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by: Nikita Shah
Year after year, shoppers are becoming more and more cognisant of where they spend their money, and who, in turn, they are supporting.
This year we’re very excited to share our finely curated collection of our 11 favourite Asian-owned brands (aside from ourselves) to shop from this holiday season! Covering a broad range of personal care areas, you’ll be sure to find something for a beauty-lover that you love – including yourself.
SKIN CARE
CLE Cosmetics
Founded by: Lauren Jin
Why we love this brand: Created on the basis of loving your natural self, we feel like CLE Cosmetics mirrors our values at Lithe. Centred around K-Beauty technology, CLE is a minimalist brand for the modern person.
Clean standards: All products are vegan and paraben free.
Glow Recipe
Founded by: Christine Chang and Sarah Lee
Why we love this brand: A brand after our own heart that strives for carbon neutrality and a sustainable future. Their efforts include partnering with TerraCycle’s no waste program.
Clean standards: All products are vegan and Leaping Bunny certified cruelty-free. They use eco-conscious packaging and source responsibly.
SACHEU Beauty
Founded by: Sarah Cheung
Why we love this brand: We loved seeing this Toronto-based beauty influencer grow and launch her own brand! Her stainless steel products (gua sha and jade roller) are non-porous and anti-bacterial, making it much cleaner for your skin.
Clean standards: The brand is 100% cruelty free and they ensure that all of their manufacturers uphold the same standards. The choice of recyclable stainless steel is an excellent alternative to rose quartz and jade, where the mining of these minerals leaves a large carbon footprint.
BEAUTY
Ocré Cosmetics
Founded by: Yu-Chen Shih
Why we love this brand: This luxury brand strives to break down the barrier between luxury and inclusivity. Rejecting the notion from Asian culture that fair skin is most beautiful, Ocré Cosmetics aims to cater towards everyone in every skin tone.
Clean standards: Ocré Cosmetics is Leaping Bunny certified 100% cruelty free, plus puts its products through HRIPT (Human Repeat Insult Patch Test) to confirm their formula does not irritate the skin or have any negative effects.
Kulfi Beauty
Founded by: Priyanka Ganjoo
Why we love this brand: Another brand that caters to skin tones that often get overlooked by mainstream beauty brands. The brand fights cultural stigmas through their embrace of all natural skin tones as well by giving to mental health organizations.
Clean standards: All products are vegan and cruelty free. They are also all formulated without parabens, phthalates, mineral oils, formaldehyde, coal tar, sulfates, butylated hydroxyanisole, and more.
Tower 28
Founded by: Amy Liu
Why we love this brand: Formulated with sensitive skin in mind, this brand caters towards people who have extra concerns around their skin, such as rosacea, eczema, acne, etc.
Clean standards: This non-toxic, non-irritating, vegan, and cruelty free brand has a whole blacklist of ingredients they keep out of their products!
NAILS
JINsoon
Founded by: Jin Soon Choi
Why we love this brand: One of the longest-lasting nail lacquers on the market that achieves this longevity without relying on chemicals or toxins. The polishes come in an array of bold colours and are not harsh or destructive to your nails.
Clean standards: The polishes are vegan, cruelty free, and 10-free.
ManiMe
Founded by: Jooyeon Song and David Miro Llopis
Why we love this brand: For those of us less talented at nail polish application, ManiMe uses 3D modelling technology to create a custom fit for their stick-on nail art. They last up to 10 days and peel off without any chemicals or UV light.
Clean standards: These vegan stick-on nails are non-toxic, 10-free, cruelty-free, and do not damage your natural nail.
Sundays
Founded by: Amy Lin
Why we love this brand: Infused with vitamins and essential oils to nourish your nails, Sundays created a line of bold nail polishes with you at home in mind–that means a comfy grip on their “perfect bottle shape.”
Clean standards: These products are non-toxic, vegan, 10-free, and cruelty-free.
HAIR
Fable & Mane
Founded by: Akash and Nikita Mehta
Why we love this brand: Inspired by the Indian tradition of hair oiling, this brand is imbued with heritage that transports you to another time and place. Their Fable Fund set out to protect the habitats of wild big cats.
Clean standards: Fable & Mane is certified cruelty-free by PETA, vegan, paraben-free, sulfate-free, and silicone-free.
MO MI
Founded by: Diane Read
Why we love this brand: MO MI is based around mindful and sustainable living. The botanicals are ethically sourced to leave a smaller footprint on the environment. The brand also gives back to an array of causes that benefit vulnerable people, animals, and the environment. As an added bonus, MO MI not only looks after your hair but also your furry pal.
Clean standards: These products are vegan and Leaping Bunny certified cruelty-free.
Whether you’re shopping based on the products or the brand’s vision for making the world a better place, something from one of these inspiring Asian-owned brands is bound to pique your interest!