South Australian Business in Focus: Nina Kay

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Posted 2022-01-29 by Tema ⇒ follow

As we hit the peak of the summer season amidst a global pandemic, our skincare routine is instrumental in ensuring that we do not neglect one of the largest organs of the human body. Whether you're working longer hours or spending more time in the blistering Australian sun, our skin needs to have its regular nourishment and hydration to thrive and survive in these climates.

Sharing the business with the public in 2021, Nina Kay is a proud South Australian brand that specialises in creating one of the nicest-smelling pink clay masks that is also gentle on the skin (thanks to its cruelty-free and vegan-friendly ingredients). Named after the owner's youngest sister, Nina Kay hopes to find a permanent spot on your bathroom shelf as the ultimate go-to product for your skincare routine, whilst being effortless, easy, and simple to follow in just three steps (exfoliate, detoxify, and moisturise).

In anticipation of launching their business, I was fortunate enough to score an e-interview with owner Abeneezer "Abe" Tadesse, where we discussed the story of Nina Kay and how its products are gaining traction with their customers - have a read of our exchange below:

Tema: Congratulations on launching your new business, Abe! How does it feel to be a fully-fledged small business in South Australia?
Abe: Thank you! I feel blessed and privileged to be able to turn my passion and vision into a business! A lot of blood, sweat and tears have been put into creating the brand and I am definitely very proud of how far we've come.

Tema: What's your story, Abe? Can you please tell us a bit about yourself?
Abe: Sure! My name is Abeneezer and I am a 29-year-old Chemical Engineer originally from Ethiopia. I was actually the first Ethiopian born in Adelaide (Shoutout to all my Ethio's). I graduated from Adelaide Uni 2 years ago and started Nina Kay Skin last year. I have 4 brothers and sisters aged 12-18 and named the business after my youngest sister.

Tema: What made you decide on setting up your own business?
Abe: After finishing Uni, like many students who graduated, I had a hard time finding employment. In that time, I really found myself getting into self-care and self-love, more specifically through regular skincare routines. From there, I decided I wanted to create my own brand and educate people on the importance of self-care through skincare.

Tema: What made you focus on pink clay masks in particular?
Abe: Like most people, I fell in love with pink clay masks myself! But, I didn't like the smell of any of the ones that were on the market! I made it my personal goal to have the best-smelling pink clay on the market, whilst maintaining an all-natural ingredient lineup and I think I did a pretty good job at it, or so I've been told (laughs)!

Tema: What are some benefits of using pink clay masks on skin?
Abe: So our pink clay masks use the key clay types - Kaolin (Australian Pink Clay) and bentonite clay. Kaolin is a natural detoxifier and exfoliator that helps control the skin's oiliness. It soothes rashes and irritation as well as brightens and tones the face. Bentonite draws out toxins from skin whilst unclogging pores. It heals acne, softens and brightens skin, and visibly reduces the appearance of scars by healing and regenerating skin tissues.

Tema: What do you hope for your customers to experience when using Nina Kay products?
Abe: I hope to make the Nina Kay experience unforgettable for each and every customer through having a combination of amazing natural products, amazing results, amazing customer service and great pricing. We're all about creating a community and educating our customers about the importance of consistent skincare. I have regular chats with many of my customers on a regular basis and I love connecting with each and every one of them and seeing how our products are treating their skin!

Tema: What do you think helps your pink clay masks stand out from the rest in the beauty industry?
Abe: It would have to definitely be the scent! Our mask combines kickass ingredients and a dreamy, summer fruits-inspired scent to give your skin the makeover it deserves. Not only does the power of key ingredients Kaolin and Bentonite work to remove toxins and refresh your skin, the luxurious scent from natural ingredients such as pomegranate, watermelon and mango make putting on the Nina Kay mask an unforgettable experience.

Tema: Will you be primarily operating online or is there a brick and mortar in the works?
Abe: At this stage, we are going to be primarily operating online but who knows what the future holds! Never say never, right?

Tema: Do you have any stockists lined up where people can purchase your products in-store?
Abe: We have a few stockists throughout Adelaide, mainly small beauty stores, but we eventually would love to be in Chemist Warehouse and Priceline.

Tema: Is there anything else that you'd like us to know about yourself and Nina Kay?
Abe: We're super excited for what the future holds for us. Definitely have a lot of big plans and new products in the works! Our next product drop will be very soon and will be one of my favourite products in our lineup so stay tuned!

Nina Kay is a proud South Australian business that is based in Croydon. The brand specialises in creating one of the nicest-smelling pink clay masks and is made in-house in Croydon.

Special discount for Weekend Notes readers
All products are available for purchase at https://www.ninakay.com.au/ and if you are a first-time customer, you can use the code TEMA20 for a cheeky 20% discount.