Boscia Returns: The Center Brands Buys Cult Skin-Care Label From FANCL

Boscia, the Japanese-inspired skin-care brand behind the viral Luminizing Black Charcoal Mask, will relaunch direct-to-consumer in the first quarter of 2027 under new owners. Beauty accelerator The Center Brands has acquired the brand from Japanese cosmetics company FANCL in partnership with New Orleans dermatologist Mamina Turegano, MD, according to an announcement made today.

The acquisition comes roughly two and a half years after Boscia appeared to wind down. In May 2024, the brand ran a closing sale of 55 percent off everything, ending May 31. Boscia never formally confirmed a permanent closure, but the sale set off alarm among fans on Instagram and Reddit, many of whom called its products their "holy grail."

Where did Boscia come from?

FANCL launched Boscia in California in 2002. The name blends "botanical" and "science." The brand debuted exclusively at Sephora before expanding to Ulta Beauty and Amazon, and built its following on clean formulas made without synthetic preservatives or artificial fragrances.

Its 2010 peel-off charcoal mask found a second life on TikTok years after launch. The Detoxifying Black Charcoal Cleanser became another signature product.

What changes under the new owners?

The new ownership will reshape Boscia through a dermatology lens while keeping its Japanese skin-care traditions, the announcement said. Dr. Turegano, who is of Japanese heritage, said the brand's roots resonate with her, recalling childhood skin-care routines with her mother and grandmother.

"Boscia has always felt personal to me because of its Japanese roots," Dr. Turegano said. "I'm excited to bring that connection and my perspective as a triple board-certified dermatologist to Boscia."

Ben Bennett, founder of The Center Brands, said the team was drawn to the brand's history and Japanese skin-care philosophy. He described the goal as "taking what made Boscia special and advancing that unique sensibility into the future."

The companies did not disclose financial terms of the deal or Dr. Turegano's specific title. They said only that her perspective will help guide the brand's evolution. Which products will return, what new launches are planned, and whether Boscia will reappear at physical retailers remain unannounced.

Who is behind the deal?

The Center Brands, founded by Bennett, builds and scales beauty brands. Its portfolio includes Naturium, Phlur, Saltair, Prequel, CYKLAR, MAKE Beauty and Proper.

Dr. Turegano brings more than 16 years of experience and triple board certification in dermatology, internal medicine and dermatopathology. She trained at Georgetown University, completed a fellowship at UCLA and focuses on integrative dermatology. Her research has appeared in JAMA Dermatology and the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

With a dermatologist co-owner and an accelerator known for scaling brands like Naturium, Boscia enters its second act positioned at the intersection of clean, Japanese-inspired skin care and clinical credibility — a combination its new owners will test with consumers in early 2027.