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May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! As the month of celebrations continues, we’ve collected a list of beauty and skincare brands to shop for AAPI month and beyond. From vegan and cruelty-free skincare products to pimple patches, nail lacquer and makeup essentials, see below for a roundup of a dozen AAPI-owned companies that should be on your radar.
Set sail with Three Ships! Founded by Connie Lo and Laura Berger, this natural skincare brand carries a range of vegan products made for various skin types. The Brighter Days Red Algae + Avocado Biodegradable Eye Masks featured above is designed to de-puff, brighten and hydrate due your skin. It’s packed with ingredients like red algae extract for hydration and “upcycled” avocado extract to help brighten the skin, and lessen the appearance of dark circles and puffiness.
It’s been more than a decade since Alicia Yoon founded, Peach & Lily — an eco-friendly skincare line of serums, cleansers, toner, acne dots and amore. The K-Beauty brand features a range of toxin-free, vegan, gluten-free and fragrance-free products including bestsellers such as Glass Skin Refining Serum ($39), Acne Spot Dots ($4.99) and Matcha Pudding Antioxidant Cream ($43).
Hero Cosmetics Mighty Patch™ Original Patch – Hydrocolloid Acne Pimple Patch for Covering Zits and Blemishes, Spot Stickers for Face and Skin (36 Count)
Hero Cosmetics began in 2017 after founder Ju Rhyu had a pimple emergency. Because of her sensitive skin, Rhyu created the Mighty Patch, a gentle hydrocolloid patch that she first found in South Korea. The XL face patches pictured above are built to tackle breakouts in your T-zone, cheeks, chin, etc. The product is recommended for oily/combo skin. Hero houses over 30 different products including Rescue Balm ($12.99) and the Sensitive Skin Trio ($36) .
One/Size is a beauty brand for “all the curvy women, skinny boys, drag queens, thick guys, girly girls, beauties with disabilities, gender nonconforming icons, runway models, and makeup lovers.” Founded by makeup artist and beauty influencer, Patrick Starrr, the AAPI and LGBTQ+ owned brand produces high-performing, viral products including One ‘Til Dawn Setting Spray ($32), Ultimate Blurring Setting Powder ($34) and Cheek Clapper 3D Blush Palette ($38).
Tatcha Skincare was founded by Taiwanese-American entrepreneur Vicky Tsai, who, after a decade of working in corporate America, quit her job and found herself in Koyoto, Japan. There, she encountered a cultural harmony that healed her skin and soul, and inspired her to launch the beauty brand. Some of Tatcha’s most popular products are The Water Cream ($70), Dewey Skin Cream ($70) and Rice Polish Classic Foaming Enzyme Powder ($65).
Christine Chang and Sarah Lee launched Glow Recipe in 2014. The brand uses clean yet gentle ingredients such as “antioxidant-rich fruit extracts and clinically proven actives” designed to make your skin glow.
Rovectin is a Korean beauty brand rooted in “love and resilience.” The brand was developed to help cancer patients restore skin severely damaged from chemotherapy and has become one of Korea’s most trusted skincare brands among patients, dermatologists and hospitals, plus it’s popular in the states. Some of Rovectin’s products include Conditioning Cleanser ($20), Aqua Activating Serum ($36) and Barrier Repair Oil for Face & Body ($27).
Em Cosmetics is affectionately known as a “big sister” in beauty. The beauty brand, whose name is derived from the Vietnamese word “younger sibling,” carries a range of products such as eyeshadow, eyeliner, foundation, setting powder, lip crème and blush priced from $22 and up.
Aleena, Aleezeh and Naseeha Khan noticed a lack of South Asian and Middle Eastern representation in the beauty world but they’re helping to change that. The sisters, who were born and raised in Los Angeles, launched CTZN Cosmetics, a mission-driven, vegan beauty brand is “committed to redefining inclusivity” in 2019. The brand is known for its selection of nude lipsticks, red lipsticks and lip liners designed for various skin tones.
Having grown up surrounded by women such as his mother, sisters and best friend, makeup artist Patrick Ta created a beauty brand that “make women feel comfortable and beautiful in their own skin just as women have made me feel.” Patrick Ta’s product lineup includes lipstick, lip gloss, mascara, eyeshadow, blush, brow gel.
Founded by gastroenterologist Dr. Roshini Raj, Tula Skincare is a built on “the power of probiotic extracts and superfoods.” One of the hottest products in the Tula family is the Cult Classic Purifying Face Cleanser ($24) pictured above. It deeply cleanses, and gently purifies, improving skin texture and leaving skin feeling refreshed thanks to natural ingredients like tumeric, white tea & blueberry and chicory root. Additional Tula Skincare products include the Hydrating Day & Night Treatment Eye Balm ($38) and the Brightening Treatment Drops Triple Vitamin C Serum ($48).
Priscilla Tsai founded Cocokind to “change the status quo of the beauty industry and break the cycle of ‘aspirational beauty.’” Tsai struggled with skin issues in the past and knows how blotches and blemishes can affect your self-esteem, so she created a vegan and cruelty-free skincare line that features cleanser, serum, eye cream and sunscreen.
Want more beauty recommendations? Check out our picks for new beauty releases to shop for spring and summer and best makeup bags for travel.
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