Beauty, Rooted: The Asian Heritage Behind Some Of Our Fave Skincare Rituals

In beauty, heritage isn’t a trend—it’s a throughline.

This Asian Heritage Month, we’re spotlighting a few brands that don’t just reference tradition, but actively build on it—shaping how products are formulated, layered, and experienced today. From hydration-first Korean routines to the Japanese philosophy of balance and long-term skin health, these brands remind us that modern beauty is often deeply rooted in cultural knowledge that’s been evolving for generations.

Take Glow Recipe, for example, which draws directly from Korean skincare rituals—particularly the art of gentle layering and hydration. Ingredients like watermelon, long used for its soothing, water-rich properties, are reimagined in formulas designed to deliver that signature “glass skin” glow. Standouts include the Watermelon Milk™ Peptide Cushion Cream, a lightweight, fragrance-free moisturizer that deeply hydrates without heaviness, and the Vitamin C Brightening Guava Toner Pads, which target dullness and uneven tone with a glow-boosting blend of actives. The brand’s Prickly Pear Peptide Mucin, a vegan alternative to snail mucin, also deserves a mention for its barrier-supporting, deeply hydrating benefits.

Meanwhile, Shiseido approaches skincare through a distinctly Japanese lens—one centred on balance, prevention, and resilience. The focus here isn’t quick fixes, but long-term skin health, supported by decades of research and innovation. The Ultimune Power Infusing Serum remains a hero for strengthening the skin’s defenses against visible aging, while the Ultra Sun Protector Clear Stick SPF 50+ offers effortless, on-the-go protection with a completely invisible finish. For a quick refresh, the Vital Perfection Eye Mask delivers a targeted boost—perfect before an event or after a long day.

Then there’s Clé de Peau Beauté, where skincare meets artistry. Rooted in rituals of care, elegance, and refinement, the brand elevates the concept of radiance into something truly luxurious. The Foundation is a standout—weightless, skin-enhancing, and infused with skincare benefits for a lit-from-within finish—while the Brightening Serum Supreme works to visibly reduce dullness and improve tone over time. For a final touch, the Lipstick Shine adds a sheer, dewy glow that feels as indulgent as it looks.

What connects all three? A shared belief that beauty is not about transformation, but enhancement—working with the skin, not against it.

Because when heritage leads, glow follows. —Noa Nichol