Scarlett Johansson's The Outset is More Than a Celebrity Beauty Brand

The Outset
The Outset
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Scarlett Johansson worked on The Outset, her new skin-care brand, for almost five years now before it officially hit the market in 2022. "It's surreal," she tells POPSUGAR of its launch.

To be clear, Johansson isn't a new face in the beauty industry — on the contrary, she's been "fortunate enough," as she puts it, to work with quite a few luxury brands as an ambassador over the years. But she wanted something more: "In my late 20s, I was coming into my own as an actor, as an artist, as a woman, and just felt increasingly that my experience of being the face of these other brands was inauthentic to my own experience, to my own story, and what I was looking for as a consumer."

Still, even Johansson — Black Widow herself — didn't think that dream could become a reality at first. After stepping away from her ambassador roles, she began exploring parts of the industry behind the scenes that she wasn't initially familiar with. "[I] met with a lot of the big houses that were building brands for other celebrities, and then just kept coming back to the principle that I really wanted to do my own thing."

Then she met Kate Foster Lengyel, her now cofounder, and magic started to happen. "I had a pain point and was looking for a solution," she says of the beginnings of the brand.

Johansson wanted to create products that are simple and effective. "I have had acne-prone skin — struggled with that through my 20s — and I've tried every acne peel, mask, and skin resurfacing polish," she says. "Whenever my skin is breaking out, I have always returned to this three-step process of cleansing, and priming, and moisturizing."

That's what inspired the three hero launches: a gentle cleanser, a firming collagen serum, and a daily moisturizer. To round out the line, The Outset first launched with a night cream, an eye cream (her husband Colin Jost's favorite — more on that later), and a lip treatment (Johansson's "baby"). Now, the range has expanded to include an exfoliator, face oil, and clay mask. The Outset's signature ingredient is a plant-based alternative to hyaluronic acid, which is infused in each of the brand's products.

Ahead, learn more about each of the skin-care products and why Johansson loves them.

Additional reporting by Joely Chilcott

The Outset Firming Vegan Collagen Prep Serum
theoutset.com

The Outset Firming Vegan Collagen Prep Serum

The Outset Firming Vegan Collagen Prep Serum ($46)

This is a firming serum that includes vegan collagen to plump and hydrate the skin. It's designed to be used both morning and night, and it prepares skin for your moisturizer — and it just so happens to be Johansson's favorite product. "My skin is completely addicted to our serum," she says. "My face doesn't look the same when I don't use it."

The Outset Gentle Micellar Antioxidant Cleanser
theoutset.com

The Outset Gentle Micellar Antioxidant Cleanser

The Outset Gentle Micellar Antioxidant Cleanser ($32)

Gentle yet effective, this face wash cleans the skin of dirt, oil, and makeup without stripping it of essential moisture.

The Outset Nourishing Squalane Daily Moisturizer
theoutset.com

The Outset Nourishing Squalane Daily Moisturizer

The Outset Nourishing Squalane Daily Moisturizer ($44)

If you're looking for a no-frills face cream, this is it: it hydrates the skin with squalane oil from olives while also helping calm irritation.

The Outset The Restorative Niacinamide Night Cream
theoutset.com

The Outset The Restorative Niacinamide Night Cream

The Outset Restorative Niacinamide Night Cream ($54)

This night cream features the skin-care powerhouse niacinamide, which brightens, evens tone, and reduces the appearance of blemishes. "We went back and forth a lot on this because a lot of night creams can sit on your skin, and we wanted something that felt like it was really going to be absorbed but still had a little bit of residue the next day," Johansson says.

The Outset Vitamin C Eye + Expression Lines Cream
theoutset.com

The Outset Vitamin C Eye + Expression Lines Cream

The Outset Vitamin C Eye + Expression Lines Cream ($42)

This is "one of [Colin Jost's] favorites," Johansson says. You use it under your eyes to hydrate and plump the skin, and the formula contains vitamin C to brighten and provide antioxidant protection.

The Outset Exfoliating Caffeine Micro Polish
sephora.com

The Outset Exfoliating Caffeine Micro Polish

The Outset Exfoliating Caffeine Micro Polish ($34)

Dubbed a "one-minute facial" by the A-list actor, this exfoliating scrub helps to brighten dull skin.

The Outset Ultralight Moisture-Boosting Oil
sephora.com

The Outset Ultralight Moisture-Boosting Oil

The Outset Ultralight Moisture-Boosting Oil ($44)

Johansson says she was never a fan of facial oil because of her breakouts —"I was terrified to use anything, any kind of oil on it, because I was just convinced it was going to give me cystic acne," she says) — but she has found one that's lightweight enough for all skin types. This oil can be used on your face, nail cuticles, or the ends of your hair to hydrate, smooth, and soften. Use it morning and night for a boost of moisutre.

The Outset Purifying Blue Clay Mask
theoutset.com

The Outset Purifying Blue Clay Mask

The Outset Purifying Blue Clay Mask ($46)

Clay masks can help sop up oil and refine the pores, and this this mineral-rich treatment is no different. Use it on the T-zone or all over depending on your needs.