The popularity of Asian beauty as a whole has largely been catapulted by the global phenomena of Korean skincare and makeup brands, which emphasise the use of natural ingredients for hydrated and glowy skin.
Decked in some of the most colourful and adorable packaging around—think Tony Moly Petite Bunny Gloss Bar, Holika Holika Pet Magic Mask Sheet, or SkinFood Avocado and Sugar Scrub, these K-beauty products have captured the hearts and minds of shoppers. Cuteness aside, K-beauy brands like Laneige and Sulwhasoo have demonstrated efficacy with star products that promise to slow skin ageing and boost moisture content.
Like their South Korean counterparts, beauty brands from the region align well with the philosophy of maintaining a canvas of clear and healthy skin that’s enhanced by makeup instead of hiding underneath it. Here, we uncover eight under-the-radar Asian beauty brands worth checking out.
1. Brisuthi from Thailand
With a name that translates to “pure” in Thai, Brisuthi is a sustainable skincare line that has become a cult-favourite for its organic and chemical-free products. Bottled in photogenic, minimalist bottles, the products—which span face, body, and haircare, come without colours, perfumes, and paraben.
Try: The Moroccan Prickly Pearl Seed Oil, said to contain almost 150 percent more vitamin E than argan oil. Massage it into your skin daily to enjoy hydrating, brightening, and anti-ageing benefits.
More information here.
2. Sunnies Face from The Philippines
The sister company of sunglass purveyor Sunnies Studio, Sunnies Face is a cruelty-free and paraben-free beauty brand from the Philippines. Playful and vibrant, their range of Fluffmatte lipsticks and Airbrush cheek stains come in universally-flattering shades.
Try: Fluffmate in shade Girlcrush, which is the brand’s best-selling lipstick shade. The terracotta rose hue comes in a matte formula and offers fuss-free application with a single swipe.
More information here.
3. dUCK Cosmetics from Malaysia
Founded by blogger and entrepreneur Vivy Yusof, beauty brand dUCK Cosmetics’ biggest claim to fame is its glamorous makeup collection with FOX Movies’ Crazy Rich Asians. Its extensive range of products include sparkly highlighters, primers, and hair mists.
Try: The Glow Doe Highlighter comes in a buttery soft formula that transforms into a powdered finish upon application. Its three shimmery shades look great on one’s cheekbones and eyelids.
More information here.
4. Then I Met You from South Korea
The brainchild of Charlotte Cho, who owns K-beauty portal Soko Glam, Then I Met You is inspired by the concept of jeong—the emotional connection to people and places. Designed to help users enhance their skincare regime, the products are fomulated with a high concentration of natural ingredients like seaberry and licorice root extract.
Try: The brand’s hero product, Living Cleansing Balm. With duo benefits as both an oil-based cleansing balm and a water-based cleansing gel, the product will leave skin feeling clean and nourished.
More information here.
5. Petite Amie Skincare from Taiwan
If masking is a big part of your skincare routine, this independent Taiwan brand is worth checking out, Its range of beautifully designed sheet masks, which offer benefits like hydrating, anti-ageing, and brightening, are cruelty-free and formulated with non-toxic-to-skin ingredients.
Try: The Skin Rescue Mask, from its blemish-eliminating series, comes in six tattoo-print patches. Each one features ingredients like edelweiss, reishi, and shiitake mushrooms to help correct impurities and repair skin.
More information here.
6. Alcheme Skincare from Singapore
Make your foray into bespoke skincare with Alcheme, an online startup that specialises in high-performance and eco-conscious products. Users simply upload a recent, hi-res photo of themselves and answer a questionaire. Afterwhich, the site’s intelligent facial recognition technology, together with a skincare expert, will work with you to formulate a set of skincare essentials to suit your skin type.
Try: The Personalised Serum is highly customisable, available in fragrance or fragrance-free formulations, as well as in either a light or ultra-light texture. Contaning no more than 25 botanical concentrates and vitamins, the serum leaves skin looking bright and clear.
More information here.
7. Coconut Matter from Hong Kong
With key ingredients like coconut, jojoba oil, and lavender, Coconut Matter is an eco-conscious beauty brand that hopes to spark environmental change with fair trade and biodegradable packaging. Pretty in pastel paper tubes, the moisturising lip balms and natural deodorants are a must-try.
Try: The BLISS Natural Deodorant is a citrusy blend of lemongrass, lime, and frankincense essential oil. Not only does it combat body odour, the deodorant also leaves zero stains.
More information here.
8. Kitao from Japan
Harnessing the benefits of the antioxidant-packed matcha, Kitao is a Japanese beauty brand headquartered in Osaka. Formulated with organic and environmentally-friendly ingredients, their products help to brighten and even out skin tone. Aside from matcha, superfoods like chia seed, acai, and quinoa, also help to keep skin looking radiant.
Try: The Enzyme Powder melts quickly into water to create a rich and fine foam that cleanses dirt from deep inside the pores. The result? Clear and smoother skin over time.
More information here.
BLACK FLY BIRD 
Cool informative post about healthy skincare, definitely worth showing your blog to my wife. I think she’ll enjoy, as well as many others, keep up the great work
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