The Internet’s Favourite Skincare Brand Is Finally Launching In The UK
It may be time to upgrade your skincare routine because Prequel — the wildly popular US skincare brand founded by board-certified dermatologist Dr Samantha Ellis — is coming to the UK, exclusively at Space NK.
What is Prequel?
In 2023, after years of treating patients who felt overwhelmed by complicated routines, conflicting online advice, and trend-driven products, Dr Ellis set out to create a skincare brand with a simpler philosophy. The result was Prequel — a range built around long-term skin health, barrier-supporting formulas, and straightforward education rather than fleeting trends. Just three years later, the brand has become one of the internet’s biggest beauty success stories, combining clinical dermatology with accessible, everyday skincare.
Who is Dr Samantha Ellis?
Dr Ellis is a board-certified medical and cosmetic dermatologist based in the San Francisco Bay Area, but many people know her from Instagram and TikTok, where she has built an audience of nearly one million followers by sharing honest, evidence-based skincare advice.
Her credentials are equally impressive. After graduating from UCLA, she earned her medical doctorate from the University of Michigan before completing her dermatology residency at UC Davis, where she now serves as a Clinical Instructor of Dermatology alongside running her own private practice. She has also contributed to medical textbooks and published numerous peer-reviewed journal articles covering cutaneous immunology, dermatologic surgery, cosmeceuticals, and skin ageing. That clinical expertise forms the foundation of every Prequel formula.
What should you buy first?
Prequel launches with a core collection of fragrance-free, solution-focused products suitable for all skin types, including sensitive and compromised skin.
If you’re going to test the waters with this brand, there is one clear, non-negotiable place to start: Gleanser. Forget those harsh, old-school foaming cleansers that basically desert-ify your face and leave your skin feeling uncomfortably tight — this saviour is formulated with a 50% glycerin base to do things entirely differently.
Praised by many online as one of the most hydrating cleansers they’ve ever used, its silky gel texture glides across the skin to cleanse, soothe, and comfort. And the best part? It’s a total multitasker designed for use on the body as well as the face, so consider it your new shower staple.
- The 24-Hour Hydration Flex: This isn’t just a quick wash-and-go. It’s clinically tested to lock in a whopping 24 hours of pure moisture. Packed with humectants, inulin, and an aquaporin-stimulating active, it actually boosts your skin’s suppleness while protecting your moisture barrier and pH.
- The Makeup-Melting Magic: Don’t let its ultra-gentle, skin-softening benefits fool you. Gleanser effortlessly melts away makeup, excess oil, and daily impurities without leaving your face feeling stripped.
- The Ultimate Calm Complex: Infused with a soothing cocktail of arginine, oat extract, and aloe, it’s designed for all skin types — but it’s a total love letter to dry, stressed, or easily sensitised skin.
The launch lineup also includes Pre-Gleanse, Half & Half, Redness Reform Serum, Universal Skin Solution, Multi-Acid Milk, and AM/PM.
When does Prequel launch in the UK?
“The UK is Prequel’s first home outside of the United States, and I’m so excited for more people to have it in their skincare routines,” says Dr Ellis. “International expansion was part of the vision from day one, and Space NK felt like exactly the right fit to make that debut.”
Prequel launches exclusively at Space NK stores nationwide and online at spacenk.com from 14 July. In the US, the brand is already available at Target and prequelskin.com.