Bioré is putting pimples in the penalty box this basketball season.
Announced on Thursday, the skin care brand is teaming up with the University of Connecticut Men’s and Women’s Basketball to become its official acne sponsor ahead of the NCAA March Madness tournament. The campaign, called “Pregame Your Pimples,” will center around Bioré’s new Paint and Peel Liquid Pimple Patches, $19.99, available at Target, Amazon, CVS and Walgreens.
“At Bioré, we focus on showing up where real life actually happens — fast, visible, high-pressure moments where confidence counts. Partnering with UConn Women’s and Men’s Basketball allows us to demonstrate our innovation in an environment where performance and timing matter most. These athletes compete under constant scrutiny, making them authentic advocates for skin care that works quickly and fits seamlessly into real routines,” said Marissa Vallillo, director of marketing at Bioré, in a statement sent to WWD.
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According to Vallillo, the Paint and Peel Liquid Pimple Patches are designed to stop breakouts before they spread and work in just four hours thanks to hero ingredients such as salicylic acid and glycerin. The treatment is also invisible, so athletes can use it on or off the court. “[It can also be worn by] anyone prepping for a big moment, to pre-game their pimples and actively fight breakouts and reveal visibly reduced blemishes and clearer-looking skin,” said Vallillo.
She added: “Today’s consumers expect skin care to keep up with their lives, not slow them down. UConn athletes embody that reality every day — balancing intensity, visibility, and packed schedules. Paint and Peel was created for that same pace, giving people a way to treat acne effectively while still showing up confidently, whether they’re stepping onto the court or into any moment that matters.”
In addition to in-arena advertising, fans can expect a steady stream of social content starring UConn student-athletes and in-person activations with product giveaways and halftime half-court shots out of this partnership.
The news of this partnership comes a little over a month before the NCAA March Madness tournament is set to kick off. Last year, the UConn women’s team took home the championship title with the help of their star player, Paige Bueckers, who is currently playing in the new women’s basketball organization, Unrivaled.
In late November, Unrivaled chief brand officer Kirby Porter joined Jessica Stacey, senior vice president of external communications at Sephora, onstage at WWD’s inaugural The Catalysts summit, discussing the strength of beauty’s alliance with women’s sports, specifically. During the conversation, Stacey explained how the athletes were one of the main motivators in the retailer’s decision to partner with Unrivaled last year.
“What we noticed over the past few years was that not only are they phenomenal athletes, but their self-expression and their personal style were things that we felt we could get behind from a storytelling standpoint, and at the same time, support what these amazing athletes are doing within the fan community,” she said.
