From ingredients deeply rooted in history to cutting-edge formulas, the influence of Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage in the beauty industry is undeniable. Brands like Sulwhasoo, DHC and SK-II have, for decades, been industry north stars when it comes to both innovation and time-honored solutions. Asian-influenced beauty brands continue to inspire our routine— with brands like Allies of Skin, COSRX and TULA Skincare recently debuting efficacious and well-formulated lines we love.
Join us in honoring the influence of AAPI culture, and explore some of our favorite products.
DHC
Created in Tokyo in 1980, DHC represents the harmony of science with the best ingredients from nature. The most waterproof of makeup is no match for this cult-favorite cleansing oil. It also powers through pore-clogging debris and excess oil, with a clean-rinsing formula that doesn’t leave any residue on the skin.
COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patch: https://www.dermstore.com/cosrx-acne-pimple-master-patch-24-patches/11401172.html
A high-performance Korean beauty brand, COSRX combines cosmetics and RX to address everyday skin concerns and incorporate natural and skin-friendly ingredients to deliver visible results. These small but mighty patches have completely changed the way people approach blemish-fighting. They help improve breakouts, forming a waterproof barrier to support acne recovery while reducing redness and irritation.
Wander Beauty
Founded by Divya Gugnani and Lindsay Ellingson as an answer to their non-stop busy lives, each of Wander Beauty’s products was designed to multitask. One of our favorites for hiding the effects of late nights and long flights, these eye masks are infused with aloe leaf, calendula, amino acids and peptides to soothe and depuff.
Sulwhasoo
Based on Asian traditional holistic medicine, also known as Hanbang, Sulwhasoo takes Asia’s most precious traditional herbs recorded in ancient medicinal texts, such as ginseng, and apply modern, cutting-edge technology to develop skin-transforming, luxurious formulas.
The brand’s Essential Firming Cream promotes tighter, more contoured-looking skin. Formulated with the brand's exclusive JISUN Firming Complex, a compound consisting of ingredients known to deliver powerful skin-firming effects, it addresses loss of elasticity while also taking care of flakes and tight patches.
TULA
Founded by Dr. Roshini Raj, TULA Skincare is built on the power of probiotic extracts and superfoods with the belief that the same type of ingredients that are good for your body are also great for your skin. TULA means “balance” in Sanskrit, a classical language of South Asia, making each product curated to support the soothing and balance of the skin. The brand’s Brightening Eye Balm refreshes, brightens, depuffs and hydrates the skin under the eyes. Formulated with caffeine, it stimulates circulation and improves the tone and texture around the eyes.
Erborian
Founded in 2007, Erborian is a French-Korean brand rooted in creating innovative products to enrich your routine, providing skin care benefits in the fewest number of steps. Erborian’s BB Cream is a lightweight, moisturizing formula with buildable coverage and broad-spectrum SPF 20. It provides a matte finish that blends easily and helps minimize the appearance of pores and imperfections.
Allies of Skin
Allies of Skin was founded in Singapore by Nicolas Travis in 2016, and has since become a global brand—the brand’s products focus on healthier skin with clinically proven, highly concentrated ingredients. This Prebiotic and Niacinamide Pore Refining Booster minimizes the appearance of pores and dullness for healthier, radiant and more resilient-looking skin. It’s formulated with 10% niacinamide to help to refine and brighten the skin, and also contains a blend of chlorella, ribose and green tea to promote a more radiant complexion.
SK-II
SK-II is widely recognized for its influence in Japanese beauty dating back to the 1980s, originally developing its formulas from a yeast compound that promotes cell turnover, known as Pitera. The GenOptics Spot Essence from SK-II is a lightweight face serum with a nourishing formula that improves the look of discolored skin. Along with the brand’s signature Pitera, this serum is also formulated with vitamins, amino acids and minerals to brighten the skin.
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