LOréal

L’Oréal S.A. is a French multinational cosmetics and beauty company and the world’s largest cosmetics manufacturer by revenue. It is headquartered in Clichy, near Paris, and operates in more than 150 countries. The group is listed on Euronext Paris and is a component of the CAC 40. In 2023, L’Oréal reported revenue around €38 billion.

The company traces its origins to 1909–1910, when Eugène Schueller founded a hair-dye business that evolved into Société Française de Teintures Inoffensives pour Cheveux. It adopted the L’Oréal name, and the corporate structure became L’Oréal S.A. in 1957. Growth came through international expansion and acquisitions, including Maybelline in 1996 and Lancôme in 1964. The Body Shop was owned by L’Oréal from 2006 to 2017, when it was sold to Natura &Co.

L’Oréal operates through four divisions—L’Oréal Luxe, Consumer Products, Professional Products, and Active Cosmetics—offering brands across all beauty segments. Notable brands include Lancôme, Yves Saint Laurent Beauté, Giorgio Armani Beauty, Urban Decay, L’Oréal Paris, Maybelline, Garnier, Kiehl’s, Vichy, and La Roche-Posay. The company combines mass-market products with prestige lines and maintains a significant professional-salon presence.

In research and sustainability, L’Oréal runs a global network of labs and pursues programs such as L’Oréal for the Future to reduce environmental impact and promote ethical sourcing. It has faced historical scrutiny over animal testing, but states its approach aligns with evolving regulations and investment in non-animal methods.