Beauty Sales: $1.5 billion (estimated)

Major Products/Brands: Prestige skin care, sun care, color cosmetics and fragrance sold under a variety of brands, including Clarins, Kibio, Thierry Mugler, Azzaro, Swarovski, David Yurman, Porsche Design.

New Products: Clarins Instant Definition Mascara, Clarins Vital Light Serum, ClarinsMen Shave Ease Oil, Swarovski Aura, David Yurman Fresh Essence eau de toilette, Angel B by Thierry Mugler Men.

Comments: Luxury skin care is on the rise and Clarins fits into the picture rather nicely, with a fresh approach targeting a younger market as well as its long-time loyal customers. The French skin care company is going great guns in the U.S. lately with science-based product launches, licenses, increased advertising and editorial press focusing on its very attractive, young, executive family members/jetsetters/fashionistas.

The French skin care brand, which highlights plant-based beauty, has also stepped up its sales team. Under the terms of a four-year renewable agreement announced last year, Clarins Fragrance Group U.S. and InterParfums Luxury Brands will share and manage an expanded sales force. Logistical and administrative support will be provided by Clarins Group USA from its Park Avenue offices in New York and a warehouse in Orangeburg, NY.

The two companies have taken on a similar strategy in Spain. In June, Interparfums España announced it would team up with Clarins’ Madrid-based subsidiary, Clarins Espagne.

In 2011, the brand partnered with Camille Lacourt, 2010’s European swimmer of the year.

In June, actress Eva Mendes was named as the new face of Angel by Thierry Mugler.

Packaging for Clarins products is in the midst of being updated to take on a more contemporary and luxurious look, and with increased emphasis placed on the brand’s logo.

Beauty Sales: $1.4 billion (estimated)

Major Products: Skin care, fine fragrances, color cosmetics and sun care products.

New Products: Multi-Active Nuit skin care, Bright Plus HP Line and Intensive Brightening Smoothing Serum, Multi-Active Skin Renewal Serum, Delectable Self-Tanning Mousse SPF 15, Eau des Jardins fragrance, Thierry Mugler Womanity fragrance.

Comments: Clarins paid the price that many department store brands did, with 2009 sales dropping from $1.5 billion in 2008 to approximately $1.4 billion.

Still, the beauty and spa treatment company continues to launch new items. The company introduced a fourth fragrance in its Eau de Soins series, Eau des Jardins. The “treatment scent” is a part of Clarins’ well-being initiative, as the perfume offers both aromatherapy and phytotherapy.

In collaboration with International Flavors & Fragrances, Clarins applied gemmotherapy—an herbal therapy using the extracts of plant buds or rootlets.

Eau des Jardins’ concoction is comprised of extracts from buds of beech, black currant and mountain ash, billed “to help moisturize, soften and brighten skin.”

Eau de Jardins ($62, 100ml) is available in Europe and launches in the U.S. this fall.

In May, Thierry Mugler launched his Womanity fragrance, which is described to be both savory and sweet at the same time. The creation of the eau de parfum was “a challenge and a technological breakthrough,” according to Clarins Group.

The sweet and savory comes from fig and caviar. Molecular extraction of fig and caviar was performed exclusively by Mane for Thierry Mugler fragrances, marking the first time the patented extraction method has been used in a fragrance. The technology makes it possible to extract the aromatic molecules of any material and to precisely reconstruct its olfactory properties, thus obtaining ingredients that perfectly preserve and express each ingredient in all its subtlety and nuance, according to Clarins.

To promote the scent, Womanity.com—an interactive platform with a goal of building an extensive community among women—went live in June.
“Developing through this kind of interactive, collaborative space has long been a part of our brand DNA,” noted Joël Palix, president of Clarins Fragrance Group and the Thierry Mugler brand.

Also in May, Clarins participated as a Gold Sponsor of the 2010 Global Spa Summit held in Istanbul, Turkey from May 16-19.

Clarins Delicious Self Tanning Cream took first place in the Sun Product—Prestige category, in this year’s CEW Beauty Awards.

The French beauty house recently launched a new anti-aging skin care called Vital Light, which claims to restore skin’s luminosity, while controlling firmness and lines.