Behind The Beauty Super Brand: Who Owns What?

This is the third installment of my make-up manufacturing and superbrands secrets series. In this post, I will tell you who owns what - which conglomerates have control over the smaller brands. Keep in mind that this market is always changing so who owns what today, may not own it tomorrow. 

L'Oréal

Founded in 1909 by advertising mogul Eugène Schueller, French personal care and research company L'Oréal is a popular international superbrand. L'Oréal's diverse portfolio is abundant with world-wide brands that covers all the lines of cosmetics including make-up, skincare and haircare. Their brands cater to men and women of all ages and races. They even have professional labels for those working in the beauty industry. L'Oréal also indulges people with longer purse strings with their luxury range of L'Oréal Luxe. Their brands include L'Oréal Paris, Lancôme, IT Cosmetics, Giorgio Armani beauty, Yves Saint Laurent, Biotherm, Essie, Ralph Lauren fragrances, Keihl's, Shu Uemura, Cacharel, Viktor & Rolf, Helena Rubenstien, Urban Decay, Clarisonic, Diesel, Guy Laroche, Garnier, Softsheen Carson, Maybelline, Paloma Picasso, Redkin, Biotherm, The Body Shop, EM Michelle Phan, Kérastase, Stella McCartney, Vichy, Dermablend, Decléor, La Roche Posay, Ombrelle, Maison Martin Margiela, Innéov, Skinceuticals, Roger & Gallet, Sanoflore, Magic, Créateurs de Beauté,  Carita, Sanoflore, PureOlogy Research, Yue Sai, Drakkar noir, L'Oréal Technique, IT Cosmetics, L'Oréal Professionnel, ARTec, Innate, Kéraskin Esthetics, Matrix Essentials, Mizani, Elvive.

Behind The Beauty Super Brand: Who Owns What?

Coty, Inc

In 1904, François Coty founded Coty, a global beauty company which covers make-up fragrances and skincare and is manufactured in many facilities all over the world. Did anyone else associate Coty with products that would make your eyes fall out? I did. They have come a long way since their bargain basement products - they are all slightly less cheap now and less likely for consumers to be hesitant about their cosmetics. Their brands include Bourjois, Rimmel, Calvin Klein perfumes, Natica, Chloé, Lady Gaga, CK One Color, Bottega Veneta, Chopard, David & Victoria Beckham, Tjoy, Marc Jacobs, Davidoff, Astor, Manhattan, Guess, Joop!, Tonino Lamborghini, Nicole By OPI, Adidas, Balenciaga, Playboy, Beyoncé, Miss Sporty, NYC New York Color, OPI, Vespa, Celine Dion, Stetson, Jovan, Roberto Cavalli, Katy Perry, Cerruti, Vivienne Westwood, Enrique Iglesias, Jennifer Lopez, Kate Moss, Nikos, Pierre Cardin, Halle Berry, Lancaster, Madonna, Philosophy, Vera Wang, Tim McGraw, Sally Hansen. As of late 2014, Coty acquired Bourjois. 

Behind The Beauty Super Brand: Who Owns What?

Avon Products, Inc

Avon is an American international manufacturer and corporation specializing in the candid selling techniques of beauty and personal care products. Beginning in 1886 as a two man door-to-door company, Avon was initially established as the California Perfume Company. Avon's brands are easier to navigate than others as they are contained within their monthly brochures. As well as celebrity endorsements within Avon, brands include Mark, Anew Beauty, Smooth Minerals, Extra Lasting, Nailwear Pro, Anew Men, Anew, Avon Elements, Solutions, Cearskin, Planet Spa, Foot Works, Advance Techniques, Avon Care, Skin So Soft, Moisture Therapy, Naturals, Color Trends, Supershock.

Behind The Beauty Super Brand: Who Owns What?

Kryolan

Kryolan launched in Berlin theatres in 1945. It has since expanded to an international market and is well known for their special effects and high defintion make-up for film and television.  Kryolan own and manufacture all of their own cosmetics. They also have a silent interest in Illamasqua, the brand synonomous for illusion and masquerade. Illamasqua is owned by marketing agent Julian Kynaston but his products are largely manufactured by Kryolan. It was difficult to find out if Kryolan has shares in Illamasqua or if they have interests in other brands so this is all that is available now. 

Behind The Beauty Super Brand: Who Owns What?

Wertheimer Brothers

In the 1870s, Pierre Wertheimer bought shares the French cosmetics company Bourjois, the inventor of the first dry blush. By 1917, Pierre and his brother Paul owned Bourjois entirely, emphasizing the strong ideology of a family business. In 1924, Coco Chanel approached the brothers to help extend the sales of her perfumes. By the end of WW2, the Wertheimer brothers had full control of Chanel perfumes. Today Chanel is owned by Alain and Gérard, the grandsons of Pierre (Bourjois was sold to Coty in shares in late 2014). They also inherited a thoroughbred race horsing operation from their father Jacques. Together they have interests in Bell & Ross and also own Eres Lingerie, Tanner Krolle, Holland & Holland and a number of French vineyards. They also own a number of fine French ateliers specializing in crafts such as millinery, embroidery and feather & flower making. 

Behind The Beauty Super Brand: Who Owns What?

Shiseido

Shiseido is a major Japanese cosmetics group founded in 1872. It's subsidiaries include Aupres, Ayura, Bare Escentuals, Beauté Prestige International, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Issey Miyake, Narciso Rodriguez, Elie Saab, Azzedine Alaïa, Clé de Peau, d-program, Aqualabel, Za, IPSA, ISO Hair, Joico, NARS Cosmetics, Qiora, Revital, Senscience, Serge Lutens, UNO, UV White, Zotos International.

Behind The Beauty Super Brand: Who Owns What?

FB Beauty & Tam Beauty

FB Beauty formerly owned by the Wormser Group is currently owned by Adam Minto, a business man who also owns Make-Up Revolution and Freedom Make-Up. Make-Up Revolution does not seem to be part of FB Beauty as when placing orders through their website, their PayPal merchant is Tam Beauty (Medichem, a British manufacturer of cosmetics and hospital grade chemicals, was the previous merchant for Make-Up Revolution and Freedom Make-Up). FB Beauty own fragrances including Glee, Love Hearts and The Only Way Is Essex. Beauty brands from FB include Famous By Sue Moxley, Fashionsista, Make-Up Academy, Vivo and Accessorize, the beauty subsidiary of Monsoon, as well as some celebrity perfumes. Tam Beauty is the collection of brands such as Make-Up Revolution, Freedom Make-Up, I Heart Make-Up, Face B4, Colourless Hair Colour Remover, DGJ Organics and Colour On. 

Behind The Beauty Super Brand: Who Owns What?

Revlon Consumer Products Corp

Established in 1932 by Joseph and Charles Revlon and Charles Lachman, Revlon is an American cosmetics and fragrances company. Revlon now has franchises in Almay, Charles of the Ritz, Charlie, Electric Youth, Esquire Shoe Polish, Food Fair, Institut Jeanne Gatineau, Mitchum, Natural Wonder, Ultima II.

Behind The Beauty Super Brand: Who Owns What?

Estée Lauder

Estée Lauder is perhaps the one conglomerate which concentrates solely on make-up and beauty products. Founded in 1945 by American married couple Estée and Joesph Lauder, this company has now expanded into many brands including Too Faced, AERIN Beauty, Aramis, Aveda, Bobbi Brown, Bumble and Bumble, Clinique, Coach, Darphin, Donna Karan, Estée Lauder, Flirt!, Good Skin, Jo Malone London, Kiton, LAB Series, La Mer, Le Labo, M·A·C, Marni, Michael Kors, Ojon, Origins, Osiao, Prescriptives, RODIN, Smashbox Cosmetics, Tommy Hilfiger, Tom Ford Beauty, Tory Burch, Ermenegildo Zegna.

Behind The Beauty Super Brand: Who Owns What?

Groupe Artémis/Kering/LMVH

Salma Hayeck's husband François-Henri Pinault is the son of the man behind Groupe Artémis which owns French grocery and media brands. François has major shares in Kering, previously known as PPR who are responsible for fashion and lifestyle brands such as Puma, Gucci, Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga, Oscar de la Renta, Yves Saint Laurent, Stella McCartney, and much more. Kering, in turn are the largest shareholder of LVHM (Moët-Hennessy Louis Vuitton). LMVH is the largest luxury goods conglomerate in the world and are behind the likes of own Christian Dior perfumes, Benefit Cosmetics, Acqua di Parma, Guerlain, Make Up For Ever, Kenzo, Fendi, Nude. and more. As a group, they own Sephora, Le Bon Marché and many wine, champagne, and liquor companies. 

Behind The Super Beauty Brand: Who Owns What?

Kao Corporation

Kao Corporation is a Japanese chemical and cosmetics company established in 1887. Their brands include Nivea, Molton Brown, John Frieda, Kanebo Cosmetics and Jergens. 

Behind The Beauty Super Brand: Who Owns What?

Kendo
Kendo is a brand which incubates and acquires many luxury cosmetics brands including Marc Jacobs Beauty, Ole Henricksen, Formula X by Sephora, Bite Beuaty, Kat Von D and Fenty Beauty by Rihanna. It is also worth noting that the same labs used to create brands exclusive to Sephora, namely Kat Von D, is the same lab used by indie and independent brand Jeffree Star. Kendo is a division of the LVMH talent network. 

Behind The Beauty Super Brand: Who Owns What?

Puig
Puig  is a third generation family owned beauty and fashion corporation founded by Anthony Puig in 1914. They own several beauty brands including Carolina Herrera, Nina Ricci, and Paco Rabanne. They also conrol some Jean Paul Gaultier licenses such as Prada, Valentino and Comme des Garçons, and an array of celebrity fragrances including Antonio Bandera and Shakira.

Behind The Beauty Super Brand: Who Owns What?

What about the supermarket and drugstore owned brands? They are more than likely manufactured the same group of corporations. What are your thoughts on the beauty brands owning the smaller ones?