In an interview, the actress who has been nominated for two Oscars discusses her brand-new line of clean beauty products that she has spent five years developing.
Actress Scarlett Johansson is joining the ranks of celebrities exploring the beauty industry with her new line of clean skin care products called The Outset. The line features five products that reflect Johansson’s own simple skin care routine. To make this venture a success, Johansson collaborated with Kate Foster Lengyel, an experienced beauty industry professional who has worked with Victoria’s Secret and Juicy Couture, among others.
During a conversation with Foster Lengyel at The Outset’s Flatiron office, Johansson shared that she had entered the beauty industry without much knowledge or experience. Although her main profession did not relate to beauty, she had previously worked as an ambassador for other beauty brands for a considerable period of time. However, as she grew older, there was a shift in her mindset and she no longer felt satisfied with just representing other people’s idea of beauty. Instead, she gained enough confidence to start her own venture in the industry that aligned with her personal values.
During the past half decade, Johansson has explored multiple paths for the brand by collaborating with diverse formulators and beauty executives. However, things took a new turn when she was introduced to Foster Lengyel through mutual acquaintances just before the pandemic struck. Utilizing their quarantine period effectively, they came up with innovative ideas and strategies to fast track their project.
The Outset is launching with a collection of five skin care products that are free from harmful ingredients. These products include the Gentle Micellar Antioxidant Cleanser, the Firming Vegan Collagen Prep Serum, the Nourishing Squalene Daily Moisturizer, the Restorative Niacinamide Night Cream and the Smoothing Vitamin C Eye + Expression Lines Cream. They are priced between $32 to $54 and will be available on The Outset’s website, with plans to enter Sephora in April. The brand’s CEO, Foster Lengyel, describes the line as the “classic white T of skin care”, as it pairs well with other brands that consumers may use.
The Outset stands out in the beauty industry for its use of a signature Hyaluroset complex, a botanical alternative to hyaluronic acid, which provides long-lasting hydration, plumping and smoothing. The brand prides itself on using only clean ingredients, having eliminated 2,700 harmful ingredients from its products. Johansson chose to create a skincare brand as she believes good skin is the foundation of a beauty routine, having struggled with problem skin herself. The Outset’s Daily Essential Regimen, consisting of a cleanser, prep serum and daily moisturizer, was designed to mimic Johansson’s own daily routine, offering basic daily essentials that fit seamlessly into customers’ daily habits. The brand also has a focus on sustainability, with their refillable products and plans to expand into body care in the future. The Outset is unique in that Johansson opted not to use her name on the brand, allowing it to stand on its own without any pre-existing ideas. With more products set to launch later this year, Johansson and Foster Lengyel are excited to share their brand with others and invite them to be part of the community.
