Naomi Osaka Is Launching Her Own Skincare For POC

When it comes to spending time outdoors, tennis players tend to dominate the field. With matches ranging anywhere from one to six hours, having to endure the physical strain of competition under the watchful glare of an unrelenting sun seems to be a requirement of the sport. Not surprisingly, sunscreen is a must. Though a common myth suggests that those with darker skin tones don’t need to wear sunscreen, tennis star Naomi Osaka knows all too well that melanoma doesn’t listen to skin tone or gender. Consequently, she’s taking matters into her own hands and is set to launch her own line of SPF skincare. 

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https://www.instagram.com/p/CONuTQPpj0u/

The reigning champion of the Australian Open spent most of her life eschewing sunscreen and SPF, believing she didn’t need to wear it because of the misconceptions surrounding sun protection and darker skin tones. But having woken up to the fact that people with darker skin types are still at risk of developing skin cancer, Osaka is on a mission to ensure others don’t make the same mistakes she did in her youth. 

The range has been designed specifically for people of colour. In an interview with Business of Fashion, Osaka revealed that she named the brand Kinló, a nod to her Japanese and Haitian roots as the name ‘kin’ means ‘gold’ in Japanese and ‘ló’ means ‘gold’ in Haitian Creole. The skincare range is expected to drop during autumn in the southern hemisphere. 

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https://www.instagram.com/p/COK61Q8Jcc9/

The range will include five products, including an SPF40+ tinted moisturiser and 50+ sunscreen for outdoor activities. Speaking about the development of the products and the role of CEO that she will soon be stepping into, Osaka said: “What drew me toward this project is having memories of being. Kid and not knowing how to protect my skin…I only started wearing sunscreen recently.”

She went on to add: “There is a public-health need. I used to tell people that I didn’t need to wear sunscreen – but even if you have melanin, you need to take care of your skin, and I am passionate about that.”

Osaka isn’t the first tennis star to forge her way into the skincare industry. Just recently, tennis alum Venus Williams launched her own SPF-focused skincare line through her brand, EleVen, which also focuses on darker-skinned customers. In an interview with The Cut, Williams explained: “I wasted the first 35 years of my life in full sun exposure, you know, six or seven days a week. And I regret that.”

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