Topicals vs Aleph Alpha

About

Topicals is a Los Angeles-based skincare brand founded in 2020 by Olamide Olowe and Claudia Teng. The company focuses on clinically formulated products for skin conditions including hyperpigmentation, eczema, and uneven texture, with an explicit emphasis on inclusive representation for consumers with deeper skin tones who are often underserved by mainstream beauty brands.\n\nTopicals has raised $25 million in total funding across four rounds, including a Series A led by CAVU Consumer Partners with strategic investment from Jay-Z's Marcy Venture Partners and Kelly Rowland. The brand is available at Sephora, Ulta Beauty, and directly through its website, expanding its omnichannel footprint since initial DTC-only launch.\n\nThe brand's marketing is deliberately rooted in mental health, body positivity, and destigmatizing chronic skin conditions — themes resonating strongly with Gen Z consumers. Topicals has become one of the fastest-growing indie skincare brands in the US, earning recognition on Fast Company's Brands That Matter list in 2025 and building a loyal community through social-first campaigns and clinical transparency about active ingredients.