Thai beauty brands Singapore shoppers already know

Some Thai beauty brands need no introduction in Singapore. Shoppers have seen them in Bangkok convenience stores, been sent them by friends, or bought them online, so they ask for them by name. Below is a brand-by-brand look at the Thai-origin beauty lines in our catalogue, what each one is, and where it tends to sit on a shelf.

Why recognition matters for a small shop

A brand that customers already know does half the selling for you. They come in looking for the familiar pack, check the variant, and buy. For a pharmacy, a beauty counter or a minimart, that means less explaining and fewer slow movers. The trade-off is that shoppers also know what the real pack looks like, so genuine, consistent stock matters more. Our piece on checking you are buying genuine stock goes through what to look for.

Hiruscar: acne and post-acne gels

Hiruscar is probably the name we are asked about most. In our range it covers three products, all listed with Thai origin:

• Anti-Acne Advance Spot Gel (10g). The seller describes it as "specially formulated for acne prone skin". The ingredient list includes niacinamide, salicylic acid, allium cepa (onion) bulb extract and allantoin. Usage on the pack: "Apply on the affected area 2-3 times a day."
• Post Acne Gel (10g). Described by the brand as a "clear gel which has been specially formulated for fast, easy skin absorption", for use on acne marks. It lists allantoin, allium cepa, mucopolysaccharide polysulphate and vitamin B3.
• Post Acne Back Spray (50ml). An upside-down spray pump for the back, which is a genuinely useful format if you have ever tried to reach your own shoulder blades.

All three carry the warning that they are not suitable for children under 3. Salicylic acid is a well-known exfoliating ingredient in acne products. Anyone with persistent or severe acne should be pointed to a doctor or pharmacist. There is more on this shelf in our guide to acne care products.

JOJI Secret Young: hair masks and drink sachets

JOJI shows up in two very different parts of a shop. The Secret Young Charcoal Keratin Hair Treatment Mask comes in 50g and 300g, with key ingredients listed as bamboo charcoal, keratin, egg yolk and pro-vitamin B5. The usage is a five-minute leave-on after shampoo.

The brand also makes collagen and berry drink sachets, which sit with supplements rather than beauty. Keep the two lines in their own sections so customers are not confused.

JAM: rice milk soap bars

The JAM Rice Milk Soap Bar is described by the seller as "a handmade Thai cleansing bar made with Jasmine Rice Extract (rice bran extract)". It is sold as a pack of 12 bars of 60g, suitable for face and body according to the listing. Multi-packs like this suit shops that sell singles at the till and guesthouses that want a recognisable bar. We look at it in more detail, alongside other soaps, in Thai bar soaps: rice milk, gluta and more.

JOSE: body oils

JOSE Premium Body Oil comes in a 150ml pump bottle in three variants: Glow & Nourish (floral), Matcha Citrus (described as a dry-touch oil) and Warm Vanilla. The seller lists plant oils across the range, including seabuckthorn, macadamia, jojoba, sweet almond and sunflower seed oil. It is a good fit for a body care bay next to lotions, and for spas or salons that retail a few take-home items.

KOTA: home hair colour

KOTA's permanent colour cream is a 200ml kit containing 100ml colour cream and 100ml developer. The seller describes it as ammonia-free, "built on Korean cosmetic formula technology and manufactured in Thailand". The developer contains hydrogen peroxide, and the instructions include a skin sensitivity test before use. If you stock home dye, read our notes on what to stock and what to tell customers.

Other Thai-origin names in the range

A few more lines in our catalogue are listed with Thai origin: Green Bio hair treatments, Neo Hair Lotion, Pure underarm cream and a Boots 10X Niacinamide Shower Serum. You will find them across the skincare, bath and hair sections of the catalogue.

Presenting Thai brands well

A few habits help:

• Keep variants together. Hiruscar's three formats and JOSE's three scents sell better side by side than scattered.
• Quote the label, not the hype. If a customer asks what something does, read the pack wording. Cosmetics sold in Singapore are regulated by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA), and it is worth checking with HSA what applies to your shop.
• Leave space for repeat buyers. People who know a brand often come back for the same variant, so keep the core lines in stock rather than rotating them.

If any of these brands would suit your shelf, add them to your enquiry list with the variants you want, and we will reply with pricing, minimum order and what is in stock now.