Afrobeats star Rema and WNBA standout Angel Reese have joined skincare brand Topicals as investors, marking a new chapter for the culture-driven beauty brand. The announcement comes as Topicals confirms a fresh funding round backed not by traditional institutions, but by influential figures shaping music, sport and youth culture.
First reported by Business of Fashion, the investment reflects Topicals’ deliberate strategy to collaborate with people who already understand and use the brand. According to founder Olamide Olowe, the decision is rooted in authenticity rather than optics.
“When you think of Topicals, you think of our marketing, storytelling and products and you think a lot about culture,” Olowe said. “These are people who control culture.”
Founded in 2020, Topicals has now raised over $22.6 million and built a loyal global community around products that address often-overlooked skin concerns. Bestsellers include its $38 Faded Serum, designed to treat dark spots and hyperpigmentation, and the brand’s cult-favourite $22 under-eye masks.
The move also speaks to the realities facing Black-owned beauty brands in today’s funding climate. Olowe has been vocal about how investor confidence has shifted, even for brands with proven performance. Despite finishing 2024 as one of Sephora’s fastest-growing skincare brands, she notes that success alone no longer guarantees support.
“Investors are pulling back their belief in Black-owned businesses,” Olowe explained. “We are really proud that people with capital in the culture want this kind of business to grow.”
In an open letter, she added: “The operating environment for beauty has grown more challenging for early-stage and culture-led brands. The system is rewarding scale over originality, infrastructure over insight, and capital density over cultural resonance.”
Beyond investment, Rema will also step into a creative partner role, advising Topicals on how to connect more deeply with younger consumers, particularly men as the brand looks to expand its audience heading into 2026.
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