Cathy O'Brien Launches Skin Union, a Skin Care Line Built for Cancer Treatment Side Effects

Skin Union debuts with a three-piece regimen: The Wash, The Cream and The Balm. The line is positioned around visible irritation, dryness and moisture loss that can follow radiation, chemotherapy and other treatments.

O'Brien, who led Naturopathica and has worked at La Mer and Jo Malone, is also the founder of The WellSpace for Women and a podcast host. She said the idea grew out of her own experience after an unexpected cancer diagnosis several years ago, when she learned she had breast cancer and required both chemotherapy and radiation.

According to O'Brien, no one involved in her care raised the question of how treatment would affect her skin. She described asking repeatedly for guidance and finding little available, and said the toll on her skin was compounded by age-related collagen loss.

A radiologist who treated her and now advises the brand encouraged the effort, telling O'Brien that affordable skin care for this need would find a substantial audience.

To build the line, O'Brien turned to Kristen Sgarlato, a product developer and formulator she had worked alongside for years at Naturopathica. The two cofound Skin Union, which launches with the three-product ritual.