Topicals
Skincare for bad skin days — not flawless skin days. Built for people with eczema, hyperpigmentation, and chronic skin conditions the industry usually styles around.
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The 'Faded' serum is a genuinely good mandelic-acid-plus-tranexamic-acid formulation that belongs in the hyperpigmentation conversation. Price is steep for what's inside, and the 'feel good' maximalist branding is love-it-or-roll-your-eyes. But the ethos is rare: this is the only US brand that built itself for skin the industry ignores.
Strengths
- + Formulations actually target real dermatological problems
- + Strong on hyperpigmentation and dark marks
- + Inclusive marketing is the real thing, not a veneer
- + Faded serum has fans for a reason
Weaknesses
- − Premium pricing
- − Packaging is loud if you like quiet
- − Limited routine coverage
The Topicals Story
Founded by Olamide Olowe and Claudia Teng, Topicals became the first Black-owned skincare brand in Sephora (2022) and raised $10M Series A the same year. Olowe was 26 when she founded it — driven by her own chronic eczema and discoid lupus. The brand is now a case study in building a skincare line from the ground up around conditions the mainstream market deprioritises.
All Topicals Products
4 products reviewed and rated.
Faded Serum for Dark Spots & Discoloration
Topicals' hero: the brightening serum that actually formulates for the hyperpigmentation industry usually styles around. Tranexamic + kojic + niacinamide stack is the real deal.
Like Butter Hydrating Mask for Dry, Itchy & Eczema-Prone Skin
Topicals' face-and-body emollient mask — colloidal oatmeal + ceramides + shea butter for dry, eczema-prone, and post-flare skin. Designed as the ritual mask format Topicals built its reputation on. The 'butter' positioning is genuine — texture is denser than a moisturizer and lighter than a balm. Founder Olamide Olowe positioned the brand as 'serious topicals for chronic skin conditions,' and Like Butter is the dry-skin hero in the lineup.
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