Dr Samantha Ellis built a following as a New York dermatologist giving skincare advice online before turning that following into Prequel, a skincare brand she founded in 2023 aimed squarely at people managing rosacea, eczema, and sensitive skin rather than chasing a generic glow.
Prequel's pitch pairs clinical formulation with textures people actually want to use, sold at prices closer to drugstore skincare than dermatologist grade treatments usually run. The lineup includes the Gleanser cleanser at 20 pounds, the Multi Quench serum at 30 pounds, and an AM or PM moisturiser at 20 pounds, priced to be used daily rather than saved for special occasions.
The brand built cult status in the United States before expanding to the UK through SpaceNK, where it landed as the retailer's biggest arrival of 2026. It did not take long to prove that reputation. Prequel became SpaceNK's fastest selling brand within two weeks of launching, a pace usually reserved for viral makeup drops rather than a skincare line built around sensitive, reactive skin.
Ellis is careful about what she is actually selling. Good skin is not flawless, she has said, but skin that lets you forget about it most days. That framing, treating calm and comfortable skin as the goal rather than a flawless filter worthy finish, is likely a big part of why a dermatologist's Instagram advice turned into a brand that sold out before most shoppers even heard of it.