“TOPICALS”

Olamide Olowe's interest in skincare started early, driven by her personal struggles with acne and hyperpigmentation. While attending UCLA on a track scholarship and pursuing a pre-med degree, she got her first taste of entrepreneurship by co-founding SheaGIRL in partnership with SheaMoisture. This experience exposed her to the possibilities of being a large business that could reinvest in and impact the community.

In her senior year, SheaMoisture was acquired by Unilever, prompting Olamide to identify a gap in the skincare market related to inclusivity in chronic skincare. Despite knowing she wanted to create a brand, it took time for her to figure out the specifics. Her research led her to psychodermatology, the study of the connection between skin and the mind.

With a vision to raise awareness about the link between skin health and mental well-being, Olamide founded Topicals right after graduating in 2018. The brand aimed to revolutionize the skincare industry by addressing both external and psychological aspects of skincare.

Today, Topicals is available in over 300+ stores in Sephora.

At age 26, Olamide became the youngest black woman to raise $10 million in funding.

HELLA INSPIRED.

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