How two former medical students created a trendy and effective skincare brand

When Olamide Olove and Claudia Teng met as medical students, they were drawn together by a unique skin condition. This common ground led them to create topicals, an Instagram-popular yet effective skincare brand with two hero products (for now!): Like butter, good for eczema moisturizing face mask and WitheredTo backlight and cleansing gel. Ahead, we spoke to the co-founders about how they got started, their “more fun flashes” mantra, and the advice they give to aspiring beauty entrepreneurs. 

Tell us a little about your past. 

Olamide Tin: I am the co-founder and CEO of Topicals. I was a medical student at UCLA and received a bachelor's degree in political science with a concentration in race, ethnicity, and politics, and a minor in entrepreneurship. I was the former co-founder of SheaGIRL, a subsidiary of Sundial Brands, now owned by Unilever.

Claudia Teng: I am the co-founder and CPO of Topicals. I also went to medical school, but at the University of California at Berkeley and got a bachelor's degree in gender and women's studies. I have six publications in dermatology. I have done extensive dermatological research focusing on non-melanoma skin cancer and a rare genetic disorder called epidermolysis bullosa.

What was the concept of Topicals? Why is there an emphasis on hydration and hyperpigmentation?

We both grew up with skin conditions (Claudia has severe eczema, Olamide has hyperpigmentation and beard pseudofolliculitis) and we never found a brand we liked. We have always been embarrassed about our skin condition and hid our ointments because they made us feel like outsiders. Topicals is changing the way people view their skin, making self-care more of a self-care experience than a burdensome ritual. We're moving away from "perfect" skin and shifting the blame to "funnier flashes."

Tell us how you feel about the beauty industry and the Black Lives Matter movement. What changes would you like to see in the beauty world in general? 

Olamide: I would like the industry to become more inclusive, not only in terms of representation, but also in terms of product development. Seventy-five percent of participants in dermatological clinical trials are white, meaning that the vast majority of products have not been tested on people of color.

Share with us some of your favorite black-owned beauty brands.

Imania Beauty, Do you love Cole, Bread cosmetics, Rosen Skin Careи Beauty range.

Olamide: I am the youngest black woman to have raised over $2 million in venture capital ($2.6 million to be exact). In addition, on launch day and in partnership with Nordstrom's Pop-In Store, Topicals sold out within 48 hours online and in stores.

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How do you see the future of Topicals? 

Our goal is to always be where our customers are. It could be online, in a store, or in another country. You will continue to see how we are changing the way people feel about skin through products, experiences and social impact.

What advice would you give to aspiring beauty entrepreneurs?

Develop a unique understanding and learn to tell stories about being the best person to bring that idea to life. A successful business is built on intuitive knowledge of a little-studied category.

And finally, what does beauty mean to both of you?

Beauty is self-expression!