Author: Robin Miller

Some of The Women Who Shaped My "Why"

When people ask why April and I started Kinwell Roots, the answer isn't simple.

It didn't begin with a business plan.
It began with women.

Strong, resourceful, observant women who shaped how I see the world — and how I care for the people in it.

The First Teacher: My Daughter, Jordan

If I'm being honest, my clean skincare journey didn't start with me.

It started with my daughter. And fellow sunset chaser.

Years before I ever turned a product over to read the label, Jordan was scrutinizing ingredients in her deodorant, body wash, hair products, and makeup. She questioned things I had never thought twice about. She avoided heavily fragranced products when that was what everyone her age was drawn to. She refused to microwave food in plastic. She was thoughtful in ways that felt beyond her years.

She gently challenged me — not with judgment, but with curiosity.

"Do you know what's in that?"
"Why is this ingredient necessary?"
"Is there a cleaner option?"

She sparked something in me.

Even now, living in Florida, she continues to school me from afar. She didn't just influence my skincare routine. She shifted my awareness.

And once you start paying attention, you can't unsee what you've seen.

Deep Roots: Grandma Kingston

Long before ingredient labels and clean beauty conversations, there was Grandma Kingston.

The root of Kinwell comes from her — "Kin" for family, and Kingston in her honor.

She was resourcefulness embodied.

When April and I visited her house, we would pick mint growing along the side of her garage and make our own "mouthwash." Nothing fancy. Just mint, water, and imagination.

If there was coffee left in the pot, it went into brownies.
Grapes that came on a Styrofoam tray? She'd save the tray.
Glass jars? Kept. Stacked. Reused. Always.

(Pretty sure that's where my love of glass jar hoarding began — I'm third or fourth generation of this habit. My mom and I have a pact of what to do with our glass jar stashes when the day comes.)

Grandma Kingston repurposed everything that came into her home. Not because it was trendy. Because it made sense. Because waste felt wrong. Because you honored what you were given.

Her blush doubled as her lipstick. She was a minimalist before minimalism was fashionable. She believed in using what worked and not complicating what didn't need to be complicated.

She didn't call it sustainability.
She called it common sense.

Elegance and Discipline: Grandma Mobley

On my dad's side, there was Grandma Mobley — polished, classy, always put together.

She worked in department stores selling cosmetics for most of my childhood and early adult life. She knew skincare long before influencer routines and 10-step regimens.

And she had rules. She never used water directly on her face to remove makeup. It was always lotion or oil-based cleansers. She believed in moisture. She believed in protection. She had me using moisturizer and sun protection long before it was common for girls my age.

I don't remember her having wrinkles until she was well into her seventies. Her skincare wasn't about excess. It was about discipline, consistency, and respecting your skin.

Between her elegance and Grandma Kingston's resourcefulness, I inherited both reverence and practicality.

The Thread That Connects It All

When April and I began questioning what we were putting in and on our bodies, it felt new.

But in many ways, it wasn't.

It was a return.

A return to reading labels.
A return to using what we have wisely.
A return to nourishing our families with intention.
A return to respecting what God has placed in our care.

All three of these women — my daughter, Grandma Kingston, and Grandma Mobley, and of course my mom — shaped my "why."

They taught me:

• To question.
• To conserve.
• To protect.
• To honor what has been provided.
• To care deeply for the people around me.

Kinwell Roots is not just about skincare.

It's about paying attention.
It's about honoring tradition while continuing to learn.
It's about creating formulas that reflect both wisdom and intention.

April and I often say we are lifelong learners. We are constantly refining, testing, sourcing, and improving — because the journey doesn't stop.

And neither does our responsibility.

Why We Continue

I look forward to creating more formulas. More simple, thoughtfully crafted products that meet our customers — and our own families — right where they are.

If this business is anything, it is gratitude in action.

Gratitude for the women who came before us.
Gratitude for the daughters who challenge us to do better.
Gratitude for the land, the ingredients, and the opportunity to create something meaningful.

This is our why.

And we are so glad you're here with us.