newbeauty – Scarlett Johansson has been named the highest-paid actress in the world multiple times and has found herself listed as one of Time’s Most Influential People, and now she’s making a new name for herself as the co-founder of skin-care brand The Outset. Yes, another celebrity skin-care line, but something about this one is refreshingly more accessible, approachable and affordable, making it a clear stand out. Johansson had the benefit of partnering with co-founder Kate Foster Lengyel who has in-depth knowledge and experience in the industry. Together the pair created a skin-care line that’s as laid back as the award-winning actress was as we sat discussing what we were watching on Netflix ahead of the interview.

While sitting around a large, chic table in her office, which she says was originally in her home, we dove into the heart of the brand. It seemed nothing was off limits with her. The newest launch from the brand is the Exfoliating Caffeine Micro Polish ($34). Johansson says it feels like getting a facial in under a minute. The idea of the skin-care line not being “glamorous” but rather targeted for those who want to get in and out of the bathroom while still maintaining healthy, beautiful skin felt fresh. They lovingly referred to it as “the white tee of skin care,” easy and universally flattering.

Do your friends love The Outset?
Scarlett: “Yes, of course. All my friends have tried it. I made it for them anyway. I was saying to Kate, it’s really interesting, but my friends that have a male partner they’re all like, ‘My husband’s skin is amazing.’ I was like, ‘We’re saving relationships and having tons of sex now.’ That has been really surprising. We have a lot of male fans, 30 percent of our customers from our online store are male. We had intended to make this for everybody, and it’s actually fitting, so that’s been really cool. Everybody loves it. Half of my friends and family live overseas. So now it’s the challenge of when are we getting over there? Because I just have to ship it out to them secretly, but you know, that’s hopefully our next step. How do I get out to my UK friends and family?”

Kate: “We’ve been ‘actually-ed’ a lot. You know, where they’re like, ‘actually, it’s amazing.’ When you have friends, and you say, ‘Oh, I’m going to do this.’ They’re like, ‘Oh, God, I hope I like it because I have to see this person and say it’s great.’ I have friends who tried the line, and they’re like, ‘It’s actually amazing.’ It’s been a really gratifying experience for people to discover the products in the middle of a very saturated market and a crowded space and then be like, ‘Wow.’”

Scarlett: “It’s interesting because it’s a crowded space, but people are still looking for products. I have a set of girlfriends, and they’re all very into fashion and beauty, and they’re artists, and they’re creative. They have their own different brands and stuff they love, but they’re still looking for like a great cleanser or eye cream. Yes, it is a very saturated market, but there are people that are looking for their hero product.”

Kate: “And that was our aim to deliver. De-stressing the whole experience, I think, is kind of one of the key benefits.”

Earlier, you mentioned that you’re not trying to make skin look like a ‘glazed doughnut.‘ Now we’re discussing the saturation of the market. There are all these other celebrity skin-care brands. What sets The Outset apart?
Scarlett: “Going into it, we knew it’s a very crowded space, so that was something that we were hyper-aware of. I think, in a way, it was almost like an opportunity for us because the line is so pared back. It’s not about ‘Oh, can you attain my look?’ This is just about healthy skin.”

Kate: “You’re a pretty straight shooter. It’s no gimmicks, no BS, just great products, great quality, great skin.”

Scarlett: “I was like, ‘I know this whole shiny skin thing is in, but I’m too old.’ I’m at an age that if I do that, I’ll look like I got a laser peel or a procedure, and people will just be like, ‘Why so shiny?’”