Unilever Acquires Dermalogica – Will They Stay Cruelty Free?

Unilever Acquires Dermalogica - Will They Stay Cruelty Free?

It is with a sad heart that I write this update on Logical Harmony today. Unilever has just announced that they have signed an agreement to acquire cruelty free and vegan friendly skincare brand Dermalogica. While the brand is currently free of animal testing and has a customer service team that will happily give those who ask a list of vegan options, Unilever is not known as an animal friendly company. Currently, all brands owned by Unilever test on animals. This makes this announcement a potentially scary change for cruelty free consumers.

In 2014, Dermalogica sold $240 million in products. While it has been amazing to see a cruelty free company grow to that level of success, the idea of $240 million going to fund animal testing in any way is very disappointing. While it is currently unclear if Dermalogica will change their cruelty free status, the brand being owned by an animal testing parent company is enough to steer many consumers away from the brand.

Continue reading Unilever Acquires Dermalogica – Will They Stay Cruelty Free? to see the full press release!

The full press release from Unilever can be read below.

Unilever to acquire Dermalogica skincare

24/06/2015

London/Rotterdam, Unilever announced today that it has signed an agreement to acquire Dermalogica, the world’s number one professional skin care brand.

The leading skincare brand in professional salons and spas worldwide, Dermalogica was launched in 1986 in Los Angeles by Jane and Raymond Wurwand; following the earlier creation of The International Dermal Institute in 1983, the first of its kind to provide training to licenced skin therapists. Dermalogica is currently sold in over 80 countries, and offers both a range of in-home products, as well as a specialist offering for professional skin therapists. The brand is sold in locations where there is a licensed skin care professional who can provide advice on how to address skin problems such as hyperpigmentation, acne, ageing, and sensitive skin – among other skin conditions that Dermalogica is designed to tackle.

Paul Polman, Unilever CEO, says: “We are delighted to be adding Dermalogica to the Unilever Prestige personal care portfolio. Dermalogica enjoys an outstanding reputation and incredible awareness among skin care professionals and consumers alike, and has a clear positioning as a superior skin health brand that perfectly complements the rest of our Prestige offering. Importantly, it is a company founded on strong values and a common belief, shared by Unilever, in the role of business as a force for good in society. Dermalogica has great distribution and presence globally; and I am pleased that Jane and Raymond have retained an interest in the company and will continue to work with us to grow the brand.”

Jane Wurwand, Dermalogica founder and chief visionary, explains: “Thirty years ago, we launched Dermalogica with a clear and determined mission – to bring respect and success to the professional skin therapist. This mission is as important to us now as it was the first day we started the company. We are extremely proud of our Tribe and all that has been achieved in elevating the industry standard. Raymond and I are excited to be working with Unilever, a company with a long-standing history in growing brands and championing philanthropic initiatives. This partnership will provide Dermalogica with the opportunities and resources to take the brand to even greater heights and help us continue our legacy in supporting the next generation of professional skin therapists and women entrepreneurs worldwide.”

Dermalogica is focused on skin health, rather than beauty and pampering, relying on a combination of signature concepts: face mapping skin analysis, skin bars and microZone treatment, and its unique skin treatment and touch therapies. The brand, which had a turnover of US$240m in 2014, will be incorporated into Unilever’s Prestige division, which is exclusively dedicated to select distribution and premium personal care brands.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals.

Thank you to Logical Harmony reader, Jessie for letting me know about this news!

10 Comments

  1. And there goes another brand I use…or used, past tense now. Even if Dermalogica stays CF I can’t buy from them knowing some of that money will filter through to Unilever.

    Anyone have any recommendations for a replacement for Daily Microfoliant?

  2. Such a pity. I really enjoy Dermalogica and use a ton of their products. I was so happy to learn that I could still use the brand when I went vegan but there’s no way I’m throwing money at cruelty against animals.

  3. Well then, Dermalogica will lose many customers, the ones that helped them makes those millions, will simply go away. Shame on them and shame on Unilever for being greedy and mean.

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