What Starface World does

Starface World, Inc. is a New York-based skincare brand founded in 2019 by Julie Schott and Brian Bordainick. Its hero product is the Hydro-Star, a star-shaped hydrocolloid pimple patch clinically supported to shrink spots in approximately six hours. The portfolio has expanded to include Star Balm lip balms (14+ flavors), Star Wash and Star Cream (salicylic acid cleanser and moisturizer), Star Treatment (2% salicylic acid spot treatment), Star Strips (pore-clearing nose strips), and Micro-Cloud microdart patches delivering hydrocolloid, salicylic acid, and niacinamide via self-dissolving microdarts. Formulations leverage standard dermatological actives including hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, aloe vera, and tea tree oil, and products are vegan and cruelty-free.

The business operates a hybrid distribution model combining direct-to-consumer e-commerce via starface.world with subscription (Subscribe & Save at 15% off on 30/60/90-day cadences) and an extensive retail footprint of more than 20,000 doors across the US, Canada, and the UK. Named partners include Ulta Beauty, Target, CVS Pharmacy, Walmart, Boots, Superdrug, Space NK, and Amazon. Pricing is unit-based, ranging from $7.99 for lip balms to $10.99–$16.99 for patch compacts and $11.99–$18.00 for skincare SKUs. Go-to-market is product-led and viral, anchored by TikTok and Instagram content creator loops and a Discord community, with tiered VIP Rewards (Stellar, Cosmic, Galactic) supporting retention.

Starface achieved profitability in 2023, reached $90M in annual revenue in 2024, and insiders project roughly $150M in 2026. In March 2026 the company closed a $105M minority funding round led by Astō Consumer Partners and Align Ventures while the co-founders retained control. The brand has secured GQ Grooming Awards Best Pimple Patches (2022) and Elle Editor's Choice (2023) and has executed limited-edition collaborations with Heaven by Marc Jacobs, Hello Kitty, Lemme, and Peanuts Worldwide to extend cultural reach.

Name

Starface World

Legal name

Starface World, Inc.

Website

https://starface.world

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Starface World is a New York-based skincare brand founded in 2019 that sells star-shaped hydrocolloid pimple patches and adjacent acne-care skincare and lip products to Gen Z consumers through DTC, mass and prestige retail including Ulta, Target, CVS, and Walmart, and limited-edition brand collaborations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Acne Care Skincare

NAICS

Cosmetics, Beauty Supplies, and Perfume Retailers (456120), Health and Personal Care Retailers (456)

akta.pro primary industry

Treatment Skincare (Serums, Actives, Acne & Anti-aging) (CRABAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Eye & Lip Skincare (CRABAAAC)

Keywords

• Acne care products
• Hydrocolloid pimple patches
• Lip care balms
• Acne treatment skincare
• Facial cleansers moisturizers

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Direct product sales: Revenue from selling hydrocolloid pimple patches, lip balms, cleansers, moisturizers, and spot treatments directly to consumers through e-commerce and retail channels.
2. Subscription model: Subscribe & Save program offering 15% discount on recurring deliveries of favorite products with flexible delivery every 30, 60, or 90 days.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Starface World designs, manufactures, and sells its own branded acne care and adjacent skincare products, anchored by star-shaped hydrocolloid pimple patches (Hydro-Stars) in multiple formulations and colors. The portfolio extends to Star Balm lip balms, Star Wash cleanser, Star Cream moisturizer, Star Treatment spot treatment, Star Strips pore strips, and Micro-Cloud microdart patches, sold direct-to-consumer and through major US and UK retailers.

Product overview

Starface World is a Gen Z-focused skincare brand that has built a product portfolio centered on transforming acne treatment from something shameful into a form of self-expression. The core offering consists of star-shaped hydrocolloid pimple patches (Hydro-Stars) in various formulations including classic, with added ingredients (salicylic acid, tea tree oil, aloe vera/Recovery), and colors (clear, rainbow, earth tones). The brand expanded into lip care with Star Balm lip balms available in 14+ flavors, and further into broader skincare including cleansers, moisturizers, and spot treatments. Products are sold through major retailers (Ulta, Target, CVS, Walmart) and directly via starface.world, with various limited-edition collaborations and bundles to drive engagement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hydro-Stars (Pimple Patches) Star-shaped hydrocolloid pimple patches clinically proven to shrink spots in 6 hours, made with 100% hydrocolloid to absorb fluid and reduce redness. Available in multiple colors, sizes, and formulations including added ingredients like salicylic acid, tea tree oil, and aloe vera. Sold to acne-prone consumers, primarily Gen Z.
• Star Balm Lip Balm Hydrating lip balm made with shea butter, cocoa butter, and coconut oil. Clinically proven to moisturize lips in 15 minutes and deliver 8-hour hydration. Available in 14+ flavors including Super Grape, Perfectly Peachy, Bubblegum Bliss, Starfruit, and Unscented.
• Star Wash + Salicylic Acid Cleanser Gentle foaming cleanser with salicylic acid for breakout-prone skin. Contains hyaluronic acid and glycerin to reduce excess oil while keeping skin hydrated; features a subtle shimmer that disappears with water.
• Star Cream + Salicylic Acid Moisturizer Lightweight, hydrating, oil-free moisturizer with salicylic acid. Contains hyaluronic acid and niacinamide to repair dryness while unclogging pores; absorbs with a lightweight, dewy finish.
• Star Treatment Acne Spot Treatment Max strength 2% salicylic acid acne spot treatment that visibly shrinks pimples and reduces redness in 8 hours. Contains niacinamide and aloe vera to soothe irritation; invisible, non-sticky gel formula.
• Star Strips Pore-Clearing Nose Strips Pore-clearing nose strips that remove blackheads and unclog pores by lifting away excess oil, dirt, and buildup. Made with aloe vera and witch hazel, available in colorful designs; recommended weekly use.
• Micro-Cloud Microdart Patches Microdart patch targeting irritated, early-stage spots. Combines hydrocolloid, salicylic acid, and niacinamide delivered via tiny self-dissolving microdarts for deeper penetration; available in the US only.
• Sugar Rush Bundle Collectible set of three limited-edition Star Balm lip balms in Super Grape, Perfectly Peachy, and Bubblegum Bliss flavors; clinically proven to moisturize lips in 15 minutes with 8-hour hydration.
• Lemme x Starface Limited-Edition Collection Limited-edition collaboration with Lemme featuring a three-piece skincare collection including Healthy Skin Gummies, Hydro-Star pimple patches, and Star Balm lip balm, marking Lemme's first entry into topical skincare.
• Starface x Heaven by Marc Jacobs Collection Limited-edition hydrocolloid pimple patch collection with tattoo-inspired designs, 32 patches in a mirrored compact, positioned to destigmatize acne care while appealing to Gen Z aesthetics.
• Hello Kitty x Starface Collection Limited-edition skincare collection featuring pimple patches and lip balm with Hello Kitty characters, the brand's sixth collaboration with Sanrio's Hello Kitty.
• Starface Digital Gift Card Digital gift card delivered to recipient's inbox, available in denominations of $10, $25, $40, $50, $75, and $100 for use on starface.world.

Quantifiable outcome

• Shrinks pimples in as little as 6 hours based on clinical study
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• LemmeflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 May 2026First-ever collaboration releasing a three-piece limited-edition skincare collection featuring Healthy Skin Gummies, Hydro-Star pimple patches, and Star Balm lip balm. Launched exclusively at Target stores nationwide and on Target.com. Marks Lemme's first entry into topical skincare space.
• Heaven by Marc JacobsflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2025Limited-edition collection of hydrocolloid pimple patches featuring tattoo-inspired designs. Partnership aimed at positioning acne treatment as a form of self-expression. Featured tattoo-inspired designs by various artists including Nettspend and Lil Uzi Vert.
• Hello KittycoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 February 2025Sixth collaboration with Hello Kitty featuring limited-edition skincare collection with pimple patches and lip balm priced between $13-$17.
• Peanuts WorldwideminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Starface collaborated with Peanuts/Peanuts Worldwide as part of Snoopy's 75th anniversary celebrations, tapping into the brand's unprecedented licensing growth among Gen Z consumers.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• COSRX: COSRX is a K-beauty skincare brand specializing in acne and spot treatment products, including its own hydrocolloid pimple patches, competing directly with Starface in the acne-care category.
• Hero Cosmetics: Hero Cosmetics is the pioneer in hydrocolloid pimple patches with its Mighty Patch product, Starface's most direct head-to-head competitor in the same category targeting similar acne-prone consumers.
• Curology: Curology provides personalized acne treatment regimens including prescription-strength formulas, competing with Starface in the acne-prone consumer segment though through a telehealth model.
• ZitSticka: ZitSticka offers microdart acne patches with active-ingredient delivery technology that closely parallels Starface's Micro-Cloud product, targeting the same early-stage spot treatment use case.

Broad incumbents

• The Ordinary: The Ordinary offers affordable, active-ingredient skincare including salicylic acid formulations that overlap with Starface's Star Wash, Star Cream, and Star Treatment, defining price-conscious skincare benchmarks.
• Drunk Elephant: Drunk Elephant is a prestige clean-beauty skincare brand now owned by Shiseido, representing the kind of acquisition outcome that may await Starface as it scales into a multi-category skincare house.
• Glow Recipe: Glow Recipe is a fruit-forward skincare brand with a similar aesthetic-driven, Instagram-native marketing approach to Starface, appealing to the same Gen Z skincare consumer with broader product offerings.

Emerging players

• Bubble Skincare: Bubble is a Gen Z-focused skincare brand with playful branding and accessible pricing, pursuing the same youth-driven, social-media-led growth motion that defines Starface's go-to-market.
• Vacation Inc. Vacation is a lifestyle brand with a similar playbook of viral, design-forward, nostalgia-driven product marketing and Gen Z consumer focus, serving as a useful strategic comparator for brand-building and cultural traction.
• Kinship: Kinship is an indie skincare brand portfolio targeting younger consumers with approachable branding, providing a comparable peer in the same emerging indie-prestige skincare category.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/starface
• Instagraminstagram.com/starface
• TikToktiktok.com/@starface
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/starface-world-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds5 records

Investors9 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Starface World