When Olamide Olowe launched Topicals in 2020, she wasn’t just entering the skincare space, she was redefining it.
Five years later, the brand has become a cultural force, blending clinically effective formulas with storytelling that celebrates real skin, representation, and community.
From the brand’s vibrant packaging to its focus on skin conditions often overlooked by mainstream beauty, Topicals has carved out a space where science meets self-acceptance.
As Topicals turns five, Olowe reflects on what it took to build a skincare brand that speaks directly to a generation demanding more than perfect complexions. “I wanted to create something that felt like home for people who never saw themselves in beauty ads,” she’s said in past interviews. That mission has resonated deeply, helping the brand amass a loyal following and land in major retailers like Sephora while maintaining its authentic voice.
Topicals’ cult-favorite products, including the Like Butter hydrating mask and Faded brightening serum, have become staples for those tackling hyperpigmentation, eczema, and textured skin. But beyond formulas, it’s the brand’s unapologetic celebration of real skin that’s set it apart. Through bold campaigns and inclusive imagery, Topicals has dismantled traditional beauty narratives, proving that skincare can be both effective and emotionally resonant.
Olowe’s approach to leadership mirrors her brand’s ethos, thoughtful, transparent, and deeply connected to culture. At 28, she remains the youngest Black woman ever to raise venture capital funding for a beauty company, but her vision extends far beyond milestones. “Topicals is about more than skin,” she often notes. “It’s about creating a community that feels seen, supported, and celebrated.”
To mark its fifth anniversary, the brand is leaning into that community focus even more, with upcoming initiatives centered on mental health advocacy and consumer education, areas that have been part of Topicals’ DNA from the start.
Five years in, Olamide Olowe’s journey is a testament to what happens when passion meets purpose. Topicals has proven that skincare can be powerful, personal, and political, and as the brand enters its next chapter, its glow shows no signs of fading.
