A Shout Out to Being Kind

Hello Filthy Fam!  I just wanted to tell you a little bit about one of my favourite product lines that we carry in the shop:  BKIND.

BACKGROUND

First of all, BKIND was born in 2014 in Montreal.  (8 years young!)  The owner is a snappy microbiologist named Marilyne and has been developing her own body products since she was a young girl as she has always had very sensitive and reactive skin.  After completing her masters degree in microbiology, she decided to reformulate her own products and pop 'em on the market.

VALUES
*Local Production; Every product is designed and made in Quebec
*Love the Animals; 2% of BKIND’s sales are donated to an organization helping animals.  All of their products are Vegan as well.  They are even leaping bunny certified which is the gold standard for vegan cosmetic products.
*100% Recyclable; The products are housed in 100% recyclable plastic.  Their tubes also contain ocean bound plastic aka plastic that has been found on ocean banks.  When it’s possible BKIND uses paper or cardboard.  They even ship with biodegradable materials.

TOP 3 STAFF APPROVED PRODUCTS
1) Sensitive Skin Face Scrub - Papaya Enzyme

Even though it's called a "Scrub" this product is very gentle on skin.  I bet you didn’t know that the yummy fruit Papaya is a natural and nonabrasive exfoliator!!  Your face will feel very soft after using it without breakouts or allergic reactions.  The scrub is also formulated with cranberry and hibiscus which contain powerful antioxidants to fight skin ageing.  (So after those papaya enzymes break down dead skin cells on the surface of your skin, your skin can use antioxidants quicker and more efficiently.    Lastly there is shea butter and apricot oil that leave the skin soft, radiant and moisturized.  It does take a bit of effort to rinse off but the effort is worth it, and your face will not feel stripped or dry.  

How to use:  Wet the face with lukewarm water. Apply a small amount of the face scrub and massage it on all your face by circular movements for 30 seconds. Wait 2 minutes, then rinse deeply.  Use 1 or 2 time(s) a week.

2) Konjac Facial Sponge - great for oily or acne prone skin

Korean skincare has taken the world by storm - and Konjac is currently popular in Korea and gaining popularity in the West.  (Konjac is a root FYI that is grown in East and Southeast Asia and it is prized for its large starchy corms, used to create a flour and jelly.)  Anyhoo, Konjac sponges are super unique in that they can be used on sensitive skin that may become easily irritated with more common exfoliating tools such as loofahs or washcloths. 

BKINDs konjac sponge is infused with bamboo charcoal that will cleanse your face and remove all impurities in a single step.  No soap or cleanser needed!  Activated charcoal has the power to act like a magnet; it absorbs the sebum, removes impurities and leaves your skin fresh, clean and soft.

How to use:  Rinse the konjac sponge with warm water until it becomes soft. Massage the skin by making circular movements. Rinse the sponge and hang it with the string to let it dry between uses.  After 2 or 3 months of use (or 100 uses), put the konjac sponge in the compost.

3) Non-Toxic Nail Polish

F*&$ nasty nail polish!  Honestly guys, nail polish contains some really gross stuff like: Formaldehyde which is a preservative that has been recognized by the National Cancer Institute as a cancer-causing substance.  It is also among the most common substances that cause allergic contact dermatitis.  (Not trying to come across as a bummer)  Anyways, BKIND’s nail polish is 77% made from PLANTS and excludes super uncool ingredients like: formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, toluene, camphor, DPB, xylene and paraben, perfumes and animal products.

I’ve gone through a lot of vegan-nail polish and my biggest complaint is that it can chip fairly quickly - sometimes within a day or two.  However, I was pretty impressed with BKINDs polish!  It’s a professional-grade nail polish that applies easily and (THANK THE HEAVENS) dries quickly.  I’ve been happy with the long-lasting finish as well - and heck the colours are pretty dang great!