Florasis To Judydoll: 13 Makeup Brands From China That Are Worth The Hype
From high quality cosmetics to drop dead gorgeous packaging (have you seen the iconic Florasis eyeshadow palette with intricate phoenix engravings?!), Chinese makeup brands have earned themselves a strong following over the past year. It’s time to make space on your vanity table for some of the best China makeup brands if you’ve yet to hop on the #TikTokMadeMeBuyIt trends. Not sure where to start when it comes to the whole new world of C-beauty? Check out our makeup reviews on some of the best Chinese cosmetics brands like Florasis, Judydoll and Flower Knows below.
Why is there a rise in China makeup brands?
One might think that the pandemic may have affected consumers’ desire to wear makeup under the mask. But that’s not the case for the Chinese beauty market. These Chinese makeup brands have been booming ever since the outbreak. China makeup brands are growing in popularity in both the domestic and international beauty scenes and there are a few reasons for that. Compared to western, Japanese and Korean cosmetics, China makeup brands are offering their products at affordable prices – all without scrimping on quality or aesthetics.
In addition, many of these brands are investing heavily in popular brand ambassadors like Troye Sivan, Du Juan and Justin Huang while engaging key opinion leaders with strong following. Think Li Jiaqi, the renowned Lipstick King with 40 million fans on Douyin (China’s version of TikTok). It’s no wonder beautyholics of all ages are getting to know about these makeup brands in China!
Chinese brands also use an aggressive strategy called co-branding to target consumers who are loyal to other brands. ZEESEA has worked with the British Museum for their whimsical Alice In Wonderland collection, while Perfect Diary launched an adorable Hello Kitty vintage collection late last year. These co-branding launches never fail to impress with their stellar product presentation, catching the attention of makeup addicts all over the world.
Are Chinese makeup brands safe to use?
Before hopping on the bandwagon, it’s important to know if the beauty products you’re using are safe for your body. While each product and brand can use different ingredients, you should always do some research before applying anything on your skin. This applies to any Korean, Japanese, western or Chinese makeup and skincare products.
When it comes to shopping from China makeup brands, we suggest patronising well-established brands who have passed the safety assessment by China’s Cosmetics Supervision and Administration Regulation (CSAR). Most of these best Chinese cosmetics brands will feature their safety certificates on their websites. It’s also worth to contact the brand directly for more information if you can’t find the safety certificates.
Are Chinese makeup brands cruelty-free?
Wondering if these best Chinese makeup brands are cruelty-free? According to Humane Society International (HSI), China makeup brands manufacturing “ordinary” cosmetics (makeup, skincare, hair care, nail polish and perfumes) are no longer required to provide samples of new products for animal-testing from 2014. Instead, they are allowed to conduct their own product risk assessment or any non-animal test methods that are internationally recognised. However, it is worth noting that although animal testing is no longer required, it is still legal and not banned in China. In addition, special cosmetics (sunscreen, hair dyes, hair perm solutions, anti-hair loss products, whitening products and cosmetics created based on new innovations) are still required to go through animal testing.
Popular China makeup brands worth the hype
1. Florasis 花西å
We can’t talk about the best Chinese cosmetics brands without doing a makeup review on Florasis. Just look at the details on their makeup packaging! Also known as Hua Xi Zi (花西å) in Chinese, Florasis places a strong focus on traditional Chinese style and culture. This can be seen both in their intricate oriental packaging and ingredient list. To cater to the Asian market, Florasis beauty products are made from natural floral extracts and herb essences suitable for Asian skin.
Our recommendations for this makeup brand in China:
While we are tempted to review every makeup product at Florasis, the item that stands out the most from this best Chinese makeup brand is the Florasis Floral Concentric Lock Lipstick (available on Florasis Official Store). The lipsticks take inspiration from traditional Chinese love locks. Each lipstick is encased in a lock-shaped sleeve, but we especially love what’s inside! The lipstick bullet is intricately engraved with a scene from the ancient Chinese love story of Zhang Chang drawing his wife’s eyebrows. Aww, we are not sure if we’d ever bring ourselves to use these lipsticks.
Another luxurious beauty product we will recommend in this Florasis makeup review is the Florasis Eyeshadow Palette with Peony and Moon Relief (available on Florasis Official Store). Like the lipstick, a scene from the Chinese folklore, A Hundred Birds Paying Homage To The Pheonix, is intricately engraved into the shadows. This instantly gives the palette an air of elegance! Even if you’re not a fan of bold shadow hues like bright red, gold and midnight green, the palette is still a worthy splurge for collection. Wondering where to buy Florasis in Singapore for your fellow beautyholic? You can shop for Florasis kits that come as a bundle with makeup brushes to boot online on Shopee Singapore.
2. Perfect Diary
While western beauty brands have been dominating China’s beauty industry for years, Perfect Diary made a breakthrough by taking the top spot in 2019. This makeup brand in China is known as the hidden gem of makeup with its wallet-friendly prices and holygrail quality. The brand made its mark on the global beauty scene with its iconic Cardcaptor Sakura collection, and continues to offer unique co-branding collections for makeup lovers all around the world.
Our recommendations for this makeup brand in China:
Perfect Diary has teamed up with Sanrio for an irresistibly cute Hello Kitty Lipstick Lip Cream (available on Perfect Diary Official Shop) collection consisting of various wearable vintage hues perfect for any occasion. These velvet lip stains are long lasting and give a soft matte finish without feeling heavy on the lips.
Another successful Sanrio launch is the Perfect Diary x Sanrio Loose Powder (available on Perfect Diary Official Shop) featuring popular characters like Pom Pom Purin, Gudetama, My Melody and Little Twin Stars. The ultra-fine loose powder is smudge and transfer-resistant (perfect for wearing under your mask!) and blur imperfections without creasing or caking. Each set also comes with a fluffy kabuki brush, definitely a great steal for budget beauty junkies! Check out other highly raved Perfect Diary products.
Psst, we also spy the CNY collection Perfect Diary ReadMe Liquid Lipstick (available on Perfect Diary Official Shop) in dazzling golden packaging, guaranteed to huat this Tiger year! Now, there’s no longer a need for you to find where to buy the latest Perfect Diary products in Singapore! Read More...
