As a Korean-American beauty editor who fell in love with beauty through the lens of Asian culture, the spike in violence toward the AAPI community is deeply disheartening. The beauty industry is also rife with racism—and a general lack of acknowledgment—towards Asian culture (don’t even get me started on fox eyes), despite how much it has contributed to it. I’ve also struggled with feeling overlooked by a Western-dominated industry that capitalizes on our ideas yet doesn’t want to embrace us back. So, as someone whose job entails scouting the very best of beauty for people, I wanted to take this time to shout out some truly exceptional Asian-American beauty brands. These innovative serums, scrubs, stains, and more are the product of incredible Asian immigrants, entrepreneurs, and beauty gurus who beat the odds stacked against them. Plus, the products themselves are pretty freaking great. Editor’s Pick: New to the brand? Try Tatcha Silk Powder ($48; sephora.com), a protective skincare powder (it has blue light- and pollution-defending ingredients) made with silk to absorb oil and blur, while giving just a touch of radiance with pearl powder. Editor’s Pick: Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops ($24; sephora.com)—the brand’s first makeup-skincare hybrid—gives your complexion the dewiest glow instantly and improves skin over time without incorporating mica, glitter, or pearls that can clog your pores. Editor’s Pick: Try Cosmic Dew Water Cleanser ($18; goodlight.world), a gel-to-foam, prebiotic cleanser that gently cleanses skin of impurities while bestowing it with an otherworldly glow. Editor’s Pick: Glass skin isn’t as hard as it sounds—it just requires hydration. Peach & Lily Glass Skin Water-Gel Moisturizer ($40; ulta.com) is aptly named; the formula is like a tall glass of water for your skin, which is key to getting that covetable glass skin glow. Editor’s Pick: Want post-vacation glow? Try Major Glow Body Oil ($52; sephora.com), a pearlescent body oil you can apply all over to moisturize and illuminate. Not only does it give the perfect amount of luminosity, it also moonlights as a perfume with the most pleasant jasmine scent. Editor’s Pick: I love myself a juicy lip gloss, and the brand’s ShineOn Milky Lip Jelly ($14; sephora.com) is one of the best. The moisturizing cult-favorite, which comes in six versatile shades, is formulated with a unique blend of five nourishing oils to soothe and protect lips, unlike other lip glosses that layer shine but leave lips dry underneath. Editor’s Pick: All the products are super clean and great for sensitive skin, but my favorite has to be Sake Body Lotion ($16; cocokind.com), a super buttery formula actually made with sake (a fermented rice wine rich in smoothing enzymes). Editor’s Pick: Essence (another Asian-derived product) is a skincare must-have of mine, and The Giving Essence ($50; thenimetyou.com) has to be one of the best I’ve tried. It contains a medley of antioxidant-rich ingredients (red algae, berries, and ellagic acid) to soothe skin and give it a healthy glow. Editor’s Pick: Try the brand’s Skin Perfecting Serum Foundation ($89; orcecosmetics.com), which instantly transforms texture on first swipe while working to improve skin over time. Editor’s Pick: SLMD Resurfacing Acne Swipes ($35; slmdskincare.com) are pre-loaded, soft woven rounds saturated in a cocktail of three major skincare acids: salicylic, glycolic, and lactic. Despite its powerful formula, it doesn’t sting sensitive skin. Editor’s Pick: Nail colors are subjective, so I have to go with the universal HyperGloss ($22; amazon.com), a UV-blocking top coat that dries any nail color freaky fast and leaves behind a gel-like shine.
