When Scarlett Johansson launched The Outset earlier this year, the announcement was met with a range of reactions—from elatement to eye rolls. Sure, the Black Widow star has incredible skin, but does the world need yet another celeb skincare line? For those of us who gave the line a shot (this writer included), the answer turned out to be a resounding yes.
Now, Johansson and cofounder Kate Foster are back with the brand’s latest offering, the Exfoliating Caffeine Micro Polish. “Everybody was asking for a skin polish,” Johansson tells BAZAAR.com. And it's a product that's near and dear to the actress, as regular exfoliation is the key that unlocked a clear complexion after years of skin issues. “In my whole journey of skincare, part of my routine was using a light exfoliant every day. So that is what ended up clearing all this crazy skin stuff that was going on," she says.
The Outset Exfoliating Caffeine Micro Polish
The Outset Exfoliating Caffeine Micro Polish
It’s a physical exfoliant, composed of a natural volcanic mineral, but it's designed to be gentle enough for sensitive skin (like all The Outset products). “It's nut-free. You don't have those microplastics, but it's still a perfect sphere so it doesn't tear your skin,” Johansson explains.
Also new to the mix are three refill packs for their hero SKUs—the Gentle Micellar Antioxidant Cleanser, Firming Vegan Collagen Prep Serum, and Nourishing Squalane Daily Moisturizer. The serum, according to Johansson, has been the brand’s runaway success. “It packs a huge punch—tightening and brightening and plumping. It’s a miracle serum,” she says.
The refills are a natural addition to a line focused on simplicity—a theme that might sound familiar if you’ve been following other celebrity lines, such as Hailey Bieber’s Rhode or Ciara’s OAM. But don’t expect to see Johansson walk out with Bieber-esque glazed donut skin anytime soon. “With all of the products in the line, your skin feels healthy and hydrated and bouncy. But it's not that glassy,” she says, adding, “As you get older, you don't really want to look shiny. I don’t want to look like I just had a laser treatment.”
The Outset Daily Essentials Regimen Refill Bundle
The Outset Daily Essentials Regimen Refill Bundle
The Outset’s launch may have been less splashy than, say, Rhode’s, but the founders say the brand’s success speaks for itself. “There's a lot of skepticism out there around celebrity skin care,” says Foster. “But then when you see those positive reviews, and then you see the customers coming back to purchase their daily skin care again and again, that's a huge source of validation.”
Johansson and Foster have also been outspoken about keeping the ingredients “consciously clean," that is, nut-free, gluten-free, safe for sensitive skin, et cetera. But formulating that way has had its setbacks.
“I think it was the Daily Cream—it was the first product that we were like, ‘Oh, we got this.’ It was working for all of us,” recalls Johansson. “And then months later, I don't know what happened. But we're doing the regulatory thing with our claims, and it came back like, there's like a point-zero-whatever trace of coconut, or some kind of nut. It was the least problematic, and then it became the most problematic.”
In other words, it was back to the drawing board for the moisturizer. (Fear not: It's now nut-free.) And that lip product they originally announced back in March? Scrapped for now. “We went down the avenue with a lip treatment, because for me, it was like a huge source of contention finding the right product,” says Johansson. “Ultimately we didn't end up launching it because it just wasn't it wasn't perfect. I wanted it to be the one product you can use year-round, because I'm still searching for it.” But stay tuned, because Johansson hasn't given up: “I'll drive everybody crazy with the lip product."
Lindy Segal is a beauty writer and editor. In addition to regularly contributing to BAZAAR.COM, she also writes for Glamour, People, WhoWhatWear, and Fashionista, among other publications. She lives in New York City with her Chihuahua mix, Barney.
