Launch Date: 2017
Geography: La Jolla, CA, US
Founders:
Executive Team:
2026 Full Year Projected Revenue: $50M - $75M, according to industry estimates
Primary Category: Skincare
Other Categories:
Funding: Self-Funded
Primary Distribution Channel: DTC
Other Distribution Channels:
Key Markets: United States
Clearstem is the first acne brand that bridges internal and external skincare through supplements and topicals with no pore-clogging ingredients, ever. Beyond these offerings, our mission is to empower our community through education—because Clear Skin Changes Everything.
Clearstem was founded by Kayleigh and Danielle, “The Acne Guru”—two acne-prone founders who know firsthand the frustration of breakouts, harsh treatments, and products that don’t address the root causes of acne. We created Clearstem to be different: prestige, anti-aging skincare without the breakouts.
Every Clearstem formula is guided by our Clear Pore Promise of no pore-clogging ingredients, ever. Our topical skincare products are free from pore-clogging ingredients, and our supplements support clear skin from the inside out because Clear Is More Than Skin Deep.
Our award-winning line is formulated with zero compromise when it comes to delivering powerful results for clear, youthful skin at every stage of life.
Insights: Danielle Gronich, Co-Founder + CEO
Why now and why you?
Clearstem is solving the complex acne puzzle for people in a way that has never been done before, and we do it with compassion, much-needed education, and a healthy dose of fun! Now is the time to really look at acne from a new perspective because the old ways are simply not working, and too many women are putting their lives on hold because their acne is holding them back.
What fuels your competitive advantage?
Every topical skincare product we make is formulated with our Clear Pore Promise, which means no pore-clogging ingredients, ever. We also have our formulas undergo rigorous clinical testing using a follicular biopsy to ensure they are both non-comedogenic and non-acnegenic. Aside from not breaking you out, we formulate with potent anti-aging ingredients that create noticeable changes in short periods of time. We are impatient ourselves, and we want results fast, so we make sure you see fast benefits and long-term change!
Our other major differentiator is that we address acne and aging from within, using innovative formulas you’d generally only see in a functional medicine setting. Our internal solutions for skin are so well-crafted that they start to elicit progress within just a couple of weeks. Clearstem products create change you can feel and see, without the dryness, peeling, and icky side effects that normally accompany acne products.
We’ve been told that the care and support we pour into the community is a breath of fresh air. Our brand delivers peace of mind from knowing that you are addressing your skin in a holistic and hormone-friendly way.
What’s your proudest accomplishment to date?
We are so proud to have recently hit one million orders! That’s hundreds of thousands of people who have been helped by Clearstem, which is an enormous honor that fills my heart. We bootstrapped and built the business responsibly, step by tiny step. It feels great to look back on that chapter and to know our dream came true. We are also very proud of our world-class retention rate of nearly 70% returning customers. It’s a metric we love because it means we’re actually helping. Most of all, we are just honored to be making an impact.
What is the one thing you wish someone had told you?
I wish someone had told me that businesses are like toddlers. The highs are high, the lows are loud, and the emotional rollercoaster is both precious and all-consuming.
What would you tell your past self before starting this journey?
I’d tell her to buckle up; it’s going to be a wild ride.
What does success look like in the next 3-5 years?
Success looks like Clearstem becoming a household name that brings people joy when they say it. It looks like expanding into retailers that increase access for new customers, both here at home and abroad. It also means being known for our life-changing education because clear skin really does change everything.
What's one industry trend that is overhyped, and what's being overlooked?
An overhyped industry trend is the white cream version of Retin-A. This product gets prescribed to people for their acne, yet it has one of the worst pore-clogging filler agents (isopropyl myristate). This product destroyed my skin every time I tried to use it, and it has wreaked havoc on a ton of us in the acne community. Many estheticians dislike this product because we have seen a ton of adverse reactions in our clients.
There are a few trends that deserve more attention: bakuchiol, SPF driving gloves, and undereye patches. Bakuchiol makes a superb retinol alternative, and I have found that it delivers all the benefits without stripping the barrier. SPF driving gloves keep your hands looking fabulous, and undereye patches have become my favorite self-care ritual since I don’t do undereye fillers!
How do you think the industry needs to evolve?
The industry could use some evolution in terms of understanding the dietary correlation between food and skin. The fact that we get put on multiple rounds of medication for our acne without being provided basic information on food-related triggers is wild to me! Example: Eggs are a huge cause of cystic acne for many people, and a simple 30-day elimination test could help thousands of people avoid Isotretinoin (Accutane).
If you could wave a magic wand, what one wish would you make for your business?
I would wish to be expanded into all countries where acne is rampant and treatments are limited. This would allow us to make the most impact in people’s lives!
What is the one thing you wish someone had told you?
I wish someone had told me that businesses are like toddlers. The highs are high, the lows are loud, and the emotional rollercoaster is both precious and all-consuming.
What would you tell your past self before starting this journey?
I’d tell her to buckle up; it’s going to be a wild ride.
What does success look like in the next 3-5 years?
Success looks like Clearstem becoming a household name that brings people joy when they say it. It looks like expanding into retailers that increase access for new customers, both here at home and abroad. It also means being known for our life-changing education because clear skin really does change everything.
What's one industry trend that is overhyped, and what's being overlooked?
An overhyped industry trend is the white cream version of Retin-A. This product gets prescribed to people for their acne, yet it has one of the worst pore-clogging filler agents (isopropyl myristate). This product destroyed my skin every time I tried to use it, and it has wreaked havoc on a ton of us in the acne community. Many estheticians dislike this product because we have seen a ton of adverse reactions in our clients.
There are a few trends that deserve more attention: bakuchiol, SPF driving gloves, and undereye patches. Bakuchiol makes a superb retinol alternative, and I have found that it delivers all the benefits without stripping the barrier. SPF driving gloves keep your hands looking fabulous, and undereye patches have become my favorite self-care ritual since I don’t do undereye fillers!
How do you think the industry needs to evolve?
The industry could use some evolution in terms of understanding the dietary correlation between food and skin. The fact that we get put on multiple rounds of medication for our acne without being provided basic information on food-related triggers is wild to me! Example: Eggs are a huge cause of cystic acne for many people, and a simple 30-day elimination test could help thousands of people avoid Isotretinoin (Accutane).
If you could wave a magic wand, what one wish would you make for your business?
I would wish to be expanded into all countries where acne is rampant and treatments are limited. This would allow us to make the most impact in people’s lives!
