04.08.23
Recession? What recession? Beauty companies are looking to the future, making big deals in an effort to control the global personal care industry. Here are the biggest deals in beauty thus far in 2023:
Indie skincare brand Matter of Fact raises $6 million via a second round of funding. The company raised $10 million in 2021. Investors include Cowboy Ventures and Horizon Ventures, Nicky and James Hilton Rothschild, and Hayley Barna, cofounder of Birchbox.
True Botanicals, a natural skincare brand, gained a series B investment from NextWorld, a San Francisco-based growth equity firm.
L’Oréal invested in biotech-based alternatives via Geno. L’Oréal made the investment through its Bold corporate venture fund.
Robertet acquired Aroma Esencial. The Girona, Spain-based company processes scents like cedar, patchouli, vetiver and ylang-ylang.
SkinStylus, maker of the FDA-approved microneedling devices, was acquired by The Beauty Health Company. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Givaudan acquired several cosmetic ingredients from Amyris, the maker of sugarcane-derived squalane. Under terms of the deal, Amyris will continue producing sustainable beauty ingredients for Givaudan.
Caliray, a sustainable beauty brand, raised a Series A round. The brand was founded in 2021 by Urban Decay founder Wende Zomnir. The deal was funded, in part, by True Beauty Ventures, an early stage beauty and wellness investment fund.
IFF agreed to sell its Flavor Specialty Ingredients (FSI) business to Exponent for $220 million in cash. IFF will use the money to reduce debt.
Private equity firm Yellow Wood Partners acquired Unilever’s Suave North America business. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Outside the US and Canada, Unilever retains ownership of Suave.
Pop star Miley Cyrus invested in Dolce Glow, a self-tanning brand.
Symrise acquired a minority share in Synergio, an Israeli-based biotech firm. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Synergio develops sustainable, plant-based technology for fast-moving consumer goods.
Makeup by Mario got a $40 million investment from Provenance, a private equity group.
Thirteen Lune, raised $8 million. The inclusive beauty platform attracted investment from The Brain Trust.
AS Beauty acquired Bliss World. A purchase price was not disclosed. AS Beauty is a JV between ELF Beauty founders Alan and Joey Shamah and the Azrak family. AS Beauty already includes Laura Geller Beauty, Julep Beauty, Mally Beauty and Cover FX.
Boathouse Capital invested in Glamsquad, the digital platform that connects users with hairstylists, makeup artists and nail technicians.
Coty Inc. renewed its licensing agreement with Jil Sander.
Symrise joined a Series A funding round for Ignite Ventures Studios, an investment fund that specializes in beauty, health and wellness. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
April Beauty Deals
L’Oréal agreed to acquire Aesop, Natura’s Australian-based personal care brand. The deal is worth $2.5 billion.March Beauty Deals
The Estée Lauder Cos.’ early-stage, stratetic investing and incubation arm, New Incubation Ventures takes a minority stake in Vyrao, a UK fragrance brand.Indie skincare brand Matter of Fact raises $6 million via a second round of funding. The company raised $10 million in 2021. Investors include Cowboy Ventures and Horizon Ventures, Nicky and James Hilton Rothschild, and Hayley Barna, cofounder of Birchbox.
True Botanicals, a natural skincare brand, gained a series B investment from NextWorld, a San Francisco-based growth equity firm.
L’Oréal invested in biotech-based alternatives via Geno. L’Oréal made the investment through its Bold corporate venture fund.
Robertet acquired Aroma Esencial. The Girona, Spain-based company processes scents like cedar, patchouli, vetiver and ylang-ylang.
February Beauty Deals
Live Tinted closed a $10 million Series A fundraising round led by Monogram Capital Partners. Other investors include Devonshire Partners and Silas Capital.SkinStylus, maker of the FDA-approved microneedling devices, was acquired by The Beauty Health Company. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Givaudan acquired several cosmetic ingredients from Amyris, the maker of sugarcane-derived squalane. Under terms of the deal, Amyris will continue producing sustainable beauty ingredients for Givaudan.
Caliray, a sustainable beauty brand, raised a Series A round. The brand was founded in 2021 by Urban Decay founder Wende Zomnir. The deal was funded, in part, by True Beauty Ventures, an early stage beauty and wellness investment fund.
IFF agreed to sell its Flavor Specialty Ingredients (FSI) business to Exponent for $220 million in cash. IFF will use the money to reduce debt.
Private equity firm Yellow Wood Partners acquired Unilever’s Suave North America business. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Outside the US and Canada, Unilever retains ownership of Suave.
Pop star Miley Cyrus invested in Dolce Glow, a self-tanning brand.
Symrise acquired a minority share in Synergio, an Israeli-based biotech firm. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Synergio develops sustainable, plant-based technology for fast-moving consumer goods.
January Beauty Deals
Unilever Ventures invested $2 million in Straand, an Australian scalp care brand.Makeup by Mario got a $40 million investment from Provenance, a private equity group.
Thirteen Lune, raised $8 million. The inclusive beauty platform attracted investment from The Brain Trust.
AS Beauty acquired Bliss World. A purchase price was not disclosed. AS Beauty is a JV between ELF Beauty founders Alan and Joey Shamah and the Azrak family. AS Beauty already includes Laura Geller Beauty, Julep Beauty, Mally Beauty and Cover FX.
Boathouse Capital invested in Glamsquad, the digital platform that connects users with hairstylists, makeup artists and nail technicians.
Coty Inc. renewed its licensing agreement with Jil Sander.
Symrise joined a Series A funding round for Ignite Ventures Studios, an investment fund that specializes in beauty, health and wellness. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.