Kate Foster Lengyel Steps Down from The Outset

Kate Foster Lengyel has announced her departure from The Outset, the skincare brand she co-founded with actress and entrepreneur Scarlett Johansson.

The brand’s CEO shared the news across her social media platforms. “It’s been five wonderful years building The Outset as co-founder and now it’s time to pass the torch as CEO, take on new adventures, and keep doing what I love: building businesses at the intersection of innovation and consumer opportunity,” Lengyel shared on LinkedIn. “Thank you to Scarlett and my amazing team for allowing me to lead you in this first chapter, and thank you to our incredible consumers and community members for getting to know me and trusting us to take care of your skin. It’s been the great honor of my career and I couldn’t be prouder of what we have accomplished.”

Founded on 22 March 2022 by Johansson and Lengyel, The Outset is the self-proclaimed “white T-shirt of skincare,” offering a gentle, simple, and consistent routine designed for all skin types. The brand launched with five core products developed over five years — the Gentle Micellar Antioxidant Cleanser, Firming Vegan Collagen Prep Serum, Nourishing Squalane Daily Moisturizer, Restorative Niacinamide Night Cream, and Smoothing Vitamin C Eye + Expression Lines Cream — all formulated with the brand’s signature Hyaluroset Complex. Derived from the seeds of the Cassia flower, the Hyaluroset Complex is a plant-based alternative to hyaluronic acid, delivering immediate and lasting moisture to plump, smooth, and nourish the skin.

Since its launch, The Outset has expanded its original product lineup with new additions, including the most recent Lip Oasis Glossy Treatment, which has sold out on multiple occasions. The brand has also secured retail partnerships with major outlets such as Sephora, Amazon, QVC, and Nordstrom, significantly increasing its visibility and accessibility. In 2023, it was named Best New Brand in the Allure Readers’ Choice Awards and Best New Skin Brand in the Marie Claire UK Skin Awards. The Outset has also engaged in philanthropic initiatives, partnering with organisations such as Dress for Success and One Tree Planted to support social and environmental causes.

While The Outset has yet to announce a successor or reveal what comes next for the brand, Lengyel has hinted that her next venture is already underway.