In the whole wide world, if there is any industry that is growing rapidly, it is the beauty industry. There are companies which are spread all over the globe and cover a large mass of people. Every other person on this planet wants to be the best version of themselves. Beauty has turned into an asset for the people holding shares in this field. Beauty is everything to many peoples out there, hence making them obsessed with it. This obsession has led this industry to flourish. Every other day we can see a new brand launching in the market. Each brand introducing its own attractions and offers. We, as investors, never want to know about the competition and the competitors in it. But how surprising it is that we aren’t even aware of the leading brands and taking over this massive industry. We as consumers must know that what are we investing in, what better options do we have in the same industry, which brand is serving us better, if the product we buy is worth the hype, and its value for money? Here, we wil list the Largest Beauty Companies in the world and give you a brief about their journey.
Largest Beauty Companies
Before we get deeper into the information about the largest companies, let’s know about it a little. Do you even know that maximum of reputed brands is owned by single manufacturers? 7 different manufacturers own around 182 companies, and they are serving in every corner of the world. Apart from these, there are other smaller companies for which we actually have no count. Let’s know about these companies taking over the world with their increasing consumption and revenue rate.
- L’Oréal
The founder of this huge empire is Eugene Schueller, who generates over USD 30 BILLION and owns 36 brands. Starting from 1909 to this date, this company is going strong with its ever-increasing customer base and popularity. In 2020 this company secured first place in the beauty world across the globe. This beauty firm has launched products in every possible area which you can imagine. Its products spread from color cosmetics, skincare, haircare to fragrances. This brand has managed to secure a place in every country, and its products include both basic and luxury items, which enables it to expand its reach to low to high rate consumers. They mainly focus on cosmetics.
- MAC Cosmetics
This company was founded by Frank Toskan and Frank Angelo in Toronto,1984. M.A.C stands for makeup-art cosmetics. It is stated that the purpose of this company was to create easy-to-use and innovative products for makeup artists specifically. But as their work took off, it turned into a high-quality professional cosmetic range. Today this company is a huge name in the beauty industry and is among tough competition competitions. Popular makeup artists use this brand, and it is considered a classic among them. This brand is going strong due to celebrity collaborations from art, fashion, pop culture, etc. They provide makeup for all age groups, sexes, and cultures. It alone holds for about $6.3 BILLION NET WORTH.
- Chanel
This company was founded in 1910 in Paris, France, by a female couturière named Coco Chanel. It is a luxury French firm that was a costly brand from the very start at that time. However, as time passes by, it kept on reaching its customers with its luxurious products. They do not just deal in makeup but handbags, fashion, fragrance, and jewelry too. They have been represented by both female and male celebrities like Kristen Stewart, G. Dragon, Marilyn Monroe, etc. One of the strongest reasons they became popular was that they ditched down the curvy hourglass figure trend to a flat-chested fashion theme, which was a big body positivity step in the industry. Also, they switched to more comfortable garments for women to wear in their daily lives with masculine colors. According to the reports, in 2020, their revenue came out to be $10.1 BILLION, and currently, their net worth is $15 BILLION.
- Estee Lauder
Based in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, this company was started in 1946 by Estee Lauder and Joseph Lauder. This American company is a multinational manufacturer of skincare, haircare, makeup, and fragrance. It is the first-ever female cosmetic product producer who launched a male skincare range called ‘Skin Supplies for Men.’ The owner of this empire knew that beauty was an important part of a women’s life and that she could really monetize this aspect. They started with just four products in the launch, which were Crème Pack, Cleansing Oil, Super Rich All-Purpose Crème, and Skin Lotion. In addition, they introduced the concept of serums in the beauty market. It currently generates $15.2 BILLION of profit in a year. It has spread over 150 countries in the world and is preparing for more. The recent updated net worth of the company was found to be $117.63 BILLION.
- Revlon
This company was started in New York, 1932 by Charles Revson, Joseph Revson, and Charles Lachman. This is an American multinational brand that deals in cosmetics, skincare, personal care, and fragrances. This spreads over 150 countries across the globe and has a very large fanbase. In the initial stage, this company started with nail enamel. Their idea to attract customers was that they weren’t using dyes anymore but pigments which will cause less harm to the nails of the user. Within a span of six years, this company started to flourished and became a multimillion-dollar company. Later they expanded their products to manicure line and lipstick range. Today they have stores in the mainstream markets of Mexico City, Sydney, Singapore, Honk Kong, London, Paris, and Tokyo. When covid-19 hit, this firm faced major financial crises and was on the verge of bankruptcy in 2020. According to recent records, their net sale was $445 million in the first four months of 2021.
- Shiseido
This is a Japanese multinational firm that was founded in 1872 by Arinobu Fukuhara. This company didn’t start as a beauty contestant in the world, but it was started as Shiseido pharmacy, and after multiple evolutions, it finally became the brand which it is today. It is one of the oldest and fifth largest companies in the global beauty market. In 2022, it will complete its 150th anniversary. It is the largest company in Japan and has its headquarter in Tokyo. It serves personal care and cosmetic products, including fragrances, hair care, body care, personal care, makeup, and skincare. Their cosmetic range is called ‘The Makeup,’ and it includes multiple products like eyeliner, mascara, powder eye shadow, concealers, compact foundations, and blushes, and these are among the best products according to the top beauty magazines. Their products give a very luxurious and rich feel to the customer, and it is a high-end premium brand. In 2020, the revenue generated was $8656 MILLION, according to the reports.
- Coty
Founded in 1904 by Francois Coty is an American multinational firm. It manages to develop, manufacture, market, and distribute with the help of its subsidiaries. They produce products like fragrances, skincare, nail care, hair care, and cosmetics. Their haircare range has both professional and retail products. Coty is one of the giant companies which owns more than 77 brands in the world. When it comes to fragrances, it is the only big fish in the market. This company spreads across 150 countries, and its executive offices are located in London with four headquarters in New York, Paris, and Geneva. This brand celebrates and owns diversity. It takes care of its customers. They had net revenue of about $4.71 BILLION, and its net worth is $6.47 BILLION, according to the reports.
- Johnson and Johnson
Founded by Robert Wood Johnson, James Wood Johnson, Edward Mead Johnson in 1886. It is an American multinational company, and they basically develop pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and consumer package items. It is one of the oldest and largest companies in the world. This firm has 250 sub-companies, and they operate from 60 countries. They are spread all over the globe over 175 countries. Its famous consumer lines are Neutrogena beauty and skincare products, Band-Aid, Johnsons Baby Products, Clean and Clear face wash, and Tylenol Medications. It is a well-known medical products producer and holds a huge consumer base. In 2020 their net sales were around $82.58 BILLION, in which the beauty section earned $4.45 BILLION.
- Kao
This is a Japanese company which produces chemical and cosmetic items. Tomiro Nagase founded this in 1887. They have their headquarter in Nihonbashi-Kayabacho, Chuo, Tokyo, Japan. 134 years ago, it all started with the production of simple domestic toiletry soap. After changing their name twice in the past, they finally became Kao Corporation. They are an environmentally friendly company and produce sustainable products for which they were awarded “ENVIRONMENTAL HEROES OF THE YEAR” in 2020. It is a company that owns quite a number of brands and running smoothly. It serves us with products in Skincare, Haircare, Fabric, Human Health Care, and Cosmetics. Their annual revenue was found to be $13.4 BILLION.
- Givenchy
It is a famous name in the fashion world founded in 1952 by Hubert de Givenchy, a Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture et du Pret-a-Porter. It is a French fashion house and producer of perfumes and cosmetics. Their heritage inspires their products. They provide their consumer with ultimate luxury in their items. They believe in Fearless Classic vision. Products they offer are both for men and women in the high-end range. Its net worth is $200 MILLION and in annual sales generates around $259.94 MILLION.
- Clinique
It is an American subsidiary manufacturer of Estee Lauder founded in 1968 by Evelyn Lauder. They manufacture skincare, fragrance, cosmetics, and toiletries. This company was introduced as the first allergy tested and dermatologist-driven line. This company runs across the globe in 135 countries due to its skin-friendly products. It has about 22,000 consultants hired for the company. Its brand value was around the US $5 BILLION IN 2021. Its products are worth using at least once.
- Lancôme
It is a global company and is a part of the L’Oréal Luxury Products section. Founded in 1935 by Guillaume d’Ornano and Armand Petitjean. It is a French company that produces luxury perfumes and cosmetics like high-end fragrances, skincare, and makeup. Initially, it started only as a perfume house. Later, when Petitjean joined, he introduced “all-purpose repair cream.” Their famous products include mascaras and Visionnaire Range. This company has famous people like actresses, supermodels, designers, perfumes, and makeup artists. Celebrities like Julia Roberts, Carol Alt, Emma Watson, Drew Barrymore, Uma Thurman, Anne Hathaway, Kate Winslet, Clive Owen, Zendaya, Lilly Collins, and many more have represented this brand.
- Maybelline New York
This is a name that is known to every woman interested in beauty. It was founded by Thomas Lyle Williams in 1914 Chicago. It is a sub-company of the L’Oréal firm. This American multinational company serves its consumers in skincare, personal care, cosmetics, and fragrances. Its first-ever product was a Maybelline Cake Mascara inspired by a mixture of Vaseline and coal dust used to make the eyelashes fuller. Today this company is among the top beauty companies due to its demand in the market. They produce products in all ranges. In fact, they have over 200 products for every category. They have famous mascaras and lipstick ranges. It has collaborated with famous brands like Puma, and Adriana Lima was the ambassador for it. This is on top of all the cosmetic brands and is running smoothly in over 120 countries. According to reports, its worth is over US $2 BILLION.
Beauty is a huge concept in this world, and with each passing day, new brands and products are being launched. Every brand is promising its values and benefits. Some fail, some succeed, and this cycle goes on and on. But this world is totally running on its consumers and fan base, and we must know what is being served on our plate. We must be aware of true brands and who are offering value for money so that we may contribute to the right firms. These were some companies that are huge in the market and are successful beauty icons in the industry.
