8 Asian-owned Shops to Buy Self-Care Essentials From
December may be one of the most wonderful times of the year, but it can also be packed with stress. With finals season wrapping up, last-second holiday preparations, and the new year approaching, it is important to remember to take care of yourself. EnVi compiled a list of eight Asian-owned brands — ranging from small shops to booming businesses — fit for all of your self-care needs. While self-care can vary for each person, we have everything from beauty products to comfort specialties lined up just for you!
AsianBobaGirl
Whether you’re unwinding after a long day or enjoying some time off, you deserve to relax in comfort…or in this case, taste! Based in Santa Monica, California, AsianBobaGirl takes pride in capturing the nostalgic and classic scents of signature Asian drinks and desserts in a cute boba-themed candle. All of their hand-poured candles are made from 100% soy wax, include a lead and zinc-free wick, and come in reusable glass jars.
And if candles aren’t really your thing, they also offer room spray and air freshener versions of their popular fragrances. Customize your relaxation space to be just as sweet as yourself with these scented products from AsianBobaGirl!
A delectable candle that smells sweet enough to bite into!
Bloomeffects
Amsterdam-based Chinese Vietnamese entrepreneur Kim van Haaster tapped into flower power to build her skincare empire, Bloomeffects. After falling in love with a fourth generation tulip farmer in the Netherlands, Van Haaster was inspired by the natural regenerative properties held by tulips. With years of experience within the cosmetics industry and her own personal experience with sensitive skin, she set out to create a skincare product that was clean, natural, and gentle to all skin types.
Bloomeffects even received two Dutch government grants to conduct research on the cup-shaped flower, and their findings have left a mark on the beauty industry. All Bloomeffects products are cruelty-free, fragrance-free, and sustainable. Next time you’re looking to have an at-home spa day, consider checking out Bloomeffects’ products to indulge yourself with a luxurious skincare regimen!
Treat yourself with this earthy, exfoliating scrub and mask combo that will leave you feeling fresher than ever!
cocokind
For cocokind’s founder and CEO, Priscilla Tsai, skincare goes hand-in-hand with self-care and being kind to yourself. Cocokind is rooted in the mindset that beauty is inherently natural and fights to break the societal pressures associated with beauty standards. In a personal letter on the cocokind website, Tsai stated, “Most importantly, cocokind exists to ensure that all of us have a safe place in the beauty industry where we’re celebrated and accepted, exactly as we already are.” Truly, nothing screams self-care more than loving and appreciating yourself.
All cocokind products are cruelty-free, sensitive skin friendly, and vegan, making for a stellar addition to your beauty care lineup — and will leave you feeling good all around. For those more natural days, remember that you already carry the beauty you wish to see within yourself, and treat yourself kindly with some skincare products from cocokind!
Light, hydrating, creamy, and with a natural scent. We can’t get enough of this smoothing cream that leaves our skin feeling so soft!
Kulfi Beauty
While for some, a day of self-care means no makeup at all, for others makeup is a way to express themselves freely. Founded by Priyanka Ganjoo, Kulfi Beauty embraces beauty inspired by South Asia wholeheartedly. Offering a variety of makeup essentials ranging from kajal eyeliners, eyeshadows, concealers, blushes, and lipsticks, Kulfi caters to all with their inclusive range of shades.
All Kulfi products are designed to be easy to use, are made with skin-friendly ingredients, and are vegan and cruelty-free. The next time you plan on giving yourself a little self-care glam, try out Kulfi’s makeup that embraces and accentuates your natural beauty!
Did someone say smudge-proof and waterproof eyeliner? Yes, please! And you know we had to pick our favorite color: green!
ManiMe
Part of self-care is being able to treat yourself to the pampering you deserve. But how does one do that when certain self-care regimens have become nearly unaffordable? Frustrated with how expensive and time-consuming nail appointments have gotten, Jooyeong Song partnered up with David Miro Llopis to change the future of manicures with ManiMe. Now you can avoid spilled nail polish and singular press-on nails that pop off from an improper fit. In fact, ManiMe uses a special 3D model rendering technology to create custom nail stick-ons just for you and your nails!
With decent prices and hundreds of designs from various nail artists, ManiMe offers plenty of easy manicure options for all. Make sure to try out ManiMe’s stick-on manicure gels on your next self-care day or the next time you need a quick mani refresh!
Pretty in pink? Absolutely! We love these easy-to-apply stick-on manicure gels that last for days.
One Stripe Chai
Sometimes there is no better pick-me-up than a home crafted hot beverage that exudes comfort. Farah Jesani grew tired of coffee shops that could never match the beloved taste of the chai she grew up with. So she took matters into her own hands and created One Stripe Chai — a shop that brings South Asian-inspired beverages to you.
Not only is One Stripe Chai dedicated to rejuvenating South Asian drinks globally, but they also strive to use ethically sourced ingredients. One Stripe Chai is completely transparent about where each ingredient comes from on their website. Expand your palate with their diverse blends and concentrates the next time you’re looking to unwind!
Relax with a nice cup of this low-caffeinated chai blend that’s suited to help you relieve your stress after a long day!
The Qi
If you’re interested in a different cup of tea, we suggest trying out The Qi. Named after the word “Qi,” which translates directly to “life energy” or “life force,” this tea brand is dedicated to recharging customers with the natural healing power from flowers. Lisa Li, founder of The Qi, grew up drinking tea and was moved by the benefits that holistic medicine had on her throughout her youth. The Qi’s hand-picked, organically grown flowers come directly from small, family-owned farms in Asia. Look no further for natural floral-based teas that are also good for your body; The Qi has got you covered for your next self-care cup!
This caffeine-free hand-picked tea features roses picked from the gardens of Shangri-La and will lift you up in no time!
Superegg
At the end of the day, self-care is about taking care of yourself and feeling good all around. Often overlooked by the business of life, we tend to take the strength of our skin for granted. Inspired by the nourishing abilities of eggs — yes, eggs are beneficial for your skin — Erica Choi set out to show the world its powers by creating a vegan option: Superegg.
Not so much a superhero, Superegg is more so a super skincare treatment with the way this plant-based creation can help smoothe, firm, and protect your skin. All the ingredients used in Superegg products can be found under their Clean Library, which offers in-depth explanations of these ingredients’ purposes and which products they can be found in. Don’t settle for any old moisturizer. Give your skin the love and care it deserves with the nourishing effects from Superegg products!
Smooth like a baby? We can do better than that. Smooth like an egg with this revitalizing hand cream! Much better.
Want more AAPI businesses to shop from? Check out our gift guide for college students, featuring products from AAPI businesses, here!
The author’s content and opinions have not been pre-reviewed, approved or endorsed by Discover.
