Clarins

Clarins is a French luxury skin care, cosmetics and perfume company.

The family company was founded in 1954 by the medical student Jacques Courtin-Clarins. The son of the company founder, Christian Courtin-Clarins, has been the chairman of Clarins since 2000. In 1957, Courtin-Clarins developed a new approach to face and body treatments and created a few luxury products based exclusively on plants.

• Founded    1954
• Founder    Jacques Courtin-Clarins
• Private company owned by the Courtin-Clarins family
  
• Headquarters    Neuilly-sur-Seine, France
• Website    Clarins.com

 

REN Clean Skincare

REN Clean Skincare is a pioneering ‘clean’ skin care brand that is known for its cult Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Toner and Evercalm range.

The British brand was ahead of the curve when it comes to so-called ‘clean’ beauty, which has since become mainstream.

• Parent organization: Unilever UK Holdings Ltd.
• Founders: Antony Buck, Robert Calcraft
• Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
• CEO: Arnaud Meysselle (Mar 2017–)
• Founded: September 2000
• https://www.renskincare.com/

May 1, 2025: Unilever has announced that it will close down REN Clean Skincare that it bought in 2015 for an undisclosed sum.
Kate Somerville was acquired by Unilever in 2015, the same time as REN Clean Skincare.

In June 2023, Ren Clean Skincare slashed its product portfolio by a third as part of a wider strategy to modernise the brand and crack the US market.

Other acquisitions under the watch of then-SVP of Unilever’s Prestige Brands Vasiliki Petrou included premium skin care brand Dermalogica, ‘clean’ beauty line Paula’s Choice and biotech hair care K-18.
Petrou departed Unilever in 2024 after a decade.

Murad

Murad is a clinical skincare brand that focuses on the health of the skin. Many of its products do not contain parabens, sulfates, phthalates, mineral oil, formaldehyde, oxybenzone, and animal-derived ingredients.

• Founded in 1989 by Dr. Howard Murad, a dermatologist and pharmacist.
• Parent company: Unilever United States (acquired in 2015)
• https://www.murad.com/

Dr. Howard Murad, founder of Murad

K-beauty

K-beauty is an umbrella term for skincare products that are derived from South Korea. 

 

Some of the most popular include:  

• Erborian   
  

• Amore Pacific: The flagship brand of the Amorepacific Group, which also owns other popular K-beauty brands. Amore Pacific is known for its luxurious textures and formulas made with botanical extracts.

• Cosrx: A mainstays of K-beauty in the United States. Some of their bestsellers include the Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser.

• Innisfree: A mainstays of K-beauty in the United States. Some of their bestsellers include the Green Tea Foam Cleanser and the Green Tea Balancing Skin toner.

• Dr. Jart+: A mainstays of K-beauty in the United States.
  

• Peach and Lily: A brand that some say has helped Korean skincare take off in the United States.

• Sulwhasoo: A popular K-beauty brand.

• Laneige: A popular K-beauty brand.

• Banila Co. A popular K-beauty brand. Some of their bestsellers include the Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm Original.

• TONYMOLY: A brand that makes multifunctional serums, including The Black Tea London Classic Serum.

• Dear, Klairs: A brand that makes serums, including the Freshly Juiced Vitamin Drop and the Supple Preparation Facial Toner. 

  Fossula 
  

Redken

Redken is an American hair care brand owned by L'Oréal Group under the Professional Products division.

• Founded:  1960 (by Jheri Redding and Paula Kent)
• Owner: L'Oréal Group
• website: www.redken.com