Asian-Owned Businesses to Shop For the Holidays and Beyond

U Beauty The PLASMA Tinted Lip Compound ($68)

U Beauty's Tina Craig brought her luxury skin-care brand to life after years of sharing the many beauty rituals and routines she learned from her Chinese grandmother on social media. I'm a big fan of this plumping lip compound, which contains hyaluronic acid, shea butter, salicylic acid, and peptides, and has a cooling metal applicator. At $68, the lip gloss certainly isn't cheap, but it's the perfect treat for a gift.

Kinn Dear Kaia Nameplate Necklace ($520)

Kinn founder Jennie Yoon initially started the brand while seeking to replace classic heirloom jewelry after her family's home was robbed. Now, the brand offers timeless, 14k gold jewelry, like its bestselling nameplate necklace.

I've had my eye on this piece for a while, which can be customized in six different Asian languages including Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Thai. According to the brand, the nameplates beautifully pay tribute to immigrant families.

Sundae School Broccoli Fleece ($199, originally $265)

You've probably seen celebrities and influencers alike wearing these cozy, graphic fleeces from Sundae School, a streetwear and craft cannabis label. Originated in Korea and now based in New York, Sundae School and founder Dae Lim aim to globalize and destigmatize cannabis by way of fashion. I can't wait to get my hands on this fun, broccoli-inspired zip-up, which I know I'll be living in all winter long.

Bachan's Japanese Barbecue Sauce 2 Pack ($24)

Founder Justin Gill created Bachan's, named after a Japanese term of endearment for grandmother, to bring his family's authentic barbecue sauce recipe to the masses. The original is described as having a "teriyaki-ish" flavor, but it's so much more complex — I love using it as a quick marinade for fish, meats, and vegetables. Any home cook will appreciate this fridge staple.

Covry Capella Navy Sunglasses ($145)

Covry's eyewear is designed specifically to fit Asian faces, with longer nose pads for glasses to sit higher on the nose, reduced frame curvature, and a narrowed nose bridge to prevent from sliding. After accepting that sunglasses would always slide down my nose pretty much my entire life, trying Covry was a gamechanger. They're easily the most comfortable pair of sunglasses I own, and they come in a variety of cool, chic styles.

Patrick Ta Major Dimension Eye Illusion Eyeshadow Duo ($42)

Shimmery eyeshadows are my go-to for jazzing up my everyday makeup, and these are some of the best I've tried. They apply — and blend — so seamlessly and beautifully with just a finger, and are incredibly pigmented. That's no surprise considering Patrick Ta, who's first-generation Vietnamese American, is highly sought after for his genius makeup techniques and celebrity clientele.

Apothékary All Day Stress Duo ($65)

Inspired by her Japanese roots, enterpreneur Shizu Okusa launched Apothékary, a clean, herbal remedy brand offering herbal tinctures and adaptogenic blends. If you need to get a gift for someone who could use some self-care, consider this duo, which includes two tinctures meant to ease stress and enhance sleep, and even serves as an alternative to wine. You can take a few drops directly by mouth or add a few into your favorite beverage.

Material Kitchen The Iconics ($350, originally $470)

It can be difficult to invest in your own high-quality kitchen tools, so your loved ones will surely thank you for upgrading their kitchen with this set. It includes 10 essential cooking tools, including three different knives, a pair of tongs, three different spoons, a spatula, a whisk, and a wood base for everything to live in. Founder Eunice Byun, who grew up in a family of Korean restaurant owners, teamed up with her longtime friend and now-husband, Dave Nguyen, to build thoughtful, performance-oriented kitchen products like these.

Notte Jewelry Disco Disco Pearl Earrings ($49)

Chinese American designer Jessica Tse founded Notte Jewelry to create "mood-boosting, happy jewelry," as she previously shared with PS. Her nostalgic, 2000s-inspired creations are unique, playful, and handmade with natural materials. Take these unique disco-ball earrings, for example, featuring freshwater pearls and natural mother of pearl. They'll undoubtedly bring joy to any accessories lover you know.

Emme NYC Scented Candle Jar ($38)

Nostalgic for the scents of their Asian American childhood, Erica Luo and Mark Fuqua founded natural home fragrance brand Emme NYC, which offers candles, diffusers, and hand washes inspired by Asian flavors like ube, lychee, matcha, yuzu, and sakura. The candles promise a safe and clean burn for up to 60 hours, and the sakura scent in particular is a fan favorite. It has light, floral notes that are also mixed with sandalwood.