Redefining Blemish Care by Blending Biotechnology and Beauty
Interview with Dawn Siegall, founder, EnvySkin
$50K Demo Day 2025 | People’s Choice Award Winner
From left to right: Kimberly Gramm, MBA, PhD, David and Marion Mussafer Chief Innovation and Entrepreneurship Officer, Tulane Innovation Institute with Tulane seniors ('25) Dawn Siegall, Kiera Stocks, and Eleanor Grace Probst.
A Pimple Problem
Acne affects millions, particularly teens and young adults of university age. The combination of hormonal changes, which can also be exacerbated by stress, insufficient sleep, and diet, can lead to inconvenient breakouts before social events or important class presentations. Like many students seeking new products and solutions for personal challenges, Tulane University senior Dawn Siegall (Tulane School of Science and Engineering) tested and experimented with many pimple patch products on the market but found that even the so-called “invisible” versions were ineffective, and makeup made the patches more noticeable.
That frustration sparked an idea: What if blemish care could fit seamlessly into a daily routine, without drawing attention to or compromising skin health?
Dawn teamed up with her fellow Tulane seniors Kiera Stocks (A.B Freeman School) and Eleanor Grace Probst (A.B Freeman School) to launch EnvySkin, a startup committed to creating effective, wearable skincare solutions. They combined the science, marketing, and finance expertise they developed during their four years at Tulane to develop their flagship product, a liquid pimple patch.
Advanced Care, Seamless Wear
Unlike traditional blemish patches or harsh spot treatments, EnvySkin’s liquid pimple patch applies a serum that dries into an ultra-thin, invisible layer that lasts all day. Makeup glides effortlessly over the patch, without peeling or buildup.
The product is more than a cover-up— the formula is powered by biotechnology and scientifically backed natural ingredients, including advanced peptides and exosomes that target blemishes at the root while preserving the skin’s natural barrier. EnvySkin is also committed to clean beauty standards: cruelty-free, vegan, sustainable, and gluten-free. The company's tagline is “Advanced Care, Seamless Wear”, and the team wants their customers to feel confident using it.
“This isn’t just another spot treatment. It’s a new skincare experience: effective, gentle, and designed for real life,” Siegall explained. “Most traditional blemish treatments rely on harsh ingredients like benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid, which can irritate or damage your skin. At EnvySkin, we took a different approach. Our biotech-powered ingredients were carefully selected to be gentle on even the most sensitive skin, helping it look and feel healthier with every use.”
Winning the Crowd at $50K Demo Day
In March 2025, the EnvySkin team was selected as one of the top ten finalists to showcase their startup company on the stage at the $50K Demo Day during Tulane Innovation Day, part of New Orleans Entrepreneur Week 2025, to introduce their new product to their fellow students, a panel of expert judges, and investors. Their pitch earned them the People’s Choice Award, a moment Siegall described as “incredibly rewarding and inspiring.”
“It was the first time we saw widespread validation for our idea and business from a broader audience,” she said. “This recognition fuels our motivation to keep pushing forward and bring a product to market that people are genuinely excited about. My co-founders and I have spent the past eight months building toward this moment, and I’m so grateful we got to experience it together.”
The Tulane Innovation Institute | A Launchpad for Growth
The EnvySkin team credits much of their recent success to the support from the Tulane Innovation Institute. “One of our first steps after scribbling the idea for EnvySkin in my notes app was attending the Business Model Canvas Feedback Sessions,” Siegall recalled.
From there, the team participated in Speed Mentoring and applied to join the Startup Team Mentoring Program, gaining direct access to industry professionals and valuable investor feedback. Currently Green Wave Innovation Network mentors, Camilla Medeiros (VP of Global Innovation and Insights at Edgewell Personal Care), Kelly Culbertson Cahn (Senior Curator and Director of Sourcing at On Approval), Lin Hymel (Partner at Posternak Blankstein & Lund LLP), and Megan Reamer (Co-founder of Jackson’s Honest) are mentoring the EnvySkin team in this one-year program.
“These programs have been instrumental in turning our concept into a viable business,” Siegall said. “Thanks to this support, we’ve had opportunities to pitch to investors and venture capitalists much earlier than we expected.”
Next Steps
EnvySkin is finalizing product development and testing, aiming for a full launch next year. After that, the founders hope to expand into a broader line of blemish-focused skincare products. “This is just the beginning, big things are coming.” Siegall shared.
“The success of EnvySkin is a prime example of the interdisciplinary collaboration and student entrepreneurship we aim to support at Tulane University. By integrating biotechnology principles, business strategy, and user-centered design, the EnvySkin team embodies the innovative ideas we love to see from our talented students. We hope their $50K Demo Day achievement inspires more students to get involved, learn about entrepreneurship, and pitch their big ideas,” stated Sharon Goldsmith, Executive Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Programs at the Tulane Innovation Institute.
Advice for Student Entrepreneurs
For students considering starting a venture, Siegall encourages taking advantage of campus resources and embracing the learning curve. “As a Tulane University student, you have access to an incredible range of resources to support entrepreneurial ventures—often more than you’ll have at any other stage of life. It might seem counterintuitive, but this is one of the best times to start a startup. At Tulane, for example, programs like the Tulane Innovation Institute and the Albert Lepage Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation offer mentorship, funding, and pitch competitions that can jumpstart your business.”
Siegall continued, “Being young is also a major advantage. As a student, you're already in a learning mindset, which is exactly what entrepreneurship demands. And the truth is, people are often eager to support students who are driven, curious, and full of ideas.”
Learn more about EnvySkin on their website.
If you want to learn more about Tulane Innovation Institute programming, click here.
This story was written by Carter Williams, Tulane Innovation Institute Marketing & Communications Intern, who will also graduate in May 2025. Congratulations to Carter, Dawn, Kiera, and Eleanor!
