L'Oreal
Profile
L'Oreal is the world’s largest cosmetics company. Founded in 1909, it has been criticized for dubious marketing claims about its products. In 2012, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned L’Oreal for claiming that some of its Lancome skin creams could “boost the activity of genes” or “stimulate cell regeneration” to reduce the appearance of aging. It has also come under fire from Black Lives Matter activists for racist advertising of products that promote the idea that white and fair skin is more beautiful than dark skin. In 2017 L'Oreal fired transgender model Munroe Bergdorf for speaking out against white supremacy, but re-hired her in 2020.
Cosmetics / Make up, Shampoo, Soaps and body wash, Perfume
Violations
| Top 5 Offense Groups (Groups Defined) | Penalty Total | Number of Records |
|---|---|---|
| environment-related offenses | $19,500 | 1 |
| safety-related offenses | $16,500 | 1 |
(April 23, 2021)
Stories
Activism
L'Oreal to remove words like 'whitening' from skin products after protests, criticism
Associated Press | June 27, 2020
The company’s advertising has been the target of criticism, that it's focused on white consumers, in the wake of George Floyd's death in police custody.
L'Oreal and others accused of racism over social media posts on George Floyd protests.
Emily Sakzewski | ABC News | June 11, 2020
Black Lives Matter protests have been held in towns and cities across the globe, but the movement has been particularly strengthened by support on social media — especially on Instagram.
& Lawsuits
L’Oreal Class Action Lawsuit Says Makeup Pumps Are Defective
Emily Sortor | Top Class Actions | February 11, 2020
A customer has filed a class action lawsuit against L’Oreal over claims that the company’s liquid cosmetics come in bottles that have defective pumps, which prevents them from accessing all of the product that they purchased.
Trans model rehired by L’Oreal years after being fired for speaking out against racism.
Tj Macias | Fort Worth Star telegram | June 9, 2020
L’Oreal Paris rehired Munroe Bergdorf three years after firing the model for speaking out against white supremacy, NBC News and other media outlets reported on Tuesday.
Strike at L'Oreal over low wages.
Katie Bird | Cosmetics Design-Europe | July 19, 2008
French workers at L'Oréal staged a strike yesterday calling for an increase in wages following the publication of the company's impressive financial results last week.
Financials
These 7 companies control almost every single beauty product you buy
Megan Willett-Wei & Skye Gould | Insider | May 18, 2017
These seven megacompanies — Estée Lauder Companies, L'Oréal, Unilever, Procter & Gamble, Shiseido, Johnson & Johnson, and Coty — employ thousands of people around the world and make billions of dollars in revenue every year. They also control advertising and the way we all think about beauty.
Note: Not a complete list of subsidiaries.
Croctail Subsidiary Tool using the CorpWatch API - This API uses automated parsers to extract the subsidiary relationship information from Exhibit 21 of companies' 10-K filings with the SEC.
& Evasion
L'Oréal heiress sells Seychelles island at heart of tax evasion probe
France 24 | August 2, 2012
L'Oréal heiress Liliane Bettencourt has sold an island in the Seychelles for $60 million. France ordered Bettencourt to pay almost $133 million in taxes last year after discovering undeclared accounts and assets, including D’Arros island.
L'Oreal billionaire heiress pledges to declare all assets after tax-dodge scandal
France 24 | July 1, 2010
L'Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt, France's richest woman, said she would comply with the law and declare her assets, after being caught on tape allegedly plotting tax evasion while making donations to the governing UMP party
L'Oréal heiress tax evasion allegations embroil French minister
Kim Willsher | The Guardian | June 21, 2010
The scandal over allegations that France's richest woman, the L'Oréal heiress Liliane Bettencourt, hid part of her fortune from the taxman has engulfed a high-profile member of president Nicolas Sarkozy's government.
Procurement
L'Oreal contracts with the U.S. Federal Government (via USA SPENDING).