Have you heard of Ourself yet?
This biotech-backed brand is giving professional treatments a run for their money—so you can save yours.
I’m always skeptical when I see a product positioned as an alternative to an office-based procedure, but when I start seeing chatter about it everywhere upon launch, further investigation is certainly warranted. Such is the case with Ourself, which launched with quite a bit of fanfare (and plenty of media coverage) last week. My curiosity was piqued as soon as I saw proprietary “Subtopical Skin Care System.”
With an introductory lineup that includes two lip treatments, two peels, a discoloration serum, a moisturizer and an SPF 50 sunscreen, Ourself features patented peptides called “Intides” that help the formulas penetrate the skin barrier. One of brand’s founders, Scott Glenn (who was a co-founder of SkinMedica and Alastin Skincare—two major contenders in the professional-grade skincare space), told WWD:
“I had a lot of access to tools from biotechnology and learned about different ways that we could deliver the same ingredients. But instead of injecting deep into the skin like a toxin or a filler, or burning the skin with a laser, that we could do it topically.”
Now I was even more intrigued, so I headed straight to the site to learn more about the formulas. I was immediately drawn to the Lip Filler, because who wouldn’t want a juicier, more defined pout without the injections?
For the record, this is not a plumping gloss that with cinnamon oil or other irritating ingredients that cause swelling. Rather, this daily treatment delivers various sizes of hyaluronic acid molecules to smooth fine lines and provides an instant pout pick-me-up a vitamin B3-derived color enhancer—plus visible improvement with time. Consider these clinical results:
91% of users said lips are smoother and look more defined after 2 weeks**
100% of users had fuller, plumper lips in just 3 weeks*
93% of users agreed lips feel naturally full after 3 weeks**
87% of users had improved contours after the 5-day jump start*
98% of users had more contoured lips, in just 3 weeks*
*In a clinical study with 59 participants using the product as directed. **In a consumer perception study with 59 participants using the product as directed.
The Daily Dark Spot Intercept kept me on the site even longer. Formulated with Intides to stop the production on unwanted pigment before it starts, this super-charged serum also contains vitamin C and niacinamide to help fade the look of existing dark spots as it soothes, calms redness, and helps protect the skin from environmental damage with antioxidants. The clinical results for this product are equally as impressive.
**In a consumer perception study with 15 participants. ***In a consumer perception study with 14 participants. **** In a clinical study with 15 participants.
Of course I had to check out the peels, and the two offerings include the Brightening Peel and the Dark Spot Peel. The brightening option is formulated with 34% glycolic acid to address larger patches of uneven skin tone and texture, while the Dark Spot Peel is a targeted spot treatment that features 13.6% TCA to precisely target specific spots. (I have one on my left cheek that is basically resistant to everything. I’m wondering if it could stand up to this.)
I focused on the above products because I found them to be of most interest, but the line also includes a Lip Conditioner, Daily Renewal Cream and Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 with Intides. There are also several sets to select from, as well as refills—because that’s what we do now.
My only hesitation is that the clinical results are very regimen-driven. Ourself is expensive, and they really lean into the power of using multiple products. But with that said, a $500 skincare regimen is still cheaper than lip injections or a series of chemical peels. But do the results compare in real life? The before-and-afters for the Lip Filler a particularly dramatic—and fortunately that’s one of the less expensive offerings.
Did you enjoy today’s intel? If so, feel free to drop a “like” below!