As the co-founder and CEO of Topicals Skincare, Olamide Olowe not only continues to inspire her Nigerian counterparts, but also the global market in treating hyperpigmentation and skin discoloration. Her impact and brand go much deeper than just treating skin hyperpigmentation. Here are just five things on the long list of reasons why Olamide Oloweās brand, Topicals, is nothing short of revolutionary!
Olamideās success and impact are not only outstanding, but also undisputable!
Olamide Olowe, at 26 years old, has raised over $2 million in venture funding, received $10 million in funding from CAVU (a titan in the investment funding world), and helped to create one of the fastest-growing skin care products at Sephora. Olamide has also gained the support of several influential celebrities such as Issa Rae and Warby Parkerās CEO!Ā
She continues to occupy, redefine, and disrupt the skin-bleaching industry.
It’s no surprise that the skincare industry is a tremendously profitable and continuously growing enterprise. A large part of that industry includes skin bleaching. From āCaro Whiteā to āSkin Lightā to āBioskinā, the number of harmful unregulated products on the market is growing at an alarming rate. As Olamide succeeds and redefines treating hyperpigmentation, she directly challenges and disputes messages from countless celebrities and popular personalities who have both directly and indirectly sponsored and marketed skin-bleaching products. Olamideās products are centered around correcting dark spots and hyperpigmentation on small spots on the skin ā not bleaching, damaging, or abusing skin.
Skincare now has a seat at the table! Next to social change and access to skincare education!
As Olamide continues to rise to the peak of her success and career, she stays true to her mission by trailblazing social change through skincare. Not only does she acknowledge the disparity in access to healthcare, but she also takes action by donating a percent of the Topicals profits to organizations committed to giving back and democratizing access to skincare education, as well as acknowledging the correlation between mental health and skin conditions. Topicals Skincare has made space in areas where, traditionally, there was none.Ā
Diversity is not by chance, but intentional and purposeful.
As a woman of color, creating products for all individuals, but especially for individuals of color, Olamide has openly addressed that she is mindful of the people who invest and impact brand decisions and success. In an interview, Olamide mentioned that whoever is involved in Topicals Skincareās success reaps the benefits of said success in gaining wealth and notoriety. She mentioned that when cultivating a product as a black woman for black women (amongst many others), making sure that black women and women of color are a part of decision-making, success, and benefits of said success is paramount.
Olamide gives credit where credit is due.
In numerous interviews, Olamide addresses how she didn’t just wake up one day with deals from Nordstrom and Sephora. Many investors were not jumping to invest in Topicals. It took hard work. It took support and determination from not only herself, but also the individuals who believed in her vision from the start. She constantly inspires a new age of prospective entrepreneurs by sharing her story. A win for Topicals is a win for every individual who has ever felt isolated or forgotten by the skincare industry.
From working to dismantle the link between capitalism and oppression via skincare to inspiring a wave of young individuals looking to succeed in spaces and businesses with uncharted territory, Olamide Olowe can teach us all a lot about what it means to succeed in a business born of passion and desire to make genuine change.
This story was originally published on April 17, 2023.