venn Skincare)
Tatcha
tatcha.com
$88.00
"There’s been no product for me like Tatcha’s Luminous Deep Hydration Firming Serum for ultra-moisturized, dewy and firm, tight skin. It has curbed my winter breakouts from dryness and been my go-to solution to morning puffiness. I feel like a new person whenever I apply this." —Sabrina Park, editorial and social media assistant
(Tatcha)
Soko Glam
sokoglam.com
$60.00
Charlotte Cho of Soko Glam and Then I Met You, Liah Yoo of KraveBeauty, and David Yi of good light cosmetics, joined forces to create this curated, limited-edition set on behalf of AAPI Heritage. In addition to Then I Met You's The Giving Essence, KraveBeauty's Great Body Relief Lotion, good light's Luna Pimple Patches, and a signature tote to carry it all in, 100 percent of its proceeds benefit the organizations Seniors Fight Back and AAPI Women Lead.
"We truly are stronger when we are united. What I love about being Korean American is that we can uplift one another and we feel each others' pain," Yi tells BAZAAR.com. "With the rise of anti-Asian hate fueled by the pandemic, my heart dropped when I read the news of AAPI folx being attacked and some killed. While anti-Asianness isn't new, it's always traumatic to witness people looking like you being hated for who they are. I'm so heartened that during this time I could lean on founders like Charlotte Cho and Liah Yoo, two powerhouses who have always stood up for what is right."
(Soko Glam)From top brands like Tower 28 and Glow Recipe, we've rounded up the best AAPI-owned beauty products our editors are loving this month—and all year round.