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 few years. 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.
Our Recommendations
Overview of popular China makeup brands (2024)
| Brand | Product Names | Price |
| Florasis | Floral Concentric Lock Lipstick | $71.94 – $87.20 |
| Eyeshadow Palette with Peony and Moon Relief | $97.01 | |
| Perfect Diary | Animal Eyeshadow Palettes (Fox, Leopard, etc.) | $43.49 – $84.58 |
| ReadMe Lipstick Series | $39.13 – $39.52 | |
| Flower Knows | Strawberry Rococo Series Glowy Lipgloss | $46.87 |
| Moonlight Mermaid Series Jewellery Blush | $54.50 | |
| Colorkey | Sweet Summer Eyeshadow Palette | $31.36 |
| Butterfly Lip Mud Series | $86.11 | |
| Judydoll | Starlight Highlighting Powder | $20.60 |
| Multi-Functional Makeup Palette | $32.59 | |
| Focallure | Waterproof Ultra-slim 1.7mm Gel Pencil | $16.35 – $71.83 |
| High Coverage Water-Proof Longstay Lightweight Concealer Cover Plate | $10.90 – $54.39 | |
| O.TWO.O | Waterproof Eyebrow Cream & Powder Gel Pomade with Eyebrow Brush | $31.64 |
| Eyelash Nourishing Essence | $16.35 | |
| CHIOTURE | Lipglaze Ice Cream | $19.38 |
| Air Cushion Blush | $23.66 | |
| FLORTTE | Salade De Fruits Liquid Eyeliner | $10.46 |
| Ultra-Fine Eyebrow Pecil | $6.00 | |
| First Kiss Love Stick Series | $18.86 | |
| HEDONE | Jello Lip Sip | $29.90 |
| Contour Highlight Palette | $41.42 | |
| Cheerflor | Cupid Angel Eyeshadow Palette | $76.62 |
| Angel Blush | $20.59 | |
| Girlcult | Emo Blush | $49.92 |
| Unreal High Shine Lip Glaze | $39.02 | |
| Carslan | Oil Control Liquid Foundation | $43.60 – $54.50 |
| 10 Colors Multifunctional Eyeshadow Palette | $38.15 | |
| ZEESEA | ZEESEA x British Museum Egyptian Loose Powder | $12.52 |
| Base Primer Cream | $29.08 | |
| Catkin | Catkin Summer Palace Lipstick | $64.31 |
| Lip Scrub | $10.90 |
Popular China makeup brands worth the hype
1. Florasis 花西子
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 (花西子) 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 China makeup brand:
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 (also 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 the collection. Wondering where to buy Florasis in Singapore for your fellow beautyholic? You can shop for Florasis kits that come as a bundle with special merchandise and freebies 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 holy grail 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 China makeup brand:
The most popular series Perfect Diary launched, is the irresistible collection of Animal Eyeshadow Palette (available on Perfect Diary Official Shop), featuring different animals like fox, leopard and carp. Within the palette, you will find complementing shades that match the vibe of the animal. For example, the leopard palette contains stronger colours like yellow, gold and black to help create a bold look. While the red fox palette contains closer shades of warm tones to help create the gradient foxy look.
The perfect combi with your eye makeup would be the ReadMe Lipstick Series (also available on Perfect Diary Official Shop). With different textures available, you can choose either a matte finish or a dewy gloss depending on your style! This Perfect Diary lipstick has a card like design, making it easy to carry around and touch up whenever you need. The best part, you can dab some on your cheek and use the same colour as blush, creating a perfectly cohesive makeup look!
3. Flower Knows
Baozi and Hana are no strangers to avid cosplayers. The duo are some of China’s top cosplay celebrities with over 387 thousand followers on Facebook. They have since retired from cosplay and became founders of Flower Knows, a China makeup brand known for its over-the-top lolita packaging. Moreover, every Flower Knows product is amped up with kawaii vibes — it’s nearly impossible to resist! Read on for our makeup review on some of the best Flower Knows products.
Our recommendations for this China makeup brand:
The Flower Knows Strawberry Rococo Series Glowy Lipgloss (available on Flower Knows Official Store) has set our standards high when it comes to the packaging of beauty products from China cosmetic brands. Inspired by vintage perfume bottles, it features a dual-layered acrylic packaging that gives it a delicate look, while also ensuring its sturdiness. The pink and purple hues give it a romantic touch and femininity to the bottle. With a new and improved formula, it is non-sticky and fast-filming giving you that glorious, jelly-like shine that is long-lasting.
There’s something about the dreamy colours of a sunset that captivates us, and makes us feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Taking inspiration from this, the Flower Knows Moonlight Mermaid Series Jewellery Blush (also available on Flower Knows Official Store) features a jewel-shaped casing embossed with a mermaid sitting on the moon, with a sunset coloured blush. This whimsical collection uses a cashmere-like powder that picks up and spreads easily, giving your cheeks a matte air-brushed look. The tri-colour combo is not just for aesthetics, the different colours act as highlights and blusher, giving you a more defined look.
4. Colorkey
Founded in Guangzhou, Colorkey is one of the best cosmetics brands in the beauty industry. Catering to young adults, Colorkey boasts a vibrant makeup style with its collaborations with some of our favourite childhood cartoons! Think Doraemon, Hello Kitty and even Pokemon. Colorkey has also taken on a sweeter and cuter edge with their newer Ice Cream collection. Featuring adorable ice cream motifs, these makeup products show that this is one China makeup brand that is extremely versatile!
Our recommendations for this China makeup brand:
You can’t go wrong with the Colorkey Sweet Summer Eyeshadow Palette (available on MISSOK.sg)! Comprising four shades with two different textures, this is one compact eyeshadow palette for you to bring along your day out. Then again, you won’t need any touch ups due to the long lasting and waterproof formula! While you can get creative with the matte and shimmery textures for your eye makeup, the best thing is how they can also be used for other purposes. Use the matte shades for your blush or contour, and the shimmery ones as a highlighter. It all depends on which eyeshadow palette you’re thinking of getting, but why not get all three so you can mix and match the shades to your heart’s content!
Let’s not forget the Colorkey Butterfly Lip Mud Series (available on Colorkey Official Store) that’ll make a wonderful addition to your vanity. From a light mauve-pink shade to a raspberry red shade, you’ll be spoilt for choice with these Colorkey lipsticks! The best part about this set is how these lipsticks have a buildable formula. So whether you’re going for a casual tint or a night out, these Colorkey lipsticks will come in handy for any makeup look!
Can’t justify spending close to a hundred bucks on high-end branded makeup? You can still create similar looks with Judydoll, one of the best makeup brands in China known for producing insanely good dupes of highly-raved cosmetics at budget prices! In addition, Judydoll does not shy away from bold colours. Think lime green, tomato red or even aqua blue eyeshadows. If you’re a fan of artistic makeup, this is the perfect brand to look out for!
Our recommendations for this China makeup brand:
One of the most popular dupes that Judydoll has created is the Judydoll Starlight Highlighting Powder (available on Judydoll Official Shop). This highlighter brick glides on with a dazzling shine similar to the famous BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector – but at less than a fraction of the price!
Other worthy purchases include the Judydoll Multi-Functional Makeup Palette (also available on Judydoll Official Shop). The palette comes with a spectrum of fun shades and can be used for eye makeup or as blusher, contour or even highlight!
6. Focallure
Makeup beginners who are starting to expand their makeup collection will love Focallure, one of the best Chinese makeup brands for its holy grail products at incredibly affordable prices. $3 for an eyeliner that’s known to be as good as CLIO’s pencil liners? Take our money! Focallure also focuses on producing multi-purpose makeup products that are straightforward to use. Makeup beginners have no need to fret as they can freely experiment with Focallure’s products and find their style!
Our recommendations for this China makeup brand:
For flawless, one-stroke eyeliner magic, look no further than Focallure Waterproof Ultra-slim 1.7mm Gel Pencil (available on Focallure Official Store). At only 1.7mm thick, you’ll never have to worry about overlining your lids anymore. It is also available in 11 colours, ensuring you find the right eyeliner to compliment your eye makeup.
Looking for an all-in-one concealer kit that can neutralise redness and hide those pesky dark circles? The FOCALLURE High Coverage Water-Proof Longstay Lightweight Concealer Cover Plate (also available on Focallure Official Store) is a dream come true. Made up of a combination of five concealing and colour correcting hues (think pink, green and orange), you can easily mix and match the shades to create your very own unique concealer that works for different needs!
7. O.TWO.O
O.TWO.O is another best Chinese makeup brand that should be on your radar – especially if you’re into budget-friendly, western-inspired makeup products. Despite being a makeup brand in China, O.TWO.O takes on more of a western flair with bold colours, full coverage makeup that’s perfect for a sexy, sultry look.
Our recommendations for this China makeup brand:
Natural, fluffy eyebrows are all the rage right now, and you can easily recreate these 3D brows with the O.TWO.O Waterproof eyebrow cream & powder gel pomade with eyebrow brush (available on O.TWO.O Singapore Official Store). The eyebrow brush is stored on the cap of the eyebrow cream, so it is convenient and hygienic. Simply draw your ideal brow shape and fill it in! Learn more about creating different brow styles with our eyebrow guide!
Eyelash growth serums are the secret to long natural lashes. But eyelash serums can easily set you back close to a hundred dollars per tube, which can be an expensive splurge for those on a budget. Thankfully, you can achieve visible results with the O.TWO.O Eyelash Nourishing Essence (available on O.TWO.O Singapore Official Store) – at less than $6 (say what?!). Formulated with natural botanical ingredients, all you have to do is apply the serum onto the root of your lashes twice a day and voila! Say goodbye to falsies and eyelash extensions once and for all!
8. CHIOTURE
Introducing the trendsetter in the Chinese makeup industry – CHIOTURE. Established in 2009, CHIOTURE started off as a skincare brand focused on harnessing the power of natural ingredients. But in 2014, CHIOTURE expanded its line of products by adding makeup to create a more holistic beauty range. Since then, this best Chinese cosmetics brand has been known for producing various viral beauty products year on year – including a popsicle shaped lip glaze and a super compact Air Cushion Blush. Keep an eye on this best Chinese makeup brand, you don’t want to miss out on any of their viral new launches or they will be sold out in no time!
Our recommendations for this China makeup brand:
The CHIOTURE Lipglaze Ice Cream (available on My Beauty Notes) is truly deserving of its name – chio. With a creamy texture, it is soft and buildable, helping you create the gradient lips effortlessly. The highlight to this CHIOTURE lipstick is its packaging. The ice cream design makes it seem like you’re digging into an icy cold treat every time you apply the lipstick!
Other than adorable lip products, CHIOTURE is also known for its blushers, like the CHIOTURE Air Cushion Blush (also available on My Beauty Notes). Made with convenience and portability in mind, it is small and easy to carry around. The packaging itself includes a powder puff, that is separated from the blush itself, keeping it clean. This adorable CHIOTURE blusher is bound to get many envious looks as you can just dab dab on the go, keeping you looking lively all day!
9. FLORTTE
Make way for the newest kid on the block! FLORTTE started out somewhere between late 2018 and early 2019. But what drew our attention to this China makeup brand is their irresistibly cute packaging. Think eyeshadow palettes with pretty keychains and eyeliners decked in colourful doodles – FLORTTE’s product designs are bound to make your day! Aside from packaging design, this Chinese makeup brand wowed us with its superb quality. Find out what’s worth adding to your makeup collection below!
Our recommendations for this China makeup brand:
FLORTTE definitely has a penchant for replicating stationery with their makeup products – think Salade De Fruits Liquid Eyeliner (available on GSY.Beauty.sg). Boasting a similar fun vibe, their Ultra-Fine Eyebrow Pencil (available on Mia Beauty) looks just like multi-coloured scrapbooking pens! While we may mistake these eyebrow pencils for pens, you will notice a difference when you’re doing your makeup. The formula glides on smoothly as you perfect those hair-like strokes. Moreover, this eyebrow pencil can help promote hair growth. The formula contains ginger that stimulates hair follicles and encourages brow hairs to grow. The vitamins in ginger also strengthens each strand to prevent them from falling out!
Eye products aren’t all FLORTTE has to offer. The FLORTTE First Kiss Love Stick Series (available on Pinannie Official Store) features lip balms that are bright and lightweight. Thanks to its formula, this FLORTTE lip balm dries off without leaving a sticky finish. You don’t have to worry about tackiness or greasiness. In fact, enjoy the feel of this lip balm as it moisturises your lips from the inside out. You’ll have perfect pouts for days to come!
10. HEDONE
American TV series, Euphoria, has swept the beauty community up with its avante garde makeup looks packed with vibrant colours, glitter and theatrical eyeliner. And HEDONE is China’s answer to this crazy makeup trend that many Gen Zs are obsessed with. This is the best cosmetics brand in China that has been born to defy beauty norms, proving that makeup is for self-expression rather than self-perfection. It comes as no surprise that HEDONE uses a mix of male and female models for their brand – simply because makeup is universal and knows no boundaries.
Our recommendations for this China makeup brand:
Where to buy HEDONE online in Singapore? We’ve sourced for the best HEDONE products so you can just sit back and shop. Express your individualism with the HEDONE Jello Lip Sip (available on A WITCH SHOP) that comes in a total of 14 shades! There’s a beautiful pale pink that’ll enhance the natural colour of your lips, and a bright red that’s a must-have. With a moisturising formula that has a glossy finish, this is one Chinese makeup brand you can trust a lipstick with zero transfer.
Aside from lipsticks, HEDONE has also received many positive reviews for the HEDONE Contour Highlight Palette (available on ACE.my). This palette contains both powder and cream formulas for different contouring needs – cream for the sides of your face, powder for the nose and chin. There’s also a matte white highlighter (this is quite rare to find as most highlighters have glitter or shimmers in them) to create contrast against your contours, enhancing your face dimensions to a tee!
11. Cheerflor
With more than two decades of experience in the makeup industry, Cheerflor is the next makeup brand from China to get your hands on! This Chinese cosmetics brand has some of the best eyeshadow palettes, lipsticks, nail polish and more. Their designs take inspiration from the Victorian era, with elaborate floral patterns that are intricate and opulent.
Our recommendations for this China makeup brand:
The Cupid Angel Eyeshadow Palette (available on GSY.Beauty.sg) is an elegant cosmetic product like no other! There are cupid angels and florals lining the palette, and each shadow also has similar patterns embossed on them. This Cheerflor eyeshadow palette features warm, peachy tones that are perfect for that summery look. With a pigmented formula that’s extremely buildable, you can wear this eyeshadow on your lids for all sorts of occasions. Each shade is also named after a dessert. There are shades like almond cream, creme brulee and creamy apricots! Moreover, the formula is extremely long-lasting, so you won’t have to worry about crease lines as you wear this eyeshadow all day.
This best Chinese makeup brand’s blush is just as to-die-for. The Cheerflor Angel Blush (available on Lisa Novo Beauty Official Store) boasts a pigmented formula that’s very buildable. You can easily use the blush for a subtle pop of colour on your face or pack it on for rosier cheeks. The best part is how this Cheerflor blush isn’t cakey at all, so there’s no need to worry about any creasing even as you apply more blush.
12. Girlcult
Girlcult is an avant-garde Chinese brand made for Gen Zs. Their brand keywords are “weirdness, romance and adventure” – very fitting of the rebellious generation. They incorporate lots of trendy, metallic elements into their packaging, along with their sun logo. Their unique aesthetics makes them extra recognisable and will definitely stand out amongst your other makeup products.
Our recommendations for this China makeup brand:
The Girlcult Emo Blush (available on GirlCult) gained popularity due to one peculiar shade – the invisible rosy (黑福娃). Do not be fooled by the pitch black colour of the blush, upon swatching it you will see it magically turn into a romantic shade of wine red.
Determined to be different, they have a vast selection of shades and colours that are made to help you stand out from the crowd and be yourself. The Girlcult Unreal High Shine Lip Glaze (also available on GirlCult) is the epitome of dare to be different. Each colour is unique down to the shimmers, adding a touch of mystic to your look. The formula is nourishing, which ensures your lips stay moist, and it is long lasting. With a high-shine finish, it gives you an ethereal look.
13. Carslan
Level up your makeup game with Carslan, one of China’s most luxurious domestic makeup brands. In 2021, Carslan teamed up with renowned designers, who have worked with high end brands like Dior and Hermes, to amp up their packaging design. Now, that’s something we’d definitely splurge on! This best Chinese cosmetics brand also invests heavily in their research and development. Carslan had apparently spent years perfecting a lipstick formula in their lab. No wonder almost every Carslan product is a hit on the market!
Our recommendations for this China makeup brand:
The Carslan Oil Control Liquid Foundation (available on Carslan Official Store) is a godsend for those with oily skin types. Infused with pure black truffle with powerful antioxidants, this featherlight matte foundation stays on flawlessly for up to 24 hours without oxidising. Psst, there’s also a moisturising version for dry skin girls!
Another hot-selling product on the Carslan Official Store is the Carslan 10 Colors Multifunctional Eyeshadow Palette (also available on Carslan Official Store). The multifunctional eyeshadow palette consists of 10 complementing colours with different textures, like matte and shimmers. How multifunctional? You might ask. It is an eyeshadow palette, a blush and a contour palette all in one. There are two palettes to choose from, one consisting of warmer colours, while the other is a cooler palette.
14. ZEESEA
While ZEESEA may be relatively newer to the beauty scene compared to many of the best Chinese cosmetics brands here, they have quickly gained popularity across the globe. The brand has brought about a new wave of makeup trends to the market with never seen before collections. Case in point: Their Enchanting Egypt and Forbidden City collections started a makeup craze that’s anchored in history and culture! ZEESEA is therefore perfect for those who are tired of cutesy makeup products and would like to try something different.
Our recommendations for this China makeup brand:
The ZEESEA x British Museum Egyptian Loose Powder (available on andy22.sg) is a popular item amongst Chinese netizens. It comes in three different finishes, velvet, glowy and matte, each giving your makeup a smooth finish. With 14 shades to choose from, you will find a suitable shade, whether you have a yellow or pink undertone. The highlight of this product is its long lasting oil control, ensuring your makeup looks fresh and flawless all day long!
Want to achieve the perfect no makeup look? Check out the ZEESEA Base Primer Cream (available on Mika makeup.sg). Depending on your skin type, whether you have dull skin, or redness, this correction primer can help correct the imperfections and brighten your skin tone instantly. The purple primer is for those with yellowish skin. Upon applying the product, you will see an instant change whereby your skin will be brighter and more pinkish.
15. Catkin
Step into a world of oriental packaging and top quality products with Catkin. As one of the leading China makeup brands in the country, Catkin is a household name among C-beauty lovers. And it’s no surprise that they have over 6,000 counters alone in the domestic market! The blending of intricate Chinese motifs with European designs is what draws so many to Catkin. It has led to the creation of regal-looking makeup, like the Catkin Summer Palace collaboration, that sold out in less than 24 hours after launching!
Our recommendations for this China makeup brand:
Undoubtedly, the first thing you’ll have to try from this Chinese makeup brand is the Catkin Summer Palace Lipstick (available on CatkinOfficialStore.sg). This lipstick is the reason why the Summer Palace Collection sold out so quickly. And it’s thanks to the beautiful Chinese engravings on the lipstick! The lightweight and buildable formula to this lipstick is also a bonus. While one layer is enough for light tints, you can also go over your lips again for a bolder look. And the best part is how it’ll feel like nothing on your lips! The formula even nourishes your lips due to the presence of hydrating ingredients like jojoba seed oil and castor oil.
It’s always important to exfoliate your lips before applying lipstick. Dead skin left on your lips can reduce colour payoff, so it’s important to use the Catkin Lip Scrub (also available on CatkinOfficialStore.sg)! The Vitamin E and grapefruit oil in this Catkin lip scrub moisturises and brightens your lips to give you a beautiful pout everyday. It’ll make lipstick application a lot smoother too!
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. Compared to Western, Japanese and Korean cosmetics, China makeup brands offer their products at affordable prices. But that doesn’t mean they’re 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 Egyptian collection , while Colourkey launched an adorable Barbie collection last year, with popular C-pop artist Sherry Kong as the ambassador. 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 has 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 that have passed the safety assessment by China’s Cosmetics Supervision and Administration Regulation (CSAR). Most of these best Chinese cosmetics brands will feature safety certificates on their websites. It’s also worth contacting 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.
Achieve a new glow with these best Chinese beauty brands
These underrated best cosmetics brands in China are your answers to affordable beauty products with Holy Grail standards. Continue to ride the C-wave with the most popular Chinese dramas and best Chinese variety shows featuring your favourite mainland actors and actresses. You can also have a taste of China’s vibrant food culture when you munch on these yummy Chinese snacks!
This article was updated on 23 May 2024. Additional research done by Liew Shu Wen.
