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L’Oréal is poised to snap up the British skincare brand Medik8, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday.
According to the report, the brand, which is currently owned by private equity group Inflexion, and L’Oréal are close to finalising an agreement, and a deal could be announced within the coming days.
In January, The Business of Beauty identified the brand as top M&A target for the year. Known for its premium clinical products like the Crystal Retinal range and serums like Liquid Peptides, the company makes all of its products in-house in its own facility in Buckinghamshire. Its distribution includes many professional channels, but it also has a growing presence in the UK’s Space NK, and has been investing in out-of-home advertising. Sales reached between $70 to $80 million in 2024.
Medik8 would be a strong addition to L’Oréal’s dermatological beauty unit, which also houses the popular mass brands Cerave and La Roche Posay as well as premium lines like Skinceuticals. The unit makes up around 18 percent of L’Oréal’s total sales, and has been responsible for much of its growth in recent years, with L’Oréal’s leadership asserting that they expect more of their global expansion to be powered by the popularity of skincare products that can speak to specific skin concerns and deliver targeted results.
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