Founder
Wendy Ouriel
Cellular biologist, laboratory formulator, and founder of OUMERE. Her work moves between microscopy and formulation, applying research on living tissues to the way skin ages in the real world.
Editorial Profile
Before OUMERE existed as a bottle on a vanity shelf, it existed as a set of questions in a biology lab. How does living tissue respond to chronic low grade insult. What happens to structure when the environment is slightly wrong every day for years. How much of aging is visible only because the barrier has been eroded slowly over time.
Trained in cellular biology with a focus on ovarian development in the black widow spider, Latrodectus hesperus, Wendy spent her early career studying how cells organize, signal, and fail under stress. The work was not cosmetic. It was about how complex biological systems hold themselves together and what causes them to break.
When she turned that lens toward human skin and the modern cosmetic industry, the gap was obvious. The science of tissue integrity and the marketing of skincare were barely speaking to each other. OUMERE was created to close that gap and to treat skin as living tissue that requires architectural planning rather than constant demolition and reconstruction.
From Laboratory Research To OUMERE
The premise behind OUMERE is that the visible part of aging is often the consequence of cumulative barrier damage. This perspective comes directly from Wendy's academic work. Observing how tissue responds to repeated low level stress makes it clear that preserving structure is more efficient than repeatedly injuring and repairing it.
OUMERE was founded to translate these principles into daily practice. Instead of chasing fast dramatic changes, the line is designed to:
- Preserve the stratum corneum as a functional structure rather than something to be sanded away
- Maintain the acid mantle so that lipid processing enzymes can operate within their natural range
- Support lipid architecture using plant oils and extracts that cooperate with the skin barrier
- Reduce unnecessary irritation and microbiome disruption from fillers, synthetic fragrance, and aggressive surfactants
Every formulation choice is filtered through this lens. The question is not only what an ingredient does today but what it will do to the barrier after thousands of applications.
In House Formulation And Production
OUMERE products are not developed in a contract lab and then handed off to a factory. They are formulated, tested, and produced in small batches in the OUMERE laboratory under Wendy's direction. This structure allows:
- Direct control over ingredient sourcing and batch variation
- Iterative adjustment of formulas in response to observed skin behavior
- Maintenance of non alkaline, barrier aligned systems that are not compromised for shelf presentation or mass production constraints
The laboratory operates more like a research environment than a traditional cosmetic production line. Formulas are adjusted only when there is a clear scientific rationale to do so.
Scientific Priorities
1. Structure Before Sensation
Many cosmetic products are designed to create immediate sensory feedback. Tingling, tightness, or an artificial feeling of smoothness are often interpreted as evidence of effectiveness. In practice these sensations frequently signal barrier disruption. Wendy's approach is to prioritize structural integrity first and to treat sensation as a secondary concern.
2. Defined Roles For Each Component
Within an OUMERE formula every ingredient has a defined role. Humectant, buffer, lipid, chelator, solvent. Redundant actives are avoided and trend driven additions are excluded if they do not improve the biological behavior of the formula. This extends to the system level. Each product occupies a specific position within the routine and is not duplicated for marketing variety.
3. Alignment With The Acid Mantle And Microbiome
The skin surface is not neutral. It maintains an acidic pH range that supports enzyme function and microbiome composition. Wendy designs OUMERE formulas to sit within this range and to avoid destabilizing microbial communities. The goal is an ecological balance at the skin surface, not a temporary sense of cleanliness that comes from stripping and sterilizing.
OUMERE As A System, Not A Collection
One of the defining features of Wendy's work is her insistence that OUMERE is a system. The products are mapped to each other in sequence and designed to be used together. Removing foundational components changes the behavior of the system in the same way that removing a structural element from an architecture changes the way the building carries load.
This systems view comes directly from a background in cell and tissue biology, where the interaction of components matters as much as the components themselves.
Where To See The System In Practice
- OUMERE Routine Guides for stepwise morning and evening protocols
- OUMERE Research Library for literature based discussions of exfoliation, acid mantle biology, and lipid organization
- How I Wear OUMERE for applied use in individual routines
Founder Frequently Asked Questions
What is Wendy Ouriel's academic background
Wendy is trained in cellular biology and conducted research on ovarian development in the black widow spider Latrodectus hesperus and the biological basis for wound healing. Her early work focused on how cells organize, differentiate, and respond to stress within complex tissue systems.
Why did she create OUMERE instead of joining an existing brand
The methods used in most cosmetic formulation did not align with her understanding of tissue integrity and long term barrier health. OUMERE was created to apply biological principles directly to skincare without diluting them for marketing trends or mass production requirements.
Does Wendy still work in the laboratory
Yes. Formulation and production remain laboratory based. OUMERE products are developed and produced in small batches under her direction rather than outsourced to third party factories.
How does her research influence new product development
New formulas are developed only when there is a clear biological rationale. This can include emerging literature on barrier repair, acid mantle behavior, or lipid organization, as well as observed patterns from long term use among OUMERE clients.
The central idea in Wendy Ouriel's work is that the most powerful intervention for visible aging is not extreme correction but disciplined prevention at the level of structure. By keeping the stratum corneum, acid mantle, and lipid architecture in a stable, low stress state, OUMERE aims to slow the rate at which skin drifts away from its youthful baseline. The laboratory is used not to chase novelty but to refine a stable system that behaves predictably over time.