Clearer days are ahead with Camille Co’s CKIN—and she’s bringing back the ‘care’ in skincare
There’s no arguing that finding a skincare routine that truly works is a personal endeavor, as the prospect of achieving and maintaining clear, glowing skin can be overwhelming and oftentimes, elaborate. But social media darling Camille Co doesn’t believe in skincare being a multi-step affair. CKIN Collective, her newly launched skincare brand, draws from her personal battle with acne and focuses on only three essentials: cleanser, toner, and hydrator. Designed for the acne-prone, the ethos behind CKIN is multi-pronged: consumable education (a philosophy centered on recognizing the deep connections between skin, body, and mind), a brand designed with care (formulated for the health of the skin and the planet), and efficacious products (tried and tested on 68 volunteers with oily skin, prone to acne and excess shine).
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Anyone who has struggled with acne knows that the issue goes far beyond aesthetics. There’s the embarrassment, insecurity, and social stigma; the mark that acne leaves can put you on an emotional rollercoaster, one that’s driven by whether you have more or fewer pimples that day. But acne isn’t a simple aesthetic issue—and Camille Co understands this, having gone through it herself.
Those who have been a follower of hers know that she’s put aside the established canons about what a ‘perfect’ appearance should be. The content creator has posted non-makeup selfies taken in the middle of flare-ups of acne; and expressed that this dip in self-confidence led to ruminative thoughts and behaviors related to excessive rituals or manias to hide or change it, often resorting to look for quick solutions: “In my panic to quickly ‘fix’ my skin, I would use harsh acne-targeting ingredients that, although may work for some, didn’t really work on my already damaged skin barrier—which then only made my acne worse and my skin more sensitive,” she shared on Instagram.
This ultimately led her to conceptualize, produce, and launch CKIN as a brand made to feel like a solace for people who go through the pains of acne—from the founder who has experienced it herself. CKIN’s daily three-step routine addresses the balancing act that treating adult acne needs: essential ingredients that do the trick and simultaneously protects and strengthens your skin barrier, making it less reactive to acne-triggering factors.
But Co did not just want to give her audience the products: “I want to equip them with a holistic solution wherein they understand that they need to put care back into their skin.”
The brand is imbued with her intuitive approach to well-being, combining the science behind the products and the holistic practices that go with it. Dr. Katerina Steventon, one the people behind CKIN’s unique approach to skincare known as Skinfulness, emphasizes that the path to clear, healthy skin is influenced by a wide range of factors, both internal and external. They map this as a six-part compass that includes countless variables that can cause acne: the body and its patterns, diet and supplements, rest and recovery, pollutants and climate, the skincare routine, and connection to self and others.
According to the content creator, Skinfulness will help consumers understand their skin better and embrace it better: “We aim to improve the way you see your skin. Perfect skin isn’t about being flawless, it’s about having healthy skin. We want to normalize acne, that it isn’t imperfection, it’s a journey—much like achieving healthy skin is a journey.”
CKIN’s daily three-step kit is now available for P2,480 on its website.
Photos and Featured Image: CKIN, CAMILLE CO (via Instagram)