Ogee

Ogee is a beauty company based in Burlington, Vermont, that develops and sells certified-organic color cosmetics and skincare. The brand positions itself in the prestige/luxury organic segment, combining organic certification with clinical efficacy claims, and uses cold-pressed jojoba seed oil sourced from the Sonoran Desert as its signature ingredient. Co-founder Abbott Stark describes jojoba as a liquid crystalline wax that biomimics skin sebum, absorbs quickly and helps regulate oil production; the company says it uses only the first press of the seeds and GMO-free, pesticide-free material.

The assortment spans makeup and skincare. Makeup includes the Sculpted Face Stick ($42) and Crystal Contour Collection ($99), Sculpted Complexion Foundation Stick ($48), Complexion Perfecting Serum Foundation ($49), Complexion Perfecting Concealer ($33), setting powder, Tinted Sculpted Lip Oil ($29), Sculpted Lip Oil - Clear ($28), Beyond Clean Lip Gloss and mascara ($29 each). Skincare includes Seeds of Youth Serum ($129), Jojoba Glow Face Oil ($98), Brightening Botanical Eye Balm ($98), Indigo Dream Renewal Cream ($139), Activated Botanical Primer ($96), Liquid Gold Cleansing Oil ($79) and a line of single-ingredient elixirs (Vitamin C THDA 20%, Hyaluronic Acid 1.5%, Natural Retinol Retinal Extract 1%, Bakuchiol 2%) at $94 each, plus toners, cleansers, masks, brushes and accessories. Multi-product bundles and gift sets range up to $398 (Signature Skincare Collection). The catalog listed 41 products at time of review.

Product claims are supported by ingredient-level and consumer testing: the Sculpted Face Stick is described as 100% natural and 83% organic, "88% skincare, 12% makeup," dermatologically tested, cruelty-free, with a two-week, 60-participant consumer study reporting 100% of participants said skin felt hydrated and 90% said skin looked more radiant, alongside in-vivo claims for jojoba oil at 10% concentration relating to sebum production, pore size, radiance and moisturization.

Founding story

Ogee was founded by Abbott Stark and Mark Rice in Burlington, Vermont. Stark had previously worked in contract manufacturing and product development, running prototypes of lipsticks, eyeshadows and cleansers for global beauty brands, and said he could not find effective skincare that was both affordable and certified organic. Rice came from luxury fashion: he owned a venture company in New York, managed the John Galliano business until it was sold to LVMH, and was the original publisher of V Magazine. The two met at a dinner party through a shared Vermont connection — Rice attended Middlebury College and Stark is from Vermont. Stark's interest in jojoba began after a jojoba crop failure around 2009 caused industry-wide supply shortages that he encountered in contract manufacturing sales.

Business model

Ogee sells branded organic cosmetics and skincare products. Sales run through its own direct-to-consumer e-commerce store — which offers a rewards program, subscribe-and-save, free U.S. shipping over $75, a gift-with-purchase threshold at $100 and a 30-day guarantee — alongside wholesale distribution to specialty retailers. Collection pages reference wholesale, Amazon SKUs and in-store placement at Nordstrom.

Revenue comes from product sales at prestige price points, ranging from roughly $28-$29 for lip products up to $139 for a renewal cream and $398 for multi-product skincare collections, with bundles and gift sets used to raise average order value and a subscription option for replenishment.

Traction

The website cites more than 5,000 five-star reviews across the brand, and the Sculpted Face Stick alone carries 3,561 reviews at a 4.9-out-of-5 average rating. In 2018 the brand reported distribution in approximately 80 high-end independent shops nationwide, with the Sculpted Lip Oil repeatedly selling out at retail. A third-party business-data profile estimates annual revenue of about $13 million and headcount in the 51-100 range.

Latest developments

The current catalog features a relaunched "New Look" version of the Sculpted Face Stick and Crystal Contour Collection, described as the same formula with bolder color, alongside a broadened complexion range (serum foundation, foundation stick, concealer, setting powder) and single-ingredient skincare elixirs. Merchandising collections reference 2025 limited-edition holiday sets, Amazon SKUs and in-store placement at Nordstrom.