Beauty Boss: Priscilla Tsai, Founder of cocokind

Priscilla Tsai.

Our latest Beauty Boss is Priscilla Tsai, Founder of cocokind—a superfood-based, non-toxic skincare brand that first started as a passion project. A former investment banker, Tsai began her personal journey with clean skincare products after she identified the link between the hormonal acne prescriptions she was taking and the digestive disorders that she had developed.

As a result of this discovery, Tsai began to experiment with skincare formulas at home so that she could develop clean and effective products, which ultimately led to the creation of cocokind. In 2018, she launched the Cocokind Impact Foundation, which provides financial grants to female entrepreneurs in health, wellness, and sustainability industries that are focused on creating social impact through business.

We chatted with Tsai, who shared the inspiration behind the brand, her favorite products, beauty and wellness tips, and more. 

When was cocokind founded? What does the name mean?

cocokind was founded in 2015. The ‘coco’ part of our name represents the use of superfoods in all of our formulas and “kind” comes from our mission to be a source of positivity for all.

What inspired the creation of the brand?

I’ve struggled with acne since I was a teenager. I’ve tried prescription drugs, antibiotics, retinols, birth control, and other intense medications that made my skin sensitive and my eyes water. I finally decided that I would rather nourish my skin with natural, gentle ingredients than strip it with harsh chemicals. I started experimenting with creating my own formulas, and when I saw the incredibly positive effects that natural ingredients had on my skin, I decided to try and share my product with the world.

Does cocokind have a hero product?

Our skincare sticks were some of our very first product offerings: our turmeric mask stick, mymatcha all-over moisture stick, and macabeet tinted moisture stick. They’re still some of our community’s favorites.

What are your favorite products from the brand?

It’s really hard for me to choose—I use basically every product! Two products I’m very excited about are our texture smoothing cream and pore refining concentrate, which both use celery seed extracts to reduce the look of pores and promote a satiny-smooth complexion. The texture smoothing cream is also our first-ever cream moisturizer.

Where are your products sold?

Online at cocokind.com, Target, Whole Foods, Shoppers in Canada, and more! You can find a full list of the stores that carry us here.

Future plans for the brand?

We want to continue to provide clean, sustainable skincare products at an affordable price, while also spreading as much skin positivity as we can.

cocokind features clean, sustainable skincare products at affordable prices. [Photo by Jurada Studio]

What inspires you?

I’ve always been inspired by my mom, who is an entrepreneur herself. Our community inspires me every day, too.

Secret to success?

It’s all about taking small steps to achieve big things. Your ultimate goal might seem daunting or overwhelming, but an accumulation of really great small things will help get you there. The most important thing is to take initiative and do something about your ideas.

Beauty secrets?

I try to eat a lot of healthy fats like olive oil and I think it makes a difference in my skin. I also make myself a superfood latte every morning. Right now, I’m loving cacao, ashwagandha, chia seed powder, and almond butter frothed with hot water.

Wellness tips?

Always remember that wellness looks different for everyone. 

Best advice?

Knowledge is power. Educating yourself empowers you to make informed choices.

Favorite ways to relax?

I love spending time with my family and friends, and I also love a nice bath with a little of our chlorophyll mask powder in the water!

For more information, visit cocokind.com and follow on Instagram: @cocokind

[Images courtesy of cocokind]

Kamala Kirk is a University of Southern California graduate and has been an editor/writer for more than a decade. She has written for E! Online, Total Beauty, TravelAge West, Malibu Times Magazine, and many more. She resides in Los Angeles and is a proud pug mom. Follow her on Instagram: @kamalakirk