After years of working for beauty companies, January Olds set out to correct, on her own, what she identified as two glaring shortfalls in the industry.

Shunning the market obsession with “quick-fix” products that promised instant enhancement, she launched January Labs – a startup that concocted multifunctional ointments that focus on the skin’s stratum barrier.

The outermost layer of the epidermis, the stratum barrier is composed of dead cells that shield the underlying tissues from dehydration, infection and other damages. While vital for the protection of the skin, this layer is often torn by aggressive skincare products and treatments, which decrease its performance. To reinforce as well as repair the stratum barrier, January Labs has developed a series of products that elevate protection and prevention.

Catering to busy women, the fledgling label understands efficiency. It reduces complex, multi-step skincare routines to several products that combine key functions. Among the brand’s new releases, for instance, is a Daily Brightening Tonic, which hydrates and exfoliates at the same time, in addition to prompting collagen production.

The tonic was born out of Olds’ adamant opposition against granular scrubs that, in the long run, ruin the skin with tiny scratches. So was the bestselling Glow & Go Power Peel Exfoliant that flaunts a cinnamon-based complex, which exfoliates, stimulates and nourishes the skin.

Another fan favorite is the day and night cream duo that is based on hyaluronic acid to revitalize and retexturize the skin. The night iteration is also infused with the highest lactic acid content that is available without prescription – the potent formula encourages regeneration and rejuvenation.

Having developed a narrow but sophisticated range of products, Olds maintains ingredient transparency and product simplicity. “Skin care doesn’t need to complicated,” she said on January Labs’ website.  “It’s as simple as that.”