WNBA Star Angel Reese and Afrobeats Artist Rema Invest in Skincare Brand Topicals

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Published by Stephen Oluwadara at January 14, 2026

Skincare Brand Topicals Over the Years

Olamide Olowe’s skin was a battlefield. Hyperpigmentation, eczema, and dark spots waged war on her complexion, and she wasn’t alone. So, in 2020, she created Topicals, a skincare brand born from personal struggle. Indeed, CNBC notes that Olowe’s experience with hyperpigmentation and pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) helped shape Topicals’ mission.

With Claudia Teng, a dermatology research whiz, Olowe launched a product line that’s more science lab than beauty brand. Think faded under-eye masks, brightening serums, and cleansing bars that actually work. Both women traded med school dreams for a revolution in skincare.

Topicals would go on to raise $14.8 million in funding before Olowe turned 26, cementing her as one of the youngest Black women to raise $10 million+ for a venture-backed company.

In a press release, founder and chief executive Olamide Olowe said she wanted to invite investors from the Topicals community. “When you think of [Topicals], you think of our marketing, storytelling, and products, and you think a lot about culture,” she said. “These are people who control culture.”

The brand is known for hits like its $22 under-eye masks and $38 Faded Serum, tackling dark spots and hyperpigmentation. While Topicals targets skin conditions common in darker skin tones, Olowe says its customers are a diverse crew.

Meet The Investors in the Funding Round

Over 1 million eye patches sold, and celebs like Reese are fans – she recommended them in a Jan. 2025 Vogue video. Nigerian music superstar, Rema, will also join as a creative partner, advising on marketing the brand to young consumers, particularly men. Another investor is Asika, who manages the popular Nigerian-American singer Davido.

In addition to the cash injection, the investors will boost marketing efficiency, with Olowe saying Topicals can tap into their personal brand and audiences. “You have to be very strategic about acquiring customers profitably and driving revenue and lifetime value,” she said, adding that the 2025 economic climate had been tough.

Still, she’s confident the brand’s focus on chronic skin conditions will drive growth. “We’ve widened the customer base … in 2026, a lot of our growth is about how we’re using the brand as a platform.”

Topicals is available in the US, UK, Canada, Nigeria, and was just launched in France in November 2025. While many investors threw money at Black-owned brands post-2020, funding for minority-owned businesses has since slowed. Olowe says many investors still box Black-owned brands as niche.

“[The] ability to grow is stifled because they are seen as brands that are only for black people,” she said, adding she’s “living proof” that diverse founders can also equal success.

Main Image: Topicals co-founder Olamide Olowe. Photo credit: Topicals