L'Oréal facts for kids
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| Société Anonyme | |
| Traded as | Euronext Paris: OR CAC 40 component |
| ISIN | ISIN: [https://isin.toolforge.org/?language=en&isin=FR0000120321 FR0000120321] |
| Industry | Consumer goods |
| Founded | 30 July 1909 |
| Founder | Eugène Schueller |
| Headquarters | , |
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Area served
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Worldwide |
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Key people
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| Products |
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| Revenue |  €41.18 billion (2023) |
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Operating income
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€8.14 billion (2023) |
| €6.18 billion (2023) |
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| Total assets | €51.85 billion (2023) |
| Total equity | €29.08 billion (2023) |
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Number of employees
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88,000 (2019) |
| Subsidiaries |
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L'Oréal S.A. is a big French company that makes personal care products. It's based in Clichy, France. It's the world's largest cosmetics company. L'Oréal focuses on many beauty areas. These include hair color, skin care, sun protection, make-up, perfume, and hair care.
Contents
History of L'Oréal
How L'Oréal Started
In the early 1900s, a young French chemist named Eugène Schueller created a new hair dye. He called it Oréale. Schueller made his own products and sold them to hairdressers in Paris. On July 31, 1909, he officially started his company. Its first name meant "Safe Hair Dye Company of France."
The main ideas for the company, which later became L'Oréal, were to research and invent new beauty products. In 1920, the company had three chemists. By 1950, it had 100 chemists, and by 1984, it had 1,000. In 2021, L'Oréal had about 85,252 employees around the world.
L'Oréal began with hair color. But soon, it started making other cleaning and beauty products. Today, L'Oréal sells over 500 brands and thousands of products. These include hair color, hair styling products, body and skin care, cleansers, makeup, and fragrances. You can find L'Oréal products in many places. These include hair salons, perfume shops, supermarkets, and pharmacies.
Recent Company News
In 2017, Liliane Bettencourt, the daughter of L'Oréal's founder, passed away. She left the business to her daughter, Françoise Bettencourt Meyers.
Buying Other Companies
L'Oréal currently owns 36 brands and keeps growing. By October 2021, the company had 497 patents. This means they had many unique inventions.
L'Oréal bought a company called Synthélabo in 1973. This was to help them grow in the medicine field. Synthélabo later joined with Sanofi to become Sanofi-Synthélabo.
In 2006, L'Oréal bought the cosmetics company The Body Shop. In 2008, they acquired YSL Beauté. L'Oréal also bought a major Chinese beauty brand, Magic Holdings, in 2014.
In February 2014, L'Oréal bought back 8% of its shares from Nestlé. This changed how much of the company Nestlé owned. Nestlé had owned a part of L'Oréal since 1974.
L'Oréal has continued to buy many other beauty brands. These include NYX Cosmetics (2014), Carol's Daughter (2014), IT Cosmetics (2016), and the augmented reality company ModiFace (2018). They also bought Takami Co. (2020), Youth to the People (2021), and Aesop (2023). In 2023, they acquired Lactobio, a Danish research company. In 2024, they acquired Gjosa, a Swiss water conservation tech startup.
How L'Oréal Markets Its Products
L'Oréal has been a partner of The Cannes Film Festival since 1997. Many L'Oréal ambassadors walk the red carpet at this famous event.
L'Oréal's well-known advertising slogan is "Because I'm worth it." It was created in 1973. Later, it changed to "Because you're worth it" and then to "Because we're worth it."
In 2012, L'Oréal opened its largest factory in Indonesia. This factory helps produce products for the local market and for export.
In 2020, L'Oréal's digital officer, Lubomira Rochet, shared that online sales were becoming very important. E-commerce helped the company make up for sales lost when physical stores closed.
In 2023, the L'Oréal Foundation and UNESCO honored three women scientists. These women had to leave their home countries. They were recognized for their bravery and dedication to science.
Famous Spokespeople
L'Oréal Paris has a group of famous people who represent their brand. They are called the L'Oréal Paris "Dream Team." Here are some of them:
- Laetitia Casta (1998–present)
- Eva Longoria (2005–present)
- Aishwarya Rai (2004–present)
- Helen Mirren (2014–present)
- Luma Grothe (2015–present)
- Soo Joo (2015–present)
- Aja Naomi King (2017–present)
- Camilla Cabello (2017–present)
- Elle Fanning (2017–present)
- Amber Heard (2018–present)
- Andie MacDowell (2018–present)
- Duckie Thot (2018–present)
- Jaha Dukureh (2018–present)
- Céline Dion (2019–present)
- Cindy Bruna (2020–present)
- Katherine Langford (2020–present)
- Viola Davis (2021–present)
- Kate Winslet (2021–present)
- Yseult (2021–present)
- H.E.R. (2022–present)
- Anushka Sharma (2022–present)
- Thuso Mbedu (2023–present)
- Kendall Jenner (2023–present)
- Cody Simpson (2023–present)
- Mary Fowler (2024–present)
How L'Oréal is Organized
Main Offices
L'Oréal Group's main office is in the Centre Eugène Schueller in Clichy, Hauts-de-Seine, near Paris. This building was built in the 1970s. About 1,400 employees work there. The world's largest hair salon is also inside this building. Hairdressers there serve many women each day. These women help test new hair colors.
L'Oréal also has offices around the world:
- L'Oréal USA: Based in New York City, handles operations in the Americas.
- L'Oréal Canada Incorporated: Handles Canadian operations from Montreal.
- L'Oréal Australia: Main office is in Melbourne.
- L'Oréal Nordic: Main office is in Copenhagen, Denmark.
- L'ORÉAL Deutschland GmbH: Main office is in Düsseldorf.
Research and Development
L'Oréal has 21 research and development centers worldwide. Three main centers are in France. There are also six regional centers. These are in the United States, Japan, Shanghai, China, India, Brazil, and South Africa.
Who Runs the Company
Jean-Paul Agon is the chairman of L'Oréal. Nicolas Hieronimus is the chief executive officer (CEO). Françoise Bettencourt Meyers and Paul Bulcke are vice chairmen of the board of directors.
Who Owns the Company
As of 2020, the Bettencourt family owns the largest part of L'Oréal. Nestlé also owns a significant share. Other parts are owned by investors and employees.
Company Numbers
In 2003, L'Oréal had grown for 19 years in a row. It made €14.029 billion in sales. L'Oréal works in over 130 countries and has 50,500 employees. A lot of money is spent on research and development. In 2003, they applied for 515 patents. They have 42 manufacturing plants around the world.
In 2023, L'Oréal had its biggest sales growth in 20 years. Its net earnings were €6.2 billion. In 2024, L'Oréal became the top company in luxury cosmetics.
Being a Responsible Company
Sustainability Plan
In 2013, L'Oréal started a plan called "Sharing Beauty With All." They promised to reduce how much their products impact the environment. They aimed for all products to have an environmental or social benefit. They also wanted to cut their environmental footprint by 60%.
In 2021, L'Oréal launched a new plan called "L'Oréal for the future." This plan has goals for 2030. These goals cover topics like protecting nature, managing resources, climate change, and recycling.
Protecting the Environment
In 2009, L'Oréal said they would cut greenhouse gas emissions, water use, and waste by 50% by 2015. They planned to use solar panels and other clean energy sources. By 2012, they had reduced CO2 emissions by 37.1%. They also cut water use by 24% and waste by 22%.
In 2014, L'Oréal promised that none of its products would be linked to cutting down forests. They also aimed to use 100% renewable raw materials by 2020.
Animal Testing Policy
Since the 1980s, L'Oréal has spent a lot of money on finding alternatives to animal testing. They use methods like creating reconstructed skin models in labs. This means they can test products without using animals. This is better because it spares animals. It also gives more accurate results for human skin.
However, some countries, like China, have rules that make it hard to sell beauty products without animal testing.
In 2013, L'Oréal joined other companies to ask the EU to invest more in research for alternatives to animal testing.
Recycling Plastic
In 2020, L'Oréal started working with a French company called Carbios. They aim to find a way to dissolve plastic waste using special enzymes. This could help with plastic recycling.
Help for Ukraine
In 2022, L'Oréal Paris gave €1 million to charities helping refugees from the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. L'Oréal Paris also stopped all business in Russia. The company also provides hygiene products to hospitals and helps its employees in Ukraine.
Community Work and Awards
In 2014, L'Oréal was listed as one of India's most trusted brands. In 2008, it was named Europe's top business employer for students.
The L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Awards were created to support women in science. They recognize amazing women researchers who have helped science grow. These awards are a partnership between L'Oréal and UNESCO. Winners receive a grant of US$100,000.
L'Oréal also holds a yearly competition called "L'Oréal Brandstorm." Students from 46 countries can join. They create business plans related to marketing.
L'Oréal is also a founding member of the "Look Good ... Feel Better" project. This charity helps women deal with the visible side effects of cancer treatment.
Research and New Inventions
Episkin
Episkin is a special skin model made by L'Oréal engineers. It's used to test products instead of using animals. Human skin cells are grown in labs to create sheets of reconstructed skin. This allows for testing on different skin colors and ages, giving more accurate results for humans.
3D Printing Human Skin
In 2015, L'Oréal announced they were working with a company called Organovo. They are trying to figure out how to 3D print living skin. This skin could be used to test products for safety and how well they work.
Modiface
On March 16, 2018, L'Oréal bought Modiface. This company uses augmented reality. It lets people digitally try on different makeup and hairstyles. In 2020, L'Oréal Paris launched "Signature Faces." These are virtual makeup filters for social media. They let people try on makeup at home, which was helpful during the pandemic.
Perso
Perso is a smart device that creates custom formulas for lipstick, foundation, and skin care. Customers can use an app with AI technology to get personalized products. It was expected to launch in 2021.
Hapta
At CES 2023, L'Oréal showed off Hapta. This is a special computerized makeup applicator. It's designed for people who have trouble moving their hands and arms. It makes it easier for them to apply lipstick. This invention helps meet the beauty needs of more people.
L'Oréal Brow Magic
Another invention from CES 2023 was L'Oréal Brow Magic. This is the first electronic device for eyebrow makeup you can use at home. It helps users create custom eyebrows quickly.
AirLight Pro Hairdryer
At the 2024 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), L'Oréal introduced the AirLight Pro hairdryer. It uses up to 31% less energy than a normal dryer. It's for both professional stylists and people at home.
L'Oréal Brands
L'Oréal groups its brands by the markets they target. These include mass market, professional, luxury, and active cosmetics. L'Oréal also has interests in other areas like chemicals, health, and advertising.
Consumer Products Division
- 3ce
- Carol's Daughter
- Colorama
- Créateurs de Beauté
- Essie
- Garnier
- L'Oréal Paris
- Magic
- Maybelline
- Niely
- NYX Cosmetics
- SoftSheen-Carson
L'Oréal Luxe Division
- Aesop
- Atelier Cologne
- Biotherm
- Cacharel
- Clarisonic (Stopped selling September 30, 2020)
- Diesel
- Giorgio Armani Beauty
- Guy Laroche
- Helena Rubinstein
- House 99
- IT Cosmetics
- Kiehl's
- Lancôme
- MUGLER
- Paloma Picasso
- Proenza Schouler
- Ralph Lauren Fragrances
- Shu Uemura
- Urban Decay
- Valentino Beauty
- Viktor & Rolf
- Yue Sai
- Yves Saint Laurent Beauté
Professional Products Division
- L'Oréal Technique
- L'Oréal Professionnel, including ARTec and Innate
- Kérastase (created by L'Oreal in 1964)
- Kéraskin Esthetics (created by L'Oreal in 2007, for skin care professionals)
- Matrix Essentials (founded in 1980, bought by L'Oreal in 2000)
- Mizani (founded in 1991, bought by L'Oreal in 2001)
- PureOlogy Research (founded in 2001, bought by L'Oreal in 2007)
- Redken 5th Avenue NYC (founded in 1960, bought by L'Oreal in 1993)
- Shu Uemura Art of Hair
- Carol's Daughter
- Carita
- Essie (founded in 1981, bought by L'Oreal in 2010)
- Decléor
- Botanicals Fresh Care
- Cheryl's Cosmeceuticals
Active Cosmetics Division
- Vichy
- La Roche-Posay
- Skinceuticals
- Roger&Gallet - sold in 2020
- Sanoflore
- Dermablend
- AcneFree
- Ambi
- CeraVe
- Logocos (since 2018)
Images for kids
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L'Oréal lipsticks
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L'Oréal skincare product
See also
In Spanish: L'Oréal para niños
