Dermalogica acquired by Unilever
Professional skincare giant Dermalogica is to be bought by Unilever for an undisclosed sum.
Dermalogica will become part of Unilever’s Prestige division, which it launched last year and which also includes Kate Somerville Skincare and organic brand Ren, which Unilever acquired in March.
Dermalogica will continue to operate out of its current Los Angeles, US, headquarters and founders Raymond and Jane Wurwand will stay with the brand in leadership roles.
In the UK, Dermalogica will continue to work from its Leatherhead, Surrey, head office and its eight national training centres.
UK general manager Glenn Poy said, “Here in the UK, we will continue to operate under Jane and Ray’s leadership, operating as we always have - committed to professional skin therapists through all our current channels.
“We have an action packed second half of the year with over 2,500 skin therapists coming together for our biggest ever congress in Las Vegas as well as some exciting new professional and retail product launches to be shared with our skincare centre partners over the coming months. It’s business as usual for us in the UK and Ireland, and our international markets. It is a tremendous opportunity and an exciting time for Dermalogica.”
Unilever chief executive Paul Polman said in a statement, "Dermalogica enjoys an outstanding reputation and incredible awareness among skincare professionals and consumers alike, and has a clear positioning as a superior skin health brand that perfectly complements the rest of our Prestige offering."
In a letter to stockists, Raymond and Jane Wurwand said Dermalogica was set to become the "cornerstone" in Unilever's prestige strategy and "category leader" in the prestige skincare market. They added, "Our combined strengths will mean even more of the product innovation, education excellence and that this partnership will further elevant not only the brand that we love but the whole profession."
Dermalogica reported global sales of $240m (£152m) last year. The brand was founded in 1986 in Los Angeles, by UK-born therapist Jane Wurwand.