Today’s #HerHustle interview features Alisa Pospekhova, Founder of Kindroot – a brand of Adaptogems™, smooth lozenges that blend adaptogens and other actives with delicious aromatic flavors. Alisa shares with us her journey battling childhood immunity issues and workplace stress to how she created Kindroot.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself, and what inspired you to start Kindroot?
I’ve had respiratory issues since childhood where I would pick up any cold or flu that's going around –this would always lead to asthma and lots of coughing, so I’ve been having lozenges my entire life.
About two years ago, I was standing at Walgreens, looking to buy lozenges and it just hit me how uninspiring and commoditized that category was: old, stale brands. Boring and unpleasant flavors (cherry, herbal, lemon), irritating ingredients (menthol), lots of sugar or artificial sugar substitutes and rough texture that would begin disintegrating in my mouth and irritating my tongue. I wanted to launch a much better lozenge with natural ingredients, silky smooth texture and pleasant flavors.
At the same time, I began to take herbs to improve my immune system, support my adrenal health and manage stress. I travel a lot for work, so many times taking powders with me was super annoying. This is where the idea to merge the two by creating a functional lozenge came together – each addressing a common modern need.
Can you describe what adaptogens are and why they are important? Similarly, what are adaptogems™?
Adaptogens are a specific group of herbs and mushrooms that help us manage stress - they are like a thermostat for our bodies, helping either cool us or heat us up depending on what our system needs and ultimately bringing us in to balance, which is what we all need. And Adaptogems™ (thank you for asking!) are smooth little lozenges that combine these amazing adaptogenic herbs and other functional ingredients with aromatic flavors - for a perfect little sweet and beneficial treat anywhere and anytime!
Can adaptogens benefit your skin?
Love this question and the answer is absolutely yes! Since adaptogens work on balancing your body, they help to even out hormonal fluctuations and inflammation that often lead to things like acne, redness and other irritation. Pretty much all of them will be helpful, but some have particular affinity for skin like Ashwagandha (which we have in our Glow flavor with marine collagen) or Chaga, which is said to help support your skin as you age.
Do you have any morning routines or evening rituals to help you stay balanced?
I am a huge believer in that the way you start your day impacts the rest of it (same with Mondays - I actually love them and like to jump right into them!). I am lucky to say that my energy peak is in the mornings, so I like to work out first thing in the morning – it helps me manage my energy, focuses me and I already feel accomplished before 9am! I have my coffee with adaptogen powders and a nice breakfast, then I pop one of our Vitamin C lozenges and I am ready to plow through my emails.
Did you always know you wanted to start your own business? If not, what did you dream of doing growing up?
I’ve always wanted to be in control of my own destiny as well as having something that gave me a creative outlet. I loved art and wanted to be an artist and at the same time, I was interested in wellness and thought about being a doctor too. I guess today I get to create a wellness brand that helps people lead healthier lives and also be creative with our design and content, so being a business owner allows me to blend all my interests and passions which is probably why I love it so much.
What tips or advice do you have for other women who would like to start their own businesses?
I honestly feel like now is the best time to be a female entrepreneur. The amount of support and community from other female owners is amazing and there is true demand from consumers to support female and minority independent businesses. I believe that as women we tend to think we need to know it all before starting a business, but the truth is just that most of us are a lot more capable of figuring things out than we think and so we just need to be confident and go for it.
Do you have a regimented skincare routine? If so, what are some of your favourite products or steps in your routine?
I love skincare! I believe that what we put in our bodies helps from the inside, but it is also important to take care of our skin on the outside –especially when it comes to protecting it against all the environmental stressors we come in contact with everyday. I love using a Vitamin C serum every morning and I notice a difference in my skin’s brightness. I follow up with REN’s anti-redness moisturizer which preps my skin for makeup. At night I use a gentle cleanser – I’ve actually been enjoying Three Ships Nourish Cleansing Oil because I am obsessed with lavender (I put it into our Snooze lozenge) and a nice hydrating cream –I love the Superberry Sleep Mask by Youth To The People. And don’t forget the lips –mine are always dry for some reason, so a lip mask throughout the day is a must!
Follow Alisa Pospekhova:
Kindroot website: https://www.kindroot.com/
Kindroot Instagram: @kindroot
Personal Instagram: @egginmanybaskets
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