Crowned Skin, one of the nation’s fastest-growing men’s grooming brands, announced a partnership with the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) to supply its products to athletes.
Before founding Crowned Skin, Darrell Spencer built a successful career in customer sales and advertising, playing an instrumental role in the financial growth of major tech companies, including Facebook, Google, Pinterest, and LinkedIn, as reported by AfroTech.
Launched in 2024, his science-backed skincare and grooming brand received an initial investment of $10,000 to $15,000 from Spencer. This funding was used to develop products like body butter, cologne, and body oil. The brand’s focus, as reported by the outlet, is to equip men with a consistent self-care routine.
“I just wanted to create products that made men feel seen and confident,” Spencer told AfroTech at the time.
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Spencer also told Forbes, “I started Crowned Skin candidly… in the men’s personal care space, because I would walk down the aisles… and I would see so many amazing products that were created for women. Women had innovation… forward thinking… amazing storytelling. And when it came down to men’s products, they were all extremely basic.”
Spencer explained, “My premise all the time is that men deserve amazing men’s grooming and personal care products… we deserve that just as much as women.” Instead of launching another standard product, Spencer disrupted the market by introducing a new hybrid offering: body butter colognes. This innovative, two-in-one product combines a rich fragrance with intense moisturizing properties. As he put it, “I love to say that we didn’t really enter men’s grooming… we tried to rewrite it.”
Crowned Skin has achieved several notable successes, including becoming an eight-figure company and a top seller on Amazon. It is also recognized as the second-highest-ranking skincare brand on TikTok Shop and is set to expand its retail presence soon with Walmart. These achievements are consistent with Spencer’s focus on positioning the brand for long-term growth and success.
“I want Crowned Skin to be around for years and years, and I want it to last even when I’m not here. I want this to be a legacy company,” he told AfroTech previously.
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Crowned Skin had a major presence at the NBA All-Star Weekend recently, as it officially served as the National Basketball Players Association’s Preferred Grooming Partner for its exclusive PLYRS House event.
PLYRS House is an exclusive and dynamic social hub tailored specifically for professional athletes. As part of the partnership, players enjoyed a unique experience that included restorative spa treatments, personalized and carefully selected gifts aligned with their lifestyle, and participation in engaging, exclusive lifestyle events. This space is intentionally designed to blend self-care, optimal performance, and modern athlete culture.
“When the NBPA partners with Crowned Skin, it sends a clear message. Men’s grooming is no longer secondary. It’s lifestyle, performance, and identity. As a Black founder, this moment proves we can build at the highest level and lead culture on our own terms,” Spencer stated.
The PLYRS House activation also included elements such as live player podcasts, private screenings, and charity gaming.
