Behind the Brand: Overt Is a Line of Transparent, Effective and Charitable Skin Care
Overt’s serums are power-packed skin solutions that deliver a high concentration of active ingredients while still being compatible with all skin types.
When Rory Semple and Giselle Chirinos first met, they realized that they both struggled with skin issues in the past and couldn't find a solution that solved the problem yet was also accessible and effective at the same time. This led to the creation of Overt—a skincare company that is transparent, effective, and charitable. All of their products are formulated with high-quality ingredients that are scientifically proven to work on solving common skincare issues.
“After a long time of testing products, we decided we wanted to launch a skincare line because we all deserve to have beautiful skin and feel confident in it,” say Chirinos and Semple. “From the start, we knew we wanted to create a direct-to-consumer brand that would give the community all the information they need in order to make a good decision for their skin and for their morals, too.
Sustainability is extremely important to Overt and their packaging is made with recyclable or biodegradable products. They use sea shipping to minimize the impact they have on their environment and avoid using controversial or exploitative ingredients in their products.
They have also pledged to donate 10% of their annual profits to Anti-Slavery International, the world’s oldest international human rights organization that targets the main causes of slavery and works to protect those that are most vulnerable.
We chatted with Chirinos and Semple, who shared the inspiration behind the brand, favorite products, future plans, and more.
When was Overt founded and what’s the meaning behind the name?
Overt officially launched on July 8, 2020 and the response has been amazing so far. Launching under the current circumstances has been an interesting experience, but it is very reassuring to see that our core values resonate well with people and that they are very supportive of our mission. Overt means “shown openly” and that is what we wanted to convey to our community. In the beauty industry, there is a lot of misinformation and overlooked ingredients, and we wanted to stray away from that.
Our three core pillars are: transparency, efficacy, and charity. We are open about all of our processes, ingredient-sourcing, distribution and supply chain. We focus on ingredients that actually matter and will make a difference in your skin, and we want to make the world a better place. We want our community to have access to all the information they need to make an informed decision as to why they need that product, how it was made, and why it will work for them.
Tell us more about your products and what makes them special.
We decided to launch with a collection of five serums—each of them addresses a different skin concern and they are suitable for all skin types and are also cruelty- free, gender neutral, and clean. We decided to launch with serums because they hold the highest concentration of an active ingredient, and when using them, our community would be able to see changes in their skin more quickly than with any other product category.
Also, we believe it is an easy step anyone can incorporate in their current skincare routine. Our products are different in terms of formulation and what they stand for. We focus on scientifically-proven formulations that don’t have any unnecessary fillers and are also very careful about where we source our ingredients from.
However, at Overt we want to transcend the physical limitations of the product and go beyond it. We want our community to know that our products are a solution to their skin issues, but also that they are change-makers. Every serum represents an opportunity to make a change, not only because we donate a percentage, but because that donation brings accountability back into the supply chain through Anti-Slavery International and changes someone’s life.
Rory Semple and Giselle Chirinos.
Do you have a hero product?
The 3 bestsellers are: The Brightener, The Hydrator, and The Restorer—our vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, and Copper peptides serum, respectively. We decided to group them into the "Self-Care Bundle" and offer everything your skin needs in a package and at a discounted price. You can start the day off the right way with an energy boost from The Brightener, and at night repair and plump your skin with The Restorer and The Hydrator.
What are your favorite products from the line?
Gigi: We both have personal favorites. While Rory really likes The Brightener and how glowy it leaves his skin, I love The Renewer, our EGF (Epidermal Growth Factor) serum. I had some residual acne scarring and it has really helped my skin heal without irritating it.
Where are your products sold?
Currently, our products are sold through our website and we offer worldwide shipping. We are looking to expand internationally because we want everyone to be able to get Overt products.
What's next for the brand?
Our focus is to expand our product portfolio. We started with serums, but we want our community to be able to find every step of their skincare routine at Overt. We just received some samples for our next product categories and it’s super exciting!
For more information and to purchase, visit the website and follow on Instagram: @overt_skincare
[Images courtesy of Overt]
Kamala Kirk is a University of Southern California graduate and has been an editor/writer for more than a decade. She has written for E! Online, Total Beauty, TravelAge West, Malibu Times Magazine, and many more. She resides in Los Angeles and is a proud pug mom. Follow her on Instagram: @kamalakirk