Key Takeaways:Gen Z sensitive skincare brand Kinship was acquired by Kindred Brands in its first portfolio acquisition.As part of the deal, Kinship founders Alison Haljun and Christin Powell have exited the business.Kindred Brands isn’t done acquiring brands and remains on the hunt for purposeful acquisitions.Kindred Brands has acquired the sensitive skincare brand Kinship in its first deal with the intention of building a portfolio of brands.WHO: In 2019, beauty industry veterans Alison Haljun and Christin Powell set out to change skincare options for teens, which had been limited to traditional market players, with the launch of Gen Z–focused skincare brand Kinship. The product assortment consists of seven facial care and six bodycare SKUs, with masstige pricing ranging from $18 to $48.Kindred Brands is a newly formed holding company targeting underdeveloped beauty brands, founded by Thomas Winarick, former CEO and President of BioBoutique Beauty Lab, principal and co-founder of Doll Face Beauty, and President of Palladio Beauty Group, along with two unnamed partners with consumer-sector experience. The company is privately funded by the founders.WHY: The deal is foundational for Kindred Brands to build a platform for natural, skin-barrier–focused products. IN THEIR OWN WORDS: Kindred Brands CEO and founder Thomas Winarick told Beauty Independent, “We wanted a purposeful brand that solved a real problem and had the bandwidth in terms of brand equity to evolve into categories beyond basic facial and body care. We see this as a future The Honest Co.-like platform.