By Ashleigh Austen
After launching Zitsticka in 2020 with a single product, Daniel Kaplan and his brother-in-law Robbie Miller set out to change how we think about–and treat–skin concerns.
The premise of their design was simple: a penetrative stick-on patch that uses microdarts to directly deposit acne-fighting ingredients into early-stage spots to halt zit formation in its tracks.
We sat down with Daniel to discuss how acne patches work and why the brand is simultaneously skin positive and acne-focused.
What was the catalyst behind launching your brand?
“The catalyst in our case was actually a boil. And yes—I wish I was kidding. It was quite big and I had a hard time finding the proper antidote. Thankfully, it went away on its own… but then a year later I felt it coming back to haunt me in almost the exact same spot. As one would, I went to the pharmacy hopelessly searching for a cure to my tangerine-sized boil, and they told me that I should use Ichthammol, which is basically just a drawing salve, but the issue is that it stains everything it touches.
It is extremely black and tarry and so he said to place a plaster on top so it doesn’t stain anything. After using this messy DIY approach, I literally had my lightbulb moment that whenever I get a spot in my life I am going to put a plaster over it. But instead of just a drawing salve, I wanted to create something that actually had effective ingredients within the actual patch (and that wouldn’t stain).”
Can you tell us about your first product?
“KILLA is a patch designed to prevent a zit from wreaking havoc on your skin. The adhesive part of the patch encloses the early-stage zit to protect the vulnerable area and keep it sterile. Each patch contains 24 self-dissolving microdarts which penetrate the affected area (there’s a satisfying pricking sensation) and dispense active ingredients beyond the epidermal layer, straight into the zit’s centre. In just two hours acne-causing bacteria is killed and the size and redness of the zit is noticeably reduced (but we usually recommend you use KILLA overnight for best results). Hyaluronic Acid, Niacinamide (B3), and Salicylic Acid are paired with the gentle bacteria busting peptide, Oligopeptide-76, to quickly and effectively prevent acne outbreaks.”
How are you trying to change the stigma around breakouts?
“I think what really sets us apart is the fact that we’re a skin positivity and acne-focused brand at the same time. While we offer efficacious acne-oriented products, we also want to emphasise that having acne is such a normal human experience that should never make you feel unworthy in any way, shape, or form. Your skin is something that is forever changing, and this absurd idea of having perfect skin is not something that we stand for. We want to encourage the progress our skin makes, and not the perfection that so many people think they need to attain to be ‘beautiful’.
This is actually why we started our ‘Progress, Not Perfection’’ campaign on Instagram. In this campaign, we like to highlight members of our ‘Zitty Committee’ and their personal skin journey. We believe that the combination of our game-changing products plus our positive outlook on all types of skin is what really sets us apart.”
What are some common mistakes people make when it comes to treating acne topically?
“There are unfortunately many ways in which people incorrectly treat their acne topically. This includes drying your skin out to dry out the pimple, popping and picking their zits and using too many harsh active ingredients without giving their skin a break in between. Our products really help you to avoid resorting to treatments like this. Our patches keep you from picking and prodding at your zits, and we always make sure to include hydrating ingredients in our zit treatments as drying your skin out can make your acne worse.”
Are there any new skincare ingredients we should be on the lookout for in the next 12 months?
“Probiotics (including pre and postbiotics) and sulfur. These ingredients have been gaining momentum for a variety of reasons, but the short explanation is that they are essential for balancing the skin’s microbiome. Sulfur is also a great ingredient because it’s extremely effective for shedding old skin to reveal fresher skin, while also being a fantastic antimicrobial. We may or may not be launching a new product soon that’s formulated with sulfur, so stay tuned for that.”
