Naomi Osaka has taken her skills off of the tennis court and into the world of beauty. The four-time Grand Slam singles tennis champion just launched KINLÒ, a skincare brand made for people of color.
“Designed for the melanin-rich,” the functional skincare brand is vegan and cruelty-free. It’s also made with clean formulations without parabens, gluten, or phthalates. The line includes an SPF 50+ Active Golden Rays Sunscreen, Hydrating Golden Mist, Hydrating Eye Cream, and a Hydrating Lip Balm.
Osaka says a lack of sun protection products on the market made for darker skin tones inspired her to create the brand.
“Through my personal experience and learnings, I have found that Black, Brown, and other melanated skin toned communities are often an after-thought in the discussion and research surrounding sun care,” she explained, “including being excluded from clinical studies on skin cancer.”
According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, people of color have a lower risk of developing skin cancer than their white counterparts. However, studies show that people of color are more likely to die from skin cancer because they are often diagnosed with it at a more advanced stage.
“There is a lack of sun protection products being made with melanated skin in mind,” Osaka added. For this reason, many sun protection products tend to leave white cast—the white residue of sunscreen—on the skin, which is more noticeable on darker skin tones. KINLÒ’s mineral-based Active Golden Rays Sunscreen is specifically designed to eliminate white cast.
Naomi Osaka launches KINLÒ
Osaka—whose mother is Japanese and father is Haitian—paid homage to her bicultural heritage through the brand’s name. The words Kin and Lo mean “gold” in Japanese and Haitian Creole, respectively.
This isn’t her first foray off of the tennis court. Osaka has previously delved in the fashion world—collaborating with the likes of Nike, Frankie’s Bikinis, and Levi’s.
The 23-year-old says she and her team spent the past year perfecting the skincare line, which is designed to “protect and rejuvenate melanated skin tones.”
During a post-match interview at the U.S. Open this past weekend, Osaka revealed she was taking a break from tennis to focus on her mental health.
”I guess we’re all dealing with some stuff, but I know that I’m dealing with some stuff,” Osaka said. “I feel like for me recently when I win I don’t feel happy. I feel more like a relief. And then when I lose, I feel very sad. I don’t think that’s normal.”
For this reason, she says that she’s thankful for the opportunity that KINLÒ has given her. “Tennis can be challenging at times but it has given me this platform which I am so grateful for and allows me to help others in ways I wouldn’t have imagined otherwise,” she explained. “Hope you like it!”
KINLÒ is currently available exclusively online. The company plans to expand the line to include more products in the future.
