Tennis Star Naomi Osaka Talks All Things Beauty
Outside her career as a professional athlete, Osaka directs her focus on her skincare brand. Here, she shares more about her venture, beauty secrets and more
While we know her for her accolades as a four-time Grand Slam singles champion, with several Australian Open and US Open titles under her belt, Naomi Osaka spends her free time honing her skills in another field entirely: the beauty industry.
In 2021, the professional tennis player founded her brand, Kinlò (a name that’s derived from the Japanese and Haitian words for gold), developing skincare products like sunscreen, moisturisers and facial oils designed specifically for melanated skin. Its unique formulations incorporate ingredients like safflower and jojoba oils, which provide hydration as a solution to melanated consumers. The brand also offers tinted and non-tinted options that blend well into wide spectrums of skin tones, reducing the appearance of white cast that is common in SPF products.
“I was inspired to create Kinlò after a trip to Australia one year, where I burned badly,” Osaka explains. “I had never worn sunscreen before because I was under the impression that my melanin protected me from the sun. After that horrible burn, I did some research and learned that my belief was a common misconception and wanted to educate others that [people with melanin-rich skin] do, in fact, need to wear sunscreen.”
Now, Osaka makes sure to put the money where her mouth is, prioritising SPF products like Kinlò’s Golden Rays Sunscreen in her skincare routine. “It’s small and compact which makes it easy to travel with and it provides maximum protection with SPF 50+,” she says. “Sunscreen is the most important beauty product for me . I spend countless hours in the sun each day and it’s the only way I’m able to protect my skin while I train and compete.”
On a regular day, Osaka keeps her beauty routine simple yet effective. “I always apply Kinlò’s Always Golden Daily Moisturiser and lip balm right before bed and right when I wake up,” she says when asked to describe her regimen. “This routine has never failed me.”
In terms of beauty secrets, Osaka has only one: hydrate. “I know that it isn’t groundbreaking but the best tip and trick I’ve learned is to drink plenty of water,” she adds. “Not only is water essential for my on-court performance, but it is also so important for my skin. I notice that my skin looks its best when I’m drinking a ton of water, so I always make a point to drink it.”
Since taking on new roles in her life as a businesswoman and mother, Osaka has become very selective with how she spends her time. “I have to be very efficient,” she declares. “Adding ‘mother’ to my resume has [led to] my time [being] stretched even thinner. I don’t have the luxury of it, so I am very intentional and focused on any given task as I know that my time is very valuable.”
She adds: “In 2024, I really want to prioritise just appreciating every moment. It’s easy to go through the motions and not enjoy the ride but I am making it a point to be present and appreciate all of the moments, no matter how big or small.”
As for the future, Osaka is keeping her options open, and she wishes to work in the fashion industry more. “I’m a really creative person,” she says. “I’ve always enjoyed fashion collaborations where I’m able to be very hands-on, so I’d like to continue to venture into those going forward.”
