Review: 2nd Kind Skincare
Written by Alexa Wilson
Founded by Kristin Zaldana, 2nd Kind is a female-founded, family-run business that produces small batch, cruelty-free, plant based skincare products. Pairing simple yet powerful ingredients with the metaphysical benefits of crystals in their Vibrational Beauty Collection, they’re a company that aims to help you become your best self inside and out. The name 2nd Kind comes from Kristin’s belief that, of the many ways to practice self love, the first kind is appreciating ourselves for our authentic selves with all our best qualities and flaws included. The second kind is skincare.
That’s a philosophy I can definitely identify with. Self love is a journey, self care is a process. Finding what works for you is a part of that road. For me, my mental health resonates and reflects in how I’m taking care of myself. That means doing the little things to be kinder to myself like actively trying to drink more water throughout the day, giving myself a moment to step away and breathe when I feel overwhelmed, and keeping up with my skincare routine. If you have the chance to use products that not only make your skin look great, but also come from a business that cares then that makes it so much sweeter.
Somewhere between luxurious clay mask and gentle cleanser, 2nd Kind Skin’s Brazilian Clay + Lavender Clay Cleanser is a revelation. Unlike a run-of-the-mill standalone clay mask or cleanser, 2nd Kind’s clay cleanser never causes skin to feel tight or dried out which makes for a really pleasant experience. While full of wholesome ingredients like lavender (anti-inflammatory) and argan oil (soothing), the undeniable star in this formulation is, well, clay. Kaolin clay (aka purple Brazilian clay) provides both a heavy hit of nutrients as well as the product’s beautiful muted lavender shade. It’s mildly absorbent so if you have dry or sensitive skin, you definitely don’t have to worry about putting your skin through the wringer. It’s gentle and doesn’t strip or dehydrate skin. This is a cleanser that will pull out impurities, not drain the natural moisture from your skin. That said--oily peeps, worry not! My skin leans towards the oily end of the spectrum but I never got the sense that it wasn’t strong enough. It consistently left my skin feeling clean and nourished. Not to mention, I was really impressed by the fact that I wasn’t looking oily by the end of the day and my complexion was so much more even. It’s a great product for all skin types, but especially if you have sensitive skin and have had trouble finding a gentle cleanser that’s still effective.
Lotus flower extract not only helps improve skin’s elasticity, balance out oil production, and act as a natural moisturizer, it’s also non-comedogenic which means it won’t clog pores! Paired with antioxidant rich sweet almond oil to repair and brighten skin, 2nd Kind’s Kyanite + Lotus Extract Face Serum was quite literally love at first try. The consistency and feel of the serum reminded me of a dry oil because it’s lightweight and absorbs super quickly. I apply it right before bed so it has the next few hours to soak in and impart all the benefits of the lotus extract, sweet almond oil, and rosehip oil. Right off the bat, you can feel it nourishing and calming down sensitive, reactive skin. By the time I wake up, my skin feels revitalized, supple, and silky. After even just the first use, I noticed an improvement in the overall texture of my skin and a really pretty glow when the sunlight catches it which honestly makes me wanna do a chef’s kiss every time I catch a reflection of myself when my non-highlighter highlight pops off. I’ve actually been holding onto this product for awhile now and it’s saved my skin more than once. Each and every time, my skin does a 180. Honestly, the Kyanite + Lotus Extract Face Serum is definitely up there as a holy grail product for me and I’m not entirely sure I can imagine life without it at this point. This is a product that feels like you’re doing something genuinely good for the health of your skin and I’d recommend it to any and every skin type. Particularly if you are acne-prone, I think you’ll really enjoy it thanks to lotus extract’s ability to balance out skin’s oil content and non-comodegenic properties.
*Thank you 2nd KIND for sponsoring products for review.