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Scarlett Johansson on postpartum hair loss and the beauty product Colin Jost introduced her to

We spoke with the actress about her skin care line, The Outset.

Having been the longtime face of several beauty brands in the past, Scarlett Johansson was pretty well-versed in the ways of the industry by the time that she launched her own skin care brand, The Outset, last March. Even still, she shares in an interview with Shop TODAY, she was surprised by the warm welcome she got.

"[The beauty industry] really has been so welcoming. People are very supportive, especially other female founders have been so supportive of our place in the community, we all share a lot of information," Johansson says.

When she launched The Outset along with co-founder Kate Foster, Johansson joined an already long (and rapidly growing) list of celebrities with beauty companies. But she says that what sets the brand apart from the rest is its "gentle" approach to skin care.

"It's really connected with people," Johansson says. "Our products, we make them as user friendly as possible and try to eliminate as many harmful ingredients, so that as many people can use them. And I think that kind of universal approach to skin care and gentle approach to skin care has really allowed a lot of people to play with the product and have success with it."

The Outset's lineup consists of eight core products all of which can be used alone or incorporated into your existing regimen, according to the brand. And the emphasis on simple, yet effective everyday essentials is reflective of Johansson's own personal — and complicated — journey with her skin.

"I had acne for such a long time that I remember my makeup artist on a film was like, 'Oh, well, just wait until you have acne and wrinkles, that's your next step," she says.

She said the process to figure out what worked for her skin was "arduous" and involved "a lot of tears." Ultimately, she realized that the harsh scrubs that she was using to target breakouts, were doing more harm for her than good.

"What actually got me out of that decade cycle, was [saying] OK, I'm just gonna stop everything, I'm going to stop all the actives and I'm just going to gently exfoliate my skin and moisturize every day," Johansson said. "And I realized actually putting moisture back into my skin was what it needed, because my skin barrier was so imbalanced."

Now, Johansson sticks to her minimal yet effective routine, courtesy of The Outset (yes, she really does use the products). She even credits it with helping her through some of the skin care woes that often come with pregnancy. (She was in the process of creating the brand while she was pregnant, and was testing the products at the time.)

"I'm not going to be like, that was the cure-all, but I think just taking care of my skin over that time, I didn't have a crazy hormonal skin reaction."

However, she says that she did experience another common postpartum symptom when she was pregnant with her second child, Cosmo: "I did lose a lot of hair."

"It was a bummer ... you're also just recovering and starting to feel more like yourself again," she added.

Thankfully, she found something that helped. "What worked for me, my friend recommended it, was liquid collagen," she said. She added that she found a vegan version on Amazon. "Immediately, I started getting the little baby hair growth back."

The Outset by Scarlett Johansson

To get a better idea of her routine, Johansson walked us through some of The Outset's products and shared her other beauty favorites.

Smoothing Vitamin C Eye + Expression Lines Cream

Johansson says that the Jost is "reaping the benefits" of being married to a beauty brand founder. "I only use The Outset, so that's what we have on our counter. And all of his old products have gone — I'm like, this is all being replaced, I got you boo. It's funny to see the moisturizers and oils and stuff moved from his side to back and forth between our two sides. Luckily, we have the refillable, which makes it less of a counter war in our house."

Jost's favorite product is the eye cream. "I never really used an eye cream, but when I met [Colin], he used eye cream. And so that actually ended up becoming his favorite product, he replaced his eye cream with ours, and so now I use eye cream."

Purifying Blue Clay Mask

This clay mask is the most recent addition to the brand's lineup. Unlike other masks, Johansson says this is "soft" so it doesn't feel too tight when it dries. It's made with ingredients like blue clay, charcoal and salicylic acid, so it's perfect for nights when you feel like your skin needs a little reset.

Restorative Niacinamide Night Cream

Johansson previously told us in an email that this night cream is a "standout product" for her. "My skin is so dry from the [New York] winter and breastfeeding, so it restores all that lost moisture," she said. Along with the Hyaluroset Complex, it also features plenty of other skin care powerhouses like niacinamide, bakuchiol and evening primrose oil. According to the brand, these ingredients work together to improve texture, smooth the appearance of fine lines and restore suppleness to your skin.

Gentle Micellar Antioxidant Cleanser

“This cleanser is so hydrating and gentle,” Johansson shares on the site. “The formula is sulfate-free, so it removes makeup without stripping the skin. I love that it leaves my skin feeling so soft and clean afterwards.”

Firming Vegan Collagen Prep Serum

This vitamin-rich cream is meant to be applied around your eyes and mouth to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Its star ingredient is vitamin C, which experts say can help fight hyperpigmentation and stimulate collagen production.

Nourishing Squalane Daily Moisturizer

“I wish I could bathe in this moisturizer!” Johansson shares on the site. “It delivers major, long-lasting hydration so it keeps my skin looking smooth and healthy all day, even when I’m on set.” The moisturizer also includes edelweiss and red rice extracts, which protect the skin from free radicals and pollution, the brand says.

More of Scarlett Johansson's beauty favorites

Though Johansson uses The Outset's products as her daily beauty routine, she does have some other makeup favorites. Below, we asked the star to tell us what else she can't live without.

Tower 28 Beauty ShineOn Lip Jelly

"I love all of [Tower28's] lip products," Johansson said, adding that they're "user-friendly."

Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat Concealer Pen

While Johansson says that YSL Touche Éclat's concealer has "been around for like a thousand years," she still uses it in her makeup routine.

According to the brand, the cult-favorite formula can be used to brighten areas of darkness or dullness and smooth fine lines and wrinkles.

Diorshow Maximizer 3D Lash Primer

Johansson says that she's a fan of Dior's mascara, along with its primer. "I just discovered mascara primer for the first time ever."