Dododots, Malaysia’s acne patch brand
In a world where skincare can often feel sterile and clinical, Dododots burst onto the scene in 2021 with an unapologetically cheeky mission: to help people feel good on bad skin days. Born in Malaysia and now crowned Southeast Asia’s No.1 acne patch brand, the brand didn’t just treat pimples – they transformed them into platforms for self-expression.
To find out how a couple of chaotic geniuses turned something as frustrating as acne into a bold celebration of creativity and confidence, we headed to Dododots’ new warehouse and spoke to its founders.
From personal struggles to a skincare revolution
At the heart of Dododots are co-founders Esther and Ethan, a visionary duo who transformed their acne journeys into a brand built on realness and fun.
Ethan, who began struggling with acne at 16, brings a deeply personal understanding to the table, while Esther brings the fire of big-picture ambition – yes, she’s manifesting unicorn status. Together, they envisioned a brand that wasn’t about hiding imperfections but about embracing them.
Their early days were hands-on in the most literal sense. Orders were packed one by one from a home office, with handwritten notes lovingly slipped into each parcel. “We used to get three or four orders a day, and every one felt like a victory”, they shared with us.
Today, that number has grown into the thousands, with products shipped to customers in Singapore, Brunei, Canada, and beyond. And yet, despite the viral growth and massive scale, the brand has retained a striking sense of intimacy and heart.
What started with just one humble design has now exploded into a cheeky collection of over 70 pimple patch designs, each one more brilliant and bizarre than the last. Naming them is half the fun: from Your Ex to Manja Cat, the team thrives on bold, slightly unhinged creativity.
The infamous cockroach patch was the brainchild of team member Mag. Once she floated the idea, the whole gang piled in with wild suggestions, like calling it Your Ex, naturally. It’s that chaotic team energy that keeps things creative and unforgettable.
A culture that’s playful and purposeful
Behind the glitter and social media buzz lies a team that’s refreshingly grounded. Dododots now has 25 employees, and yet Esther and Ethan remain fiercely committed to maintaining an intimate, honest, and human workplace. Financial goals are shared transparently, work hours are flexible, and, yes, senior citizens are part of the team too.
“Aunty Stephanie is 55, Uncle Leslie is 70 — and they’re not interns in name only. They help with packaging, admin, and finance, and they’re like family. They take care of us, and we take care of them”, Esther shared.
Their social media presence, too, remains delightfully unpolished. “We started with zero budget”, they said. “Our first photoshoot was just us and a camera. We forget things, we make mistakes, but we post them anyway. People love that honesty”.
It’s this authenticity — the imperfections, the laughter, the relatable chaos — that sets Dododots apart. “Most acne brands make you feel like you have to fix yourself”, Ethan said. “We just want you to feel okay—to feel seen, even when your skin is having a rough day”.
Bigger warehouse, bigger vision
The shift from small business to major player didn’t happen overnight. It took two full years of hustle before Guardian Malaysia came knocking — and when they did, it was for over 600 stores. “That was the moment we knew: okay, this isn’t a tiny pop-up anymore”, Ethan and Esther shared.
With that came the need for a bigger space, hence the move to their brand new 9,000-square-foot warehouse in Subang Jaya. The upgraded facility can now store up to a million acne patches, all individually packed and ISO-certified, making Dododots one of the few skincare brands in the region that combines fun with full compliance.
But don’t expect sterile labs and grey cubicles. The workspace is just as playful as the product — minimalist tables, flexible work hours, and a team culture that favours joy over grind. “We’re not part of the 5am CEO club”, they laughed. “We like being night owls, and we like keeping things human”.
Designing chaos and confidence
Being Malaysia’s first fully coloured pimple patch brand wasn’t just a bold move — it was a risky one. Back in 2021, self-love was just beginning to trend, and the idea of covering a zit with a patch that looked like a butterfly or cockroach, drawing attention to something that most would prefer to hide with concealer, was radical.
But that’s exactly what Dododots did.
From dreamy glow-in-the-dark stars to unique cockroach designs, the brand found its sweet spot between chaotic charm and real skincare function. “The idea was always this: it should look good, and it should actually work”, they explained. Their patches are infused with tea tree oil and anti-inflammatory properties, designed to treat pimples while preventing scarring, and doing it all with style.
Their The Powerpuff Girls collab sold out in 48 hours and pulled in 20 million views across their social media platforms in a week. This is the first of several licensing coups with Warner Bros.. Two more IP drops are quietly brewing, with upcoming launches including popular characters from DC Comics and the Cartoon Network.
But the team insists it’s not just chaos for the sake of it. “We have a structure. We test ideas, our team contributes designs, and we even release tester packs so customers can see what works for them”, they shared.
It’s always about the customer – their personality, their skin, their story. Right now, Dododots offer five skin tone shades with playful names like Bagel and Pancake, but the goal is to expand to 40. Because for them, inclusivity isn’t a gimmick – it’s a promise.
The story behind Dododots, Malaysia’s acne patch brand
From handwritten notes to licensing deals with Warner Bros, and three orders a day to thousands, Dododots has never lost sight of its soul. The brand’s tagline, “To help people feel good on bad skin days”, isn’t just a marketing line — it’s a mission.
Running a business, Ethan and Esther say, isn’t just about revenue – “It’s about joy. About seeing someone wear your patches and say, ‘This made me feel like myself again'”.
And in an industry obsessed with perfection, Dododots’ biggest flex might just be that it never wanted to be perfect in the first place.
Also watch our interview with them here:
For more human-interest stories, check out:
Cover image adapted from: TheSmartLocal Malaysia
Photography by Janet and Hans Leong.
Some quotes have been edited for brevity and clarity.
TheSmartLocal Malaysia would like to thank Ethan and Esther for taking the time out of their busy schedule and for their warm hospitality during this interview.