You may be familiar with Kylie Cosmetics, Fenty Beauty, Haus Laboratories and Rare Beauty. That’s not surprising, given that all these beauty brands are founded by celebrities with a huge following – Kylie Jenner, Rihanna, Lady Gaga and Selena Gomez, respectively.
Whether these brands are simply a means to monetise by leveraging on their fame or a true extension of their passions, there’s no denying that they make valuable contributions to the ever-growing multibillion-dollar beauty industry.
Closer to home, there is no shortage of Malaysian beauty brands founded by local bloggers, celebrities or public figures either. From halal cosmetic products to all-natural skincare, these brands are giving us Malaysian pride for their innovative formulas and beautiful packaging. Here are nine brands to shop and add to your vanity.
Asly Beauty
After founding Asly the clothing label, TV host Yaya Zahir went on to launch its cosmetics counterpart, Asly Beauty, in partnership with Didie Nasir of Dynamics Inc. The brand celebrates individuality and self-expression (Asly stems from the malay word ‘asli’ which means original) with easy, fuss-free makeup products for the urbanite. It currently offers a range of lip products, including lip crayons and liquid lipsticks. W aslybeauty.com
Chuck’s
Blogger and social media influencer Jane Chuck founded Chuck’s in 2019 to inspire consumers in their self-care journey with skincare staples that make them feel good. The brand is famed for its sheet masks that are made with EWG verified ingredients and come in clean, Instagram-worthy packaging. The products are also alcohol free, cruelty free, fragrance free and paraben and mineral free, which make them suitable for every skin type. W chuck-s.co
dUCk Cosmetics
Following the launch of FashionValet and dUCk head scarves, blogger cum entrepreneur Vivy Yusof ventured into beauty with dUCk Cosmetics in 2017. Characterised by the dUCK Group’s signature purple packaging, the brand’s range has grown rapidly in just over three years to cover eyes, lips, hair, face, beauty tools as well as bath and body categories. It has also collaborated with international companies such as Barbie and Disney on makeup collections, featuring creamy lipsticks, eyeshadow palettes and more. W duckscarves.com
LUMI Beauty
Launched early last year by multi-faceted businesswoman and heiress Chryseis Tan, LUMI Beauty is a skincare brand that promotes “the bare beauty of a natural face”. The brand’s products are made to leave your skin looking good, feeling good and smelling good with powerhouse ingredients such as vitamin C and rose petals. It’s also known for the LUMI HoneyPro hand-held UV LED light surface sanitiser that comes in a cute honeycomb-shaped design. W lumibeauty.com
Recommended for you: Getting to know the real Chryseis Tan
NITA Cosmetics
Fun, quirky and upbeat – just like its founder, Aznita Azman – NITA is both a brand and personification of the young, urban woman who dreams of seeing the world, but is no less proud of her own customs and heritage. She expresses this with vibrant, stunning makeup products named after Malaysian elements – from Warung Matte Bullet lipsticks to Mikrofon Foundation. All products from the brand are hypoallergenic, cruelty-free, affordable and designed to suit all skin tones. W nitacosmetics.com
Handmade Heroes
Founded by blogger turned social media influencer Bella Kuan, Lim Cai Jin and Lynsey Lim, Handmade Heroes is a skincare brand that prides itself in all-natural, vegan and cruelty-free products that are free of preservatives and parabens. Every product is handmade with nature’s finest ingredients, such as Australian pink clay, Himalayan salt, coconut oil, rose petals and more. Since launching in 2013, the brand has attained international success with its range of lip, face, hair and body products that have received raving reviews from other influencers and celebrities (Emily in Paris star Lily Collins included) alike. W handmadeheroes.my
Related: Handcrafted: Natural scrubs, masks and tints by Handmade Heroes
SimplySiti
Dato’ Sri Siti Nurhaliza needs no introduction as a multi-award winning singer, songwriter, actress and businesswoman who’s affectionally dubbed the queen of Malaysian entertainment. In 2010, she founded SimplySiti – featuring affordable beauty products that are on par with international standards. Today, the collection has expanded beyond makeup to include skincare and fragrances, with the celebrity herself serving as brand ambassador. W simplysiti.com.my
Sugarbelle
Sugarbelle is co-founded by two fashion moguls, Belle Al Yahya and Eyqa Sulaiman, who previously founded Sugarscarves and Bella Ammara. (No points for guessing how the brand name came about.) Started in 2014, it is the first local cosmetic brand to be sold in a leading Malaysian pharmacy (Guardian) and global retail company (AEON). The brand offers paraben-free and cruelty-free makeup for the eyes, lips and face, as well as fragrances for him and her. W sugarbellecosmetic.com
See also: Channel their style: 9 local fashion brands by local personalities