Calling All “Spottie Hotties” Get Into Your New Fave Skincare Brand
In an industry that is constantly selling products that boast the almost impossible feat of having perfect skin, new skincare brand Topicals proudly boast the opposite. The WOC-lead beauty brand was founded on the purpose of transforming the way you feel about skin by expanding the conversation on how we treat visible skin conditions. Because there is no such thing as “perfect skin” Topicals fans are drawn in by the company's fundamental affirmation “funner flare-ups ahead”. Founders Olamide and Claudia created the skincare brand to make the treatment of skin conditions fun, expanding the lens of representation by caring for skin with different tones and textures. The duo launched Topicals via Pop-in@Nordstom, leading with their two power-packed products Faded and Like Butter, selling out within the first 48 hours. Hear more about this trailblazing brand from the leaders of the “spottie hotties” below.
What sets Topicals apart from the rest of the skincare brands on the market?
We both grew up with skin conditions (Claudia had severe eczema, Olamide had post-barbae folliculitis) and never found a brand that resonated with us. We always felt embarrassed about our skin conditions and used to hide our ointments because they made us feel like outsiders. Topicals is transforming the way people feel about skin by making the treatment experience more like self-care rather than a burdensome ritual. We take the focus off of having “perfect” skin and put the onus on having “funner flare-ups”.
Your Instagram bio reads “funner flare-ups” tell us about the importance of redefining beauty to include skin conditions?
Founders Claudia and Olamide
Chronic skin conditions aren’t curable so aspiring to have clear skin is unrealistic and depressing. We know that perfect skin isn’t realistic so why not have a little fun? Treating skin conditions should never be viewed as a burden, but rather as an opportunity for self-care.
Your mission goes beyond beauty, how does mental health tie into your brand’s mission?
Growing up sucked! Most of us grew up feeling insecure about our skin and this led to negative thoughts about our self-worth. People with chronic skin conditions are 2-6 times more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety so we partner with and donate to mental health organizations like Therapy for Black Girls, Sad Girls Club, and the JED Foundation. We’ve donated $10K to date.
Faded $36
You have a thread on Twitter discussing the ingredients in each product, how important is transparency in skincare?
People with skin conditions learn more about their skin conditions through a dermatologist if they have access to care or through WebMD. We want to make science-backed research fun and relatable to Gen-Z so we meet them where they are which is typically on social media. By educating our community on ingredients and skin conditions, we empower them to make the best decisions accessible to them.
You’re launching with two products Faded and Like Butter, what made you want to lead with these two?
Everything we do at Topicals is rooted in community. When we started beta testing our products, our community reported back that eczema was their number one concern followed by hyperpigmentation. Most people with a skin condition will actually have more than one skin concern so our formulation philosophy is to create multi-tasking power packed products.
Give us your number one beauty tip for “spottie hotties” with flare-up prone skin?
Olamide: Since I have oily, acne-prone skin that scars easily, I make sure to use anti-inflammatory products that are typically geared to eczema/dry-skin because it helps calm my skin and prevent irritation that could lead to hyperpigmentation. I also try to avoid hydroquinone because it has a history of skin bleaching in darker skin people.
Claudia: I have very sensitive, reactive dry skin so I always layer fragrance-free moisturizing products on top of humectants and then add oils, and seal it all in with occlusives. It’s important to avoid fragrance in your skincare routine because it often leads to irritation, which can cause hyperpigmentation.
Tells us about some of your favorite ingredients and how they treat skin concerns such as eczema and hyperpigmentation?
All of the ingredients that we chose to include in Like Butter and Faded are tested on all skin tones and deemed safe and effective. You often find maybe one or two active ingredients that really target your skin condition, but with Topicals we made sure that all of the ingredients we put in each product worked synergistically to deliver better results!
A whipped, hydrating mask that moisturizes and soothes sensitive, dry, stressed out, and eczema-prone skin.
Duo $56
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract: antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory; reduces itch and redness
Madecassoside (Centella Asiatica Extract): accelerates wound healing, fortifies skin barrier through collagen and fibronectin production, anti-inflammatory
Colloidal Oatmeal: helps to soothe itch and irritation
Chinese Rhubarb Root: decreases levels of hyperactive immune cells, antimicrobial
Ginseng Root: anti-inflammatory; reduces itching, inflammation, and swelling
Turmeric: anti-inflammatory, shortens wound-healing time, improves collagen deposition
A gel serum that combats dark spots and discoloration from sun damage, scarring, and inflammation.
Key ingredients:
Tranexamic Acid: prevents melanocyte tyrosinase activation, and excess vascular development (which can cause melasma)
Kojic Acid: inhibits melanocyte tyrosinase function
Azelaic Acid: prevents tyrosine conversion to melanin; scavenges free radicals
Licorice Root: antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, melanin-degrading, and tyrosinase-inhibiting capability
Centella Asiatica: anti-inflammatory, scavenges free radicals
Niacinamide: limits melanocyte stimulation, scavenges free radicals
Melatonin: anti-inflammatory, inhibits melanocyte activity
All of our products are fragrance-free, but there’s a misconception that means the products don’t smell like anything. Faded has a sulfur-like smell because we don’t add any artificial fragrance.
Tell us about your super successful launch day and what the future has in store for Topicals?
Launch day was so fun! We’ve been working on Topicals for the past two years so seeing it out in the world was such a full-circle moment. We received an overwhelming amount of support from the US to Canada to the UK! We launched in partnership with Pop-in@Nordstrom and Faded sold out within 3 hours of launch and Like Butter sold out within 48 hours. We are committed to transforming the way people feel about skin so Topcials will continue to show up for our community with innovative products and fun experiences.