5 Indonesian Skincare Brands You’ll Want to Shop for in Batam
Photo Source : @UiHua Cheah
You might already be using Indonesian skincare without even realising it.
Over the past few years, Indonesian beauty brands have quietly become a familiar sight in Malaysia. Walk into a Watsons or Guardian today, and you’ll find names like Glad2Glow, Skintific, Somethinc and Azarine sitting alongside international favourites.
And yes, they’re all Indonesian.
Perhaps it shouldn’t be surprising that they’ve caught on. Malaysia and Indonesia share a similarly hot, humid tropical climate, which means many Indonesian beauty products are developed with familiar problems in mind: oily skin, sweat, and enough UV exposure to roast a small chicken.
But what we see in Malaysia is only part of Indonesia’s much bigger beauty scene. What this means is that you now have another reason to go shopping the next time you’re in Batam. Here are five Indonesian beauty brands - and the products that made them famous - worth keeping an eye out for.
1. Facetology: The sunscreen and facewash combo that can’t be beat
Photo source: Watsons Indonesia
Anyone who has tried layering moisturiser, sunscreen and makeup in tropical weather knows how quickly things can get… sticky.
Facetology built its biggest hits around solving this problem.
Founded in Jakarta, the beauty startup’s claim to fame is something it calls “hybrid science”. Instead of simply producing another SPF, Facetology developed sun protection with the realities of Indonesian weather and beauty routines in mind.
Its Triple Care Sunscreen SPF 40 PA+++ combines three steps in one: sunscreen, moisturiser and tone-up primer. Its lightweight hybrid formula is designed to sit comfortably beneath makeup.
And at the end of the day, the Triple Care Facial Gel Cleanser is designed to remove sunscreen and everyday grime without leaving your face feeling like it’s been pinched and pulled by a dozen overenthusiastic aunties.
What to look for: Triple Care Sunscreen SPF 40 PA+++ and Triple Care Facial Gel Cleanser.
2. Amaterasun: The sunscreen made for people who hate sunscreen
Photo source: Amaterasun
There are brands that try to do a hundred things well. And then there are brands that pick one thing and get REALLY good at it.
For Amaterasun, that one thing is sunscreen.
This Jakarta-based brand was launched by Indonesian beauty entrepreneur Irene Ursula, also the founder behind Somethinc. Unlike its sister brand, however, Amaterasun has a much more singular obsession: protecting your skin from the sun.
One of its standouts is the Transparent Sunscreen SPF 50+ PA++++, a completely clear gel sunscreen designed to leave no visible white cast. That makes it particularly appealing if you dislike the chalky finish some sunscreens can leave behind.
There’s also the UV Sunscreen Serum SPF 50+ PA++++, which takes a lighter, water-based approach and is positioned as everyday protection for urban life, including exposure to pollution and blue light.
Basically, if you’ve ever abandoned sunscreen because it felt like a plastic bag on your face, Amaterasun is one brand worth hunting down in Batam.
What to look for: Transparent Sunscreen SPF 50+ PA++++ and UV Sunscreen Serum SPF 50+ PA++++.
3. Avoskin: An “AHA” moment in a Yogyakarta boarding house
Photo source: Watsons Indonesia
Calling Avoskin a “home-grown” brand might be stretching the definition a little. They didn’t even have a complete home to grow in.
Founded in Yogyakarta in 2014 by Anugrah Pakerti and two co-founders, the company began life in a boarding room before growing into one of Indonesia’s better-known homegrown skincare names.
Avoskin was an early participant in Indonesia’s “green and clean beauty” movement, initially focusing on naturally derived skincare. It was also among the local brands that helped familiarise Indonesian consumers with active ingredients such as AHAs and BHAs.
Its Perfect Hydrating Treatment Essence (PHTE) helped put the company on the map and developed a strong following among Indonesian skincare users.
If you prefer something more targeted, there’s the Your Skin Bae range that lets you choose products built around particular active ingredients and concentrations. One of the better-known combinations pairs 12% Niacinamide with Centella Asiatica, making the range especially tempting for skincare shoppers who actually know what all those percentages on a bottle mean.
What to look for: Perfect Hydrating Treatment Essence and the Your Skin Bae series.
4. Somethinc: You’ll find “Somethinc” extra in Batam
Photo source: Boleh Dicoba Digital
The older sister brand to Amaterasun, Somethinc probably doesn’t need much introduction. It’s already available in Malaysia.
But that doesn’t mean you should just walk past the Somethinc aisle in Batam, as there are many products not yet available in Malaysia.
One worth seeking out is the Calm Down Skin Pair 3-D Gel Moisturizer, formulated with sensitive or compromised skin barriers in mind and sought after for its soothing properties.
Then there’s the Game Changer Tripeptide Eye Concentrate, which tackles dark circles and puffiness and comes with one particularly satisfying detail: a cooling ceramic applicator. After a late night exploring Batam, your under-eyes may appreciate the gesture.
What to look for: Calm Down Skin Pair 3-D Gel Moisturizer and Game Changer Tripeptide Eye Concentrate.
5. Azarine: Skincare, Superheroes, and Stars
Photo source: Tribun News
While it may come off as a young brand, Azarine has actually been around since 2002. The East Java company originally focused on spa and body-care products before reinventing itself for the digital beauty era around 2020.
For Malaysians, being in Batam means you can get popular Azarine products that aren’t available back home yet, such as the Cicamide Barrier Sunscreen Gel SPF 35 PA+++ that’s aimed at sensitive, reactive and acne-prone skin or the Bodyguard Sunscreen Serum SPF 50 PA++++.
But perhaps what might truly excite you are the Indonesian-only collabs with brands such as Marvel and BT21, and superstars like Korean actor Lee Min-ho.
What to look for: Cicamide Barrier Sunscreen Gel SPF 35 PA+++, Bodyguard Sunscreen Serum SPF 50 PA++++, and brand collaborations.
A beauty-ful reason to visit Batam
Photo Source : @UiHua Cheah
Perhaps the best thing about shopping for Indonesian beauty products in Batam is that you don’t necessarily need to be a skincare expert to enjoy it.
You could go looking for a cult sunscreen you’ve seen online, compare what’s available with the selection back home, or simply realise you really, really need sunscreen because you’re in beach territory. Even for products already available in Malaysia, it’s worth doing a quick price check — you might find them much cheaper in Batam.
So leave a little extra room in your luggage and book your beauty run with a ferry from Berjaya Waterfront. Batam is just a trip across the Straits.
And don’t worry too much about sunscreen just yet. The ferries are enclosed and air-conditioned for a comfortable ride.
