In celebration of Merdeka, BAZAAR is celebrating the highs and success of our thriving Malaysian brands across fashion, beauty and lifestyle. For our first release of the BAZAAR Local series, we spoke to co-founders Bella Kuan and Lim Cai Jin of Handmade Heroes on their aesthetically-pleasing store, most underrated products and their journey.
BAZAAR Local: The tales behind Handmade Heroes
Handmade Heroes is no stranger to the realms of beauty in Malaysia. Adored for its all-natural and organic skincare products, the thriving beauty brand has since expanded its skincare and body care range to hair necessities. The remarkable journey of Bella Kuan and Lim Cai Jin began with a simple invitation from Lynsey Lim in Singapore to Kuan to join her on a mission. Their collaboration has since grown into something truly incredible.
Not limited to the Asian market, the brand has proliferated globally, especially in America. In fact, Emily in Paris star Lily Collins personally endorsed their best-selling lip scrub in her “Get Ready With Me” video, which surprised them all. Fun fact: Their lip scrub topped the chart on Amazon as the best-selling lip product with an average rating of 4.4 out of five stars.
While their success may thrive on their lip products, you’ll be surprised to know that their bestsellers are worth trying too. Our favourite is the Beauty Warrior Face Mask and the Ultimate Bakuchiol Booster Oil.
When asked about their most underrated products, Jin shared that their Oat Mighty Cuticle Oil deserves a spot in your beauty collection. Not only does it help to nourish and repair the nails and cuticles, but it definitely helps by conditioning those damaged cuticles. Plus, its compact size makes it easy to chug into your everyday bag.
As for Bella, her loyalty lies with the Drop Dead Gorgeous Dry Shampoo. Infused with bamboo charcoal, peppermint and eucalyptus, the dry shampoo makes a great addition to those always on the go. “If you work out and sweat a lot due to the humidity, it works perfectly fine as your trusty travel companion,” expressed Bella.
When we asked to share a specific moment in their career when they started to see success, the duo shared these significant moments. “It’s not much about success but more about how customers enjoy the products and how we’re a part of their daily lives.”
To hear more about their story, check out our video below:
Discover more on handmadeheroes.my
Amalina Anuar
Amalina Anuar is the Digital Director of Harper's Bazaar Malaysia. From covering the latest runway trends to the hottest happenings in Kuala Lumpur, she also delves deep into all things lifestyle and beauty.
