Who Actually Founded L’Oréal?

L’Oréal, a name we are more familiar with than almost any other cosmetic company, is of French origin and is one of the world’s largest companies selling cosmetics and beauty products. In addition to product marketing, L’Oréal possesses massive production and research units; it is a cosmetic empire in its own right, conducting the work of all its departments through independent fields of expertise. Given its deep-rooted history, it is not at all surprising that it was born in France and became such an iconic brand worldwide.

In proportion to L’Oréal’s current success, its founding dates back more than a century. On this path that began in the early 1900s with a few innovative formulas, it continues today as a global holding company with nearly 90,000 employees.

Who Founded L’Oréal?

The story of the France-based company begins with Eugène Paul Louis Schueller, a young and idealistic French chemist. Realizing the harmful substances in hair dyes at the time, Schueller developed the world’s first safe synthetic hair dye formula in 1907 in his apartment kitchen, which he named “Auréole.” Schueller, who began creating his own products and personally marketing them to hairdressers, laid the foundations of his brand in 1909 under the name “Société Française de Teintures Inoffensives pour Cheveux” (Safe Hair Dye Company of France).

The company’s name was later registered as L’Oréal, inspired by the modern hair dye style Schueller developed. Therefore, L’Oréal was founded in 1909 in France by Eugène Paul Louis Schueller.

Transformation into a World Giant

Hiring new chemists and adding shampoos, skincare, and perfumes to its product range over the passing years, L’Oréal quickly spread its reputation throughout France. Subsequently, it became the giant umbrella brand known by the entire world as we know it today.

Sharing the title of being one of the world’s largest cosmetic companies along with giants like Estée Lauder and Coty, L’Oréal has continued to keep its headquarters in France (Clichy) despite all its growth. Unlike many other companies, instead of adopting an entirely US-centered structure, it preferred not to break away from the aesthetic heritage of France, the homeland of cosmetics.

Who Owns L’Oréal?

Today, housing dozens of world giants such as Lancôme, Maybelline, Garnier, Kiehl’s, Vichy, and La Roche-Posay under its roof, L’Oréal has an annual sales volume exceeding 40 billion Euros. (Note: The Body Shop brand, which was part of the company for a long time, was sold in 2017.)

The management structure of the company is known for its loyalty. Since 2021, Nicolas Hieronimus has been carrying out the role of CEO of L’Oréal. The company’s largest shareholder is Françoise Bettencourt Meyers and her family, who is the granddaughter of founder Eugène Schueller and holds the title of the world’s richest woman. With more than a century of experience, the brand continues to announce its motto “because we’re worth it” to the entire world.