I tested The Outset Firming Serum for 30 days straight. No cheating. No backup plan.
The real reason I tried it: Scarlett Johansson’s team claims this firms skin without the usual celeb markup. I’m a skeptic with a budget — and a slightly saggy jawline.
It’s a “vegan collagen prep serum” — basically a hydrating primer that claims to plump over time. $56 for 1 oz. Not cheap, but not insane.
Collagen Prep Tech
Says it preps skin to hold collagen better — not inject it, just help your own
Lightweight Gel
Feels like water on skin — no sticky “I’m wearing serum” feeling
Photo: Poko Skincare / Unsplash
No retinol. No peptides. Instead, they bet on plant-based hydrators and a mushroom extract. Weirdly, it works.
- Snow Mushroom: Holds more water than hyaluronic acid — less hype, same plump
- Squalane: Lightweight moisture that won’t clog your pores
- Glycerin: The boring MVP — actually keeps skin bouncy
- Vegan Collagen: Marketing term, but it glues ingredients together nicely
Photo: Poko Skincare / Unsplash
It’s a clear gel that absorbs in 10 seconds flat. I put it on after cleansing, before moisturizer. Skin feels… wet but not sticky. Like a glass of water for your face.
Week 2: Nothing. Week 3: My laugh lines looked less like canyons. Biggest surprise? No breakouts. Most “clean” serums give me tiny whiteheads.
Photo: Rosa Rafael / Unsplash
Yes — but in a “skin is plumper” way, not a “face lift” way. My skin looks bouncier, not tighter. Fine lines softened maybe 20%.
Photo: x ) / Unsplash
Scarlett’s serum is actually good — not a celeb cash grab. It’s a solid hydrator with mild plumping. Buy it for the glow, not the lift.