Launch Date: June 2018
Geography: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Founders:
Advisors:
Notable Investors:
2025 Full Year Projected Revenue: $5M - $8M
Primary Category: Skincare
Funding: Venture Capital
Primary Distribution Channel: Prestige
Other Distribution Channels:
Key Retail Partners:
2025 Projected Offline Distribution Points: 1,800
Blume was founded in 2018 by sisters Taran and Bunny to create the kind of skincare they wished they had growing up—gentle, effective, and stigma-free. After dealing with acne, hyperpigmentation, and the harsh side effects of conventional products, they knew there had to be a better way. Inspired by Taran’s research on menstrual equity and Bunny’s polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) diagnosis, they connected the dots between hormonal health, self-care, and the beauty industry’s failure to serve young people honestly.
They saw a gap—products that treat real skin concerns like acne, without harsh ingredients, fear-based marketing, or unrealistic beauty standards. What started in their parents’ basement is now a multimillion dollar brand sold at Sephora Canada, Ulta Beauty US, and to over 500,000 customers on blume.com. Blume exists to break the stigma around acne, periods, and puberty, with clean, science-backed formulas that are always under $55 and never retouched.
From its cult-favorite Sunburst Mineral SPF to our Clear Skin Kit, Blume is helping the next generation care for their skin and feel good doing it. This is skincare that’s rooted in community, education, and self-acceptance.
Insights: Taran Ghatrora, CEO
Why now and why you?
Blume is redefining what modern skincare means to a new generation. At the intersection of acne care, emotional wellness, and clean beauty, Blume is the answer to what Gen Z wants—and what the skincare industry has been missing.
Acne is no longer a niche concern. Over 50 million Americans experience it, making it the #1 skincare issue for Gen Z. As this category grows within prestige beauty, Blume leads the charge with Meltdown Oil—a hero product that has grown +26.7% year over year (YoY), since launch, by offering elevated, effective results without compromise. Today’s consumers are increasingly seeking solutions that are both gentle and high-performing, and Blume delivers with plant-powered formulas that never strip or irritate skin.
We’re seeing a seismic shift toward value-driven prestige. While prestige shoppers are still spending, 76% now seek affordable luxury—products that perform at a high level but don’t break the bank. Blume sits squarely in this sweet spot, with a strong repurchase rate and a pricing strategy that reflects both quality and accessibility.
Blume connects with this generation by blending hormonal health, mental well-being, and clean ingredients—all while building community and trust. We promote healthy skin over perfect skin, never retouching images and celebrating real faces and real stories.
With growing demand for preventative skincare, increased interest in barrier-supporting and hydrating products, and nearly 60% of consumers reporting that skin issues impact their mental health, Blume’s holistic approach is resonating louder than ever. Blume isn’t just meeting the moment—we’re shaping what’s next.
What fuels your competitive advantage?
Blume’s competitive advantage lies in three key pillars: community, product philosophy, and customer-led innovation.
1. Community: Blume is built on trust, transparency, and real representation—no photoshopping, no filters, just honest storytelling and connection. Our community isn't just an audience, it's the heart of the brand. We host monthly events that foster friendship and open conversations around skincare, hormones, and wellness. Instead of traditional influencer marketing, we invest in our customers—sending them on trips, surprising them with calls and refunds, and sharing their stories. This founder-led, emotional connection has earned us over 50 million organic views in 2025 alone and drives 40%+ repeat purchase rates across channels.
2. Product Philosophy: We merge clinical efficacy with a skin-barrier-first approach. Our products treat hormonal and acne-prone skin with powerful ingredients like salicylic acid, balanced by soothing botanicals like blue tansy and rosehip oil. While most brands treat acne as something to "fix," we treat it holistically—within the context of hormones, puberty, PCOS, and growing up. We never use stripping formulas or harsh actives like benzoyl peroxide. Instead, we champion clean, effective, and affordable skincare (always under $55) that heals without harm.
3. Product Development: Our "Blume Labs" series on social media invites customers into every stage of product creation—from ingredient selection and lab samples to campaign casting. By co-creating with our community, we ensure every product meets real needs and earns real loyalty.
What are you most proud of accomplishing to date?
We’re most proud of building a brand that’s helped change the way people talk about acne, periods, and puberty. These used to be topics people avoided—but now, they’re conversations our community is having openly and without shame.
Blume has played a real role in helping people feel more comfortable in their skin. The feedback that sticks with us most isn’t just about clearer skin—it’s when someone tells us they stopped wearing makeup, or that they can finally look in the mirror without feeling bad about themselves. We get messages like that every day, along with before-and-after photos and stories about how much someone’s confidence has changed.
What makes it even more meaningful is knowing we’ve scaled this impact beyond just our site. From packing orders in our parents' basement to launching in Sephora Canada and Ulta Beauty US, and reaching over 500,000 customers on blume.com—it’s something we’re really proud of. Helping that many people with their skin and doing it on our own terms has been one of our biggest accomplishments.
What is the one thing you wish someone had told you?
I wish someone had told us that building a brand with heart would mean constantly choosing the harder path—but that it would be worth it. Saying no to retouching, pushing back on outdated beauty norms, and prioritizing community over quick wins isn’t always the easiest route in this industry. But staying true to our values has been our biggest strength.
The early advice often focused on scale, speed, and margins. But what we’ve learned is that connection, consistency, and clarity of mission are what truly build a lasting brand. The metrics matter—but how you make people feel matters more. So while the journey might take longer, there’s power in doing it your way.
What would you tell your past self before starting this journey?
I’d tell my past self: This is going to be harder, more emotional, and more meaningful than you can imagine. You’re not just launching skincare—you’re building a brand that challenges norms, holds space for real conversations, and helps people feel seen in moments when they’ve felt invisible. There will be moments of doubt, rejection, and comparison. But don’t let those moments make you smaller. Stay rooted in your mission, trust your instincts, and keep showing up for your community—they’ll show up for you in return. And most importantly: progress over perfection. You don’t have to have it all figured out. The magic is in learning, evolving, and staying human through it all.
What does success look like in the next 3-5 years?
Success in the next 3-5 years means becoming the leading clean acne and hormonal skincare brand in North America—trusted by millions and stocked in every major beauty retailer. We’re aiming for double-digit YoY growth, strong profitability, and a portfolio of high-performing SKUs that are both category-defining and community-approved.
But for us, success goes beyond the numbers. It also means being the brand Gen Z and Gen A turn to not just for products, but for support, education, and a sense of belonging. It means deepening our impact on mental health and skin acceptance and using our platform to challenge outdated standards of beauty.
We want Blume to be a case study in how modern brands can scale with integrity—balancing purpose and profit, community and commerce. Ultimately, success looks like building something that lasts: a brand that truly changes the way people feel about their skin, their bodies, and themselves.
What's one industry trend that is overhyped, and what's being overlooked?
Overhyped: The obsession with instant results. From seven-day transformations to viral “miracle” ingredients, the beauty industry continues to sell the promise of perfection overnight. It’s unrealistic, unsustainable, and fuels insecurity—especially for younger consumers. Skin health is not a race, and overpromising often leads to overstripping, overspending, and burnout.
Overlooked: The long-term power of preventative and hormonal skincare. As younger consumers start building routines earlier, they’re looking for products that support their skin and skin barrier through hormonal changes—not just fix flare-ups. There’s a massive opportunity in creating formulas that are barrier-supportive and hormone-friendly. Skincare is becoming more than functional—it’s foundational to how people care for themselves.
How do you think the industry needs to evolve?
The beauty industry today feels more overwhelming than ever. Between undetectable filters and cosmetic enhancements becoming the norm, we’re all constantly exposed to perfected, unrealistic faces. It’s not just young people—everyone is being sold fear: fear of aging, of texture, of anything that isn’t flawless. And most products are still built around appearance, not actual skin health.
We believe the industry needs to move in a new direction—one that’s more transparent, inclusive, and rooted in long-term care. That means being honest about things like acne, periods, and hormonal health. It means creating products that don’t just cover things up or offer quick fixes but actually support your skin over time.
The future of beauty has to be more real. More unretouched faces, more natural features, more skin that actually looks like skin. Clean is no longer enough—brands need to be conscious. That means thinking about what goes into the product and how it makes people feel. It means real representation, stronger standards, and shifting away from surface-level promises to something that actually makes a difference.
If you could wave a magic wand, what one wish would you make for your business?
If we could wave a magic wand, we’d make Blume the go-to skincare brand for every young person navigating acne, hormones, and everything in between—globally. Not just a product on their shelf, but a trusted source of education, comfort, and confidence during some of the most defining years of their life.
We’d ensure that every teen and young adult has access to clean, effective, affordable skincare that supports both their skin and their self-worth—regardless of where they live or what their skin looks like.
Ultimately, we’d use that magic to grow Blume into a household name while staying rooted in the values that got us here: honesty, empathy, and showing up for our community, always.
