Lakme

What Lakme does

Lakme is India's oldest and most established cosmetics and skincare brand, founded in 1952 under the Tata Group and acquired by Hindustan Unilever Limited in 1996 for approximately $45 million, now operating as a brand within HUL's portfolio (ultimately owned by Unilever Plc). The company sells a comprehensive range of color cosmetics (lipsticks, foundations, kajals, eyeliners, mascaras, eyeshadows, concealers, compacts, nail polishes) and skincare products (serums, moisturizers, sunscreens, face cleansers, masks) across 20+ sub-brands including Lakme 9 to 5, Lakme Absolute, VitC Superglow, Hya, Retinol Advanced Renewal, and Sun Expert, with products formulated specifically for Indian skin tones and climate conditions.

The business operates a direct-to-consumer omnichannel model spanning the lakmeindia.com e-commerce storefront (built on Shopify, featuring AI-powered Virtual Try On, Shade Match, and LUMI skin analysis tools), company-owned and franchised Lakme Salons across India, HUL's extensive general retail and multi-brand reseller network, and emerging quick-commerce partnerships (Swiggy One for exclusive member discounts). Pricing spans ₹99 to ₹1,799 across mass-market essentials, mid-range professional cosmetics, and premium palettes, supported by free shipping above ₹599 and the Glam Squad loyalty program powered by Kringle.

The brand's go-to-market leverages flagship cultural platforms — Lakme Fashion Week (partnered with FDCI, India's largest fashion event) and 2026 Women's Premier League sponsorship — alongside celebrity endorsements, influencer collaborations, and PETA cruelty-free certification. Revenue is generated entirely through one-time unit purchases from Indian women consumers across working-professional, bridal/festive, and general skincare segments, with no B2B or enterprise customer base and no separately disclosed brand-level financials (figures are consolidated within HUL's Beauty & Personal Care segment).

Name

Lakme

Legal name

Lakme Cosmetics

Website

https://lakmeindia.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Lakme is India's oldest cosmetics and skincare brand, owned by Hindustan Unilever Limited, selling makeup and skincare products formulated for Indian skin tones across lakmeindia.com e-commerce, Lakme Salons, general retail, and quick-commerce channels serving mass to premium Indian women consumers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cosmetics & Beauty Products

NAICS

Cosmetics, Beauty Supplies, and Perfume Retailers (456120), Cosmetics, Beauty Supplies, and Perfume Retailers (45612), Hair, Nail, and Skin Care Services (81211)

SIC

Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations (2844), Soap, Detergents, Cleang Preparations, Perfumes, Cosmetics (2840)

akta.pro primary industry

Professional Skincare & Facial Treatments (CRABALAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Professional/Backbar Skincare (Esthetician & Spa Use) (CRABAAAK)

Keywords

• Cosmetics products
• Beauty skincare
• Makeup brands
• Facial skincare
• Professional beauty services

Headquarters

HQ city

Ahmedabad

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Product Sales (Direct-to-Consumer): Lakme generates revenue through direct sales of cosmetics and beauty products via its e-commerce website, physical salons, and retail partnerships. Products span multiple categories including makeup, skincare, and nail care with price points ranging from ₹99 to ₹1,799.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Lakme manufactures and sells a comprehensive range of cosmetics and skincare products across multiple sub-brands (9 to 5, Absolute, VitC Superglow, Forever Matte, Lumi, Eyeconic, Hya, Sun Expert, Retinol Advanced) covering lipstick, foundation, kajal, eyeliner, mascara, eyeshadow, concealer, nail polish, serums, moisturizers, sunscreens, and cleansers. The brand also operates Lakme Salons offering professional beauty services and runs Lakme Fashion Week, India's largest fashion event. Products are specifically formulated for Indian skin tones and climate, sold direct-to-consumer through lakmeindia.com, company salons, retail outlets, and quick commerce partnerships.

Product overview

Lakme is India's leading beauty brand offering a comprehensive portfolio of cosmetics and skincare products. The company operates across multiple product lines including makeup (lipsticks, foundations, eyeliners, mascaras, eyeshadows, concealers, compacts, nail polishes) and skincare (serums, moisturizers, sunscreens, face cleansers, masks). Key sub-brands and product lines include the 9 to 5 professional workwear range, VitC Superglow brightening line, premium Absolute range, long-wearing Forever Matte line, Lumi skincare range, Eyeconic eye makeup, Be-Jewel luxe collection, Rouge Bloom color line, Hya hyaluronic acid-infused products, Sun Expert sunscreens, Retinol anti-aging range, and Glycolic Illuminate exfoliating line. The brand combines international cosmetic technology with formulations specifically designed for Indian skin tones and climate conditions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Lakme 9 to 5: Professional makeup range designed for working women with long-lasting formulations
• Lakme Absolute
• Lakme Sun Expert
• Lakme Lumi
• Lakme Perfect Radiance
• Lakme Youth Infinity
• Lakme Face It
• Lakme Eyeconic

Products and services

• Lakme 9 to 5 Range Comprehensive makeup range designed for working women with long-lasting formulations suitable for professional environments, including primers, foundations, lipsticks, eyeliners, kajal, concealers, and CC creams.
• Lakme VitC Superglow Range Vitamin C-infused skincare and makeup hybrid line designed to brighten and perfect skin, including tinted serums, primers, concealers, compacts, and setting sprays.
• Lakme Absolute Range Premium makeup line featuring high-performance cosmetics including foundations, lip products, eye shadows, concealers, primers, and finishing powders with professional-grade formulas.
• Lakme Forever Matte Range Long-wearing matte finish products including lipsticks, liquid lips, foundations, compacts, and face powders designed for all-day wear.
• Lakme Lumi Range Skincare-focused range including serums, creams, face washes, and tints formulated with ingredients like AHA-BHA-PHA complexes, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin C for luminous skin.
• Lakme Eyeconic Range Eye makeup collection featuring kajal, eyeliners, mascaras, and eyeshadows designed for defined, dramatic eye looks.
• Lakme Be-Jewel Collection Luxe makeup collection featuring luminous, jewel-toned products including skin tints, setting sprays, eye tints, lip liquids, and multichrome eyeshadows.
• Lakme Rouge Bloom Collection Color-focused makeup line featuring powder matte bullets, matte lip liquids, eyeshadow palettes, and setting powders in vibrant shades.
• Lakme Facelift MultiSlayer Range Multi-tasking stick makeup system featuring foundation, contour, blush, and highlighter sticks designed for customizable face sculpting.
• Lakme Xtraordin-airy Range Lightweight, airy texture makeup line including mousse foundations, compacts, lip mousses, and one-and-done tints for effortless application.
• Lakme Hya Range Hyaluronic acid-infused makeup and skincare hybrid products including foundations, lipsticks, concealers, and setting sprays with hydrating properties.
• Lakme Perfect Radiance Range Skin brightening line featuring niacinamide-enriched serums, day creams, night creams, and facewashes designed for radiant, glowing skin.
• Lakme Sun Expert Sunscreens Sun protection range including SPF 50+ sunscreens in various formats (tinted, matte, gel, stick) with UVA/B protection and additional skincare benefits like niacinamide and ceramide.
• Lakme Retinol Advanced Renewal Range Anti-aging skincare line featuring retinol serums, day creams, night gels, and under-eye creams with peptide complexes for skin renewal.
• Lakme Glycolic Illuminate Range Exfoliating skincare line with glycolic acid formulations including serums, day creams, night creams, and facewashes for improved skin texture and radiance.
• Lakme Peach Ceramide Moisturizers Hydrating moisturizers with peach extract and ceramides available in various SPF levels and sizes for different skin types including dry, normal, and sensitive skin.
• Lakme Dew Drama Range Dewy finish skincare and makeup line featuring serums, gel cremes, and facewashes with pro-ceramides and vitamin complex for hydrated, radiant skin.
• Lakme Hyaluronic Range Deep hydration line featuring hyaluronic acid serums, gel cremes, overnight gels, and facewashes in various concentrations including 4D and 10% hyaluronic acid formulations.
• Lakme Blush & Glow Range Brightening facewash line with various fruit extracts (lemon, strawberry, kiwi) and vitamin C for different skincare needs and skin types.
• Lakme Lip Love Range Lip care collection including lip scrubs, lip masks, lip and cheek tints, and lip oils for complete lip care and color routines.
• Lakme Ultimate Glam Range Glamorous makeup collection featuring liquid lipsticks, eyeliners, eyeshadows, foundations, and multi-purpose lip stacks for bold looks.
• Lakme Powerplay Range Long-wear makeup line including priming foundations, mousse foundations, velvet creme blushes and highlighters, and concealers designed for all-day performance.
• Lakme Glitterati Collection Sparkle-focused makeup line featuring glitter eyeliners, eye shadows, face palettes, and lip glazes for glamorous, glittery looks.
• Lakme Salons Professional beauty salon services offered across different parts of India, providing top-notch beauty services at competitive prices.

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• Women's Premier League (WPL)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Lakme (HUL) is a team and league partner in the Women's Premier League 2026, with WPL spending expected to reach Rs. 130 crore. The brand participates alongside other consumer brands like Whisper (P&G), Joy Personal Care, and Everyuth, leveraging women's cricket to drive brand engagement through emotionally resonant, story-led campaigns.
• Swiggy OnecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 24 September 2024Lakme partnered with Swiggy One membership program as an exclusive beauty deals partner, offering flat 30% discount to Swiggy One members across beauty and personal care categories. This partnership enhances Swiggy One's value proposition as a comprehensive membership program and provides Lakme access to Swiggy's urban consumer base.
• BeBeautifulminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLakme partners with BeBeautiful, a beauty and grooming platform, for content collaboration and brand promotion. The partnership is featured on Lakme's website footer as an official partner.
• Lakme Fashion Week x FDCIflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLakme Fashion Week, now partnered with Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), is the largest fashion event in the country. The 2026 edition (April 13-14, 2026) featured over 300 professional brands, 369 contestants, and 13,500+ visitors. Lakme provides professional makeup for runway shows, showcasing designers like Pero, Satya Paul, and Max Fashion.
• Mission Shakti (Uttar Pradesh Government)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerLakme professional makeup teams participated in the Gorakhpur Mahotsav's 'Shagun Ki Raat' costume show, providing professional makeup services for Vantangiya tribal community women empowerment initiative. This CSR-aligned partnership supports women's empowerment through the state government's Mission Shakti initiative.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Maybelline New York (India): L'Oréal-owned global color cosmetics brand competing with Lakme in lipsticks, foundations, mascara, and eye makeup in the Indian mass-premium segment. Direct substitute across multiple product categories.
• MAC Cosmetics (India): Estée Lauder-owned professional color cosmetics brand competing with Lakme in the professional and premium makeup segment in India. Overlaps in bridal, runway, and prestige positioning.
• L'Oréal Paris India: Global beauty leader with broad mass-premium portfolio in India competing across every Lakme category. Operates at much larger scale globally; directly comparable in Indian mass-market positioning.
• Revlon India: Global mass-premium color cosmetics brand with established India presence, directly competing with Lakme in lipsticks, foundations, and nail polish. Comparable in mass-market distribution and pricing strategy.

Emerging players

• Plum (Plumtronics Beauty): India-based vegan, cruelty-free beauty brand competing with Lakme in skincare and color cosmetics among younger Indian consumers. Comparable in price tier and digital-first go-to-market.

Direct peers

• Mamaearth (Honasa Consumer): Indian beauty and personal care brand competing with Lakme's skincare and color cosmetics ranges, particularly among younger consumers. Comparable in online-first distribution and aggressive category expansion.
• Colorbar Cosmetics: India-based premium color cosmetics brand offering direct competition to Lakme in foundations, lipsticks, and eye makeup with strong department store and online presence.
• Sugar Cosmetics: Indian D2C color cosmetics brand competing head-on with Lakme in lipsticks, foundations, and eye makeup. Targets the same mass-premium Indian consumer with digitally native marketing and influencer-led positioning.
• Lotus Herbals: India-based beauty and skincare brand competing directly with Lakme in mass-premium cosmetics and skincare across offline retail and online channels. Comparable product breadth (face, lip, skin) and Indian-heritage positioning.
• Nykaa Cosmetics: India's leading beauty retailer with its own cosmetics brand competing directly with Lakme across face, lip, eye, and skincare categories. Most comparable omnichannel competitor combining retail platform strength with own-brand product.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/lakmeindia
• Xx.com/ilovelakme
• Facebookfacebook.com/lakme
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lakme-lever

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lakme