OUI The People founder Karen Young wants to change how you think about shaving

Everyone has a different relationship with a shave and beauty and OUI People founder Karen Young wants to help you improve both—one blade at a time. After many years in the beauty industry, Yang felt that there were major gaps in inclusivity and sustainability that were reflected in the consumer-facing marketing of various brands. So, she decided to do something about it and create OUI The People, a black-owned brand focused on being outspoken, truthful and positive in what she says, "recreating beauty" as she calls it. The brand focuses on a revolutionary approach to shaving with state-of-the-art handcrafted blades made in Germany. 

We chatted with Yang about diversity in the beauty and skin care industryhow she founded her brand of shaving products and why beauty lies in accepting the present. 

Tell us a little about your background and how you got started in the beauty industry. 

I received a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Fordham University and after working for several years with top luxury fashion brands, I fell in love with sales and the opportunity for brand success in retail. Then I started my own business focused on home goods with beautiful things that reflected what I knew from the fashion industry. After the closure of this business, I had the opportunity to join Estée Lauder. The women in my family take simple approaches to skin care, so when I joined Lauder, I was introduced to a different psychology in terms of the customer profile of women who buy beautiful and effective products that look like a beautiful dress. 

What inspired you to create OUI The People? 

I started OUI The People because I suffered terrible razor burns and ingrown hairs. I also knew that men have more choices than women. As an adult, when I wanted to give the man in my life something beautiful and useful, I often took a safety razor. The whole set will be nicely gifted with the right shaving cream, oils and razor. It struck me that not only did I have a terrible shaving experience, but that the shaving experience itself was far from luxurious. I wanted to create something that was specifically for women. We started with razors and oils, and this year we've expanded into body care products. 

Each OUI People's Razor it is a modern version of the classic handmade tool in Germany with a weighted handle and a special non-aggressive angle. The blade glides over the top of the skin, wrapping around the curves and edges of the woman's body for a close shave without irritation. The OUI razor is also more sustainable than the plastic razors that pile up in our oceans and landfills. Made from 100% stainless steel, designed for a long service life. Customers replace dull blades and recycle old ones. 

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A post shared by OUI the People (@ouithepeople) on July 19, 2020 at 10:23am PDT

How do you feel about diversity in the beauty industry right now? 

I only ever wanted to be a founder, but I never shied away from being a black woman and I revel in the fact that our creativity and business acumen has finally been noticed. The outpouring of support from editors and social media tags has been incredible lately. The beauty industry is already so big and fragmented that it's hard to hear, but it looks like we've finally been heard and seen. The real change looks like this: Including black-owned brands in founder inspiration articles, interviewing us on podcasts, and listing us and our products outside of Black History Month posts. FROMThe implication is that the inclusion of black-owned businesses in history regularly has a rebound effect. If black-owned brands are not included in daily conversations, it will be harder for us to gain distribution and harder for us to grow. It also narrows the choices for black consumers, who spend $1.1 billion annually on beauty, and directs them towards the same brands that, frankly, rarely appreciate and acknowledge them. 

What are your favorite black cosmetic brands?

I love and buy from Black and green, Briogeo, Sunscreen Blackgirl, Dehya, Hyper Skin и Lauren Napier Beauty.

What does a typical day look like for you? 

I'm an early bird. At five in the morning I sleep, especially in summer. I do a 20 minute Transcendental Meditation and either go on what I call my sanity walk (with a mask on, of course) or attend a Zoom yoga class with my favorite instructor. I'm sitting at my laptop at 8 or 9 am and from there a crazy mix of supply chain, product development, team meetings, interviews and financial projections starts.  

What do your makeup and skincare routines consist of?

I don't have any makeup other than blush and one bottle of very old foundation. I put on makeup about three times a year and my favorite part of makeup is rinsing it off. 

I am a skin care freak but I need to calm down as my skin is sensitive. One of the best purchases I have ever made is a skin scrub/spatula. My pores are tight, but that means they keep everything as a result. Using the scraper twice a week really cleans up the grime that no topical products seem to work on. My other favorite tool is the glass facial bowl. It provides blood flow directly to the surface of the skin and makes my skin so luscious! At the same time, I use argan oil, after which I do a quick massage. After washing with IS Clinical Cleansing Complex, I apply HyperSkin Vitamin C Serum and Hada Labo Hyaluronic Milky Lotion. I'm battling acne with CosRx Pimple Patches and I've just discovered the Clear Pads which provide a nice gentle exfoliation. Wearing the mask has left my skin a bit chapped with lots of breakouts and hyperpigmentation along my jaw, so I use Ren Skincare Ready Steady Glow a few times a week. 

What is your favorite way to use OUI The People A weightless hydrating body gloss?

 I'm so obsessed with Featherweight. I put it on right after my shower while my skin is still damp and I'm set to go all day. It simply absorbs into the skin and leaves the most pleasant, silky feeling.

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A post shared by OUI the People (@ouithepeople) on July 23, 2020 at 11:11am PDT

How has working on OUI The People affected your life?

I love what I do - it's fun, exciting, and I get an education every single day. Creating products that end up in people's homes, on their bodies, and tell their friends about is just incredible. I'm always proud of our integrity, our commitment to doing the best for our clients, and I'm proud to be the first black woman to change the shaving experience. 

If you weren't into beauty, what would you be doing?

I love creative work and I can imagine being anything from a furniture designer to a florist to a brand designer. My favorite tool is a blank sheet of paper. 

What advice would you give to aspiring beauty entrepreneurs?

Whether you're walking alone or in a team with someone else, never be ashamed to ask for help. Shame hinders growth. Find entrepreneurial groups to join, whether they're co-working spaces or Facebook groups. Find your tribe and you will find that you are not alone and that no one knows everything. Follow your heroes on Twitter and ask them what books they would recommend to aspiring entrepreneurs, then read each one. 

And finally, what does beauty mean to you?

Beauty is an elusive space where I do not reflect on the past and do not build the future. Where I just am, and that's more than enough.