Hypochlorous acid-powered skincare brand Magic Molecule has received funding from private equity firm NexPhase Capital and used the funding in part to acquire its manufacturing partner.

The funding amount and the purchase price for the manufacturer weren’t disclosed. NexPhase’s check sizes range from $40 million to $150 million. Magic Molecule didn’t divulge the manufacturer’s name, but identified it as one of the few United States Food and Drug Administration- and Environmental Protection Agency-registered hypochlorous acid (HOCl) manufacturers in the country. Based on details in New York-based Magic Molecule’s social media content, including a post featuring Mike Schreiber, president and CEO of Minneapolis-based HOCl manufacturer Simple Science, Simple Science appears to be the acquired manufacturer.

Magic Molecule and Simple Science are combining to form a new company called Magic Science Corp. The combination allows the now vertically integrated brand to control its production, and the manufacturer to expand its proprietary electrochemical process beyond skincare into household and surface products in the coming years. Raymond James and Skytale Group served as financial advisors to Magic Science Corp. on the deal. 

Mike Schreiber

Launched two years ago in direct-to-consumer distribution by married entrepreneurs Justin and Chelsea Kerzner, Magic Molecule entered 600 Ulta Beauty stores in July last year before spreading across Ulta’s network of over 1,400 stores a month later. This year, it landed chain-wide at Target. All told, it’s available in around 6,000 retail doors at Erewhon, Target, Ulta and independent stores. Magic Molecule’s hero product is Daily Skin Spray, which is priced at $20 for an 8-oz. size. Tower 28, which helped popularize HOCl at Sephora, sells its hero product SOS Spray at $28 for a 4-oz. size. 

“Magic Molecule is redefining the way consumers think about skin health,” says Jamie Kaufman, partner at NexPhase, backer of Tubby Todd Bath Co. and Oliver Winery, in a statement. “The team has built a standout brand, powered by a vertically integrated platform that enables both consistent quality and rapid product innovation. We’re excited to partner with Magic Science Corp. to help bring effective hypochlorous acid-based solutions to more people, across more categories.”

Magic Science Corp. has made a number of key executive hires to facilitate scaling. Brad Essig, who spent over eight years as CMO at Dr. Teal’s and Cantu owner PDC Brands, has joined the company as CMO. Odele Beauty, Hero Cosmetics and Sun Bum alum Christy Lee has come onboard as SVP of sales, and Josh Anderson, formerly CFO of Cameron’s Coffee, has become CFO. 

Magic Molecule was incubated with L Catterton-backed venture studio and brand incubator Squared Circles. The Kerzners are investors in Squared Circles and fully funded Magic Molecule up until its private equity investment, according to Justin. Previously, he founded Naked Retail Group, a retail concept that closed in 2021, and the Kerzners were behind the short-lived chic Manhattan sexual wellness shop Contact Sports that shuttered in 2024. Squared Circles has provided branding, marketing and strategic support for Magic Molecule and has a presence on its board through CEO and co-founder Osman Khan.  

Magic Molecule launched in 2023 after Chelsea, a former SoulCycle instructor, discovered HOCl in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. A disinfectant known for wound care, HOCl, a substance generated by white blood cells in the human body as an immune response, has been embraced in the skincare space for its capacity to cleanse and address inflammation and acne. 

“I was very surprised to hear what it could do and how safe it was, that it’s already in our bodies, and then, of course, incredibly surprised to find out that nobody was really doing it,” says Justin. “When I studied it a little bit more, it took a few months to really figure out why. It had to do with production and stability. As safe and simple as it is, it’s very hard to bottle correctly, let alone produce.” He adds, “In the beauty and personal care space, if you want to make a sunscreen, there’s like 1,000 suppliers you can work with. With hypochlorous acid, there’s like two. So, that was really the big push.”

“Our goal with Magic Molecule is to become the Kleenex of the category.”

Simple Science makes hypochlorous acid sprays cleared by the FDA for over 50 common skin problems. The sprays are shelf stable for 18 to 24 months. Simple Science supplies about a dozen brands. When the manufacturer expressed an openness to an acquisition by Magic Molecule, the brand began connecting with investors about the possibility and encountered resistance. Ultimately, it received only two offers. Justin explains investors rejected the deal because of the rarity of a brand buying a manufacturer and Magic Molecule’s youth. 

“It’s pretty rare that a small, new startup brand, even with the success we had in the first year, would have a need to own their supply,” says Justin. “What it really came down to was the lack of understanding of what hypochlorous acid is and why you need to own your supply or at least have a really clean lock on it.” 

At Magic Science Corp., the plan is to continue Simple Science’s roster of brand customers beyond Magic Molecule. “They’re competitive in nature, but they’re quite specific in terms of category,” says Justin. “We’re really trying to grow the category and help people understand what it is, so we all win because it’s a big story to tell. Eventually, the goal is consistency across hypochlorous acid. Our goal with Magic Molecule is to become the Kleenex of the category, but there’s many variations of tissue.”

Magic Molecule’s next product release will sit in the skincare category along with Daily Skin Spray, but Justin sees growth potential for it to extend into the first-aid aisle at Target. Given the versatility of HOCl, a vast array of personal care merchandise and retailers are the brand’s potential playgrounds. 

“The real long-term thought is convenience really and whatever convenience means for the specific customer,” says Justin. “Some of us shop at Whole Foods and Amazon, and that’s convenient for us because we live in busy cities where you jump on Instacart and you get it in two seconds. For others, convenience is 7-Eleven and gas stations, it’s Home Depot where you can buy Gatorade and protein bars today. It’s where there is that overlap of personal care and first-aid.”

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