What LE ROUGE FRANCAIS does

Le Rouge Français is a French plant-based color cosmetics company founded in 2019 by Élodie Carpentier and Salem Ghezaili and headquartered in Clamart, near Paris. The company develops and sells certified organic makeup products — including lipsticks, lip oils, mascaras, eyeliners, blushes, foundation fluids, and nail polishes — using a patented extraction process that derives pigments from dye plants such as madder, indigo, Damask rose, hibiscus, sorghum, annatto, turmeric, and chestnut. The extraction technology captures both color and biological properties, positioning the products at the intersection of color cosmetics and skincare, with ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, probiotics, hemp oil, and organic waxes supporting the dual-function claim. All formulations are COSMOS Organic certified (ECOCERT), titanium dioxide-free, PFAS-free, vegan (PETA), and made in France, with packaging in glass and biosourced materials including 100% recyclable aluminum eco-refill cartridges.

The business operates a hybrid direct-to-consumer and wholesale model. Primary revenue is generated through the company's own Shopify e-commerce platform (lerougefrancais.com) with global shipping, supported by a loyalty club (Club LFR), 3-installment payment plans, and a virtual try-on tool. Wholesale and distribution channels include approximately 100 specialty retailers worldwide (notably Neiman Marcus and Credo Beauty in the US), forthcoming 50-store distribution in Nocibé across France, and luxury hospitality placement in properties including Airelles, Hôtel Le Negresco, Hotel Royal Evian, and La Rinascente Milano. The first standalone Paris flagship store opened in October 2025 at 16 rue de Turenne in the Marais district. Pricing ranges from approximately $28 for eyeliners to $152 for premium gift sets, with lipsticks at $52 and lip oils at $32.

The company was bootstrapped from a 2019 OBRATORI seed investment and, as of October 2025, executed its first major external capital raise — a €1.5 million equity crowdfunding campaign via Tudigo — explicitly to fund industrial capacity expansion and export growth. Customer base is fragmented across DTC consumers, specialty retail, luxury hotels, and selective department stores, with no single anchor customer disclosed. The company operates with fewer than 10 employees and sells in France, Italy, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Name

LE ROUGE FRANCAIS

Legal name

Le Rouge Français

Website

https://lerougefrancais.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Le Rouge Français is a French plant-based color cosmetics brand founded in 2019 that uses a patented process to extract pigments from dye plants for certified organic lipsticks, eye, face, and nail products, selling direct-to-consumer online and through ~100 global retailers and luxury hotels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Plant-Based Color Cosmetics

NAICS

Cosmetics, Beauty Supplies, and Perfume Retailers (456120)

SIC

Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations (2844)

akta.pro primary industry

Clean/Organic/Natural Makeup (Positioning-based Color Cosmetics) (CRABACAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Natural Colorants (Plant/Algae/Microbial Extracts: Anthocyanins, Carotenoids, Chlorophyll, Spirulina) (AFAJAEAA), Color Cosmetics Packaging (Lipstick, Mascara, Compact, Palette) (IMALAJAH), Colors & Color Systems (Natural/Artificial, Caramel Colors) (CRADAOAG)

Keywords

• Plant-based cosmetics
• Color cosmetics
• Organic makeup
• Natural pigments
• Clean beauty products

Headquarters

HQ city

Clamart

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Direct-to-Consumer E-commerce: The company sells directly to consumers through its Shopify e-commerce platform (lerougefrancais.com) with global shipping. The brand offers a loyalty club (Club LFR), free delivery thresholds, shade replacement guarantees, and secure payment options including 3-installment plans.
2. Retail Distribution: Products are sold through approximately 100 retail partners worldwide including Neiman Marcus, Credo Beauty, and Nocibé (50 stores planned in France), as well as hotel spas and concept stores.
3. Crowdfunding Campaign: A €1.5 million crowdfunding campaign was launched via Tudigo platform to fund industrial expansion and export growth.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Le Rouge Français manufactures and sells certified organic, plant-based color cosmetics including lipsticks, lip oils, mascaras, eyeliners, blushes, foundation fluids, and nail polishes. The brand uses a patented process, developed over three years of research, to extract both color and biological properties from dye plants such as madder, indigo, Damask rose, sorghum, and annatto, replacing petrochemical-derived synthetic pigments with plant-based alternatives. Products are COSMOS Organic certified, titanium dioxide-free, PFAS-free, vegan, and packaged in 100% recyclable glass and bio-sourced materials.

Product overview

Le Rouge Français is a plant-based color cosmetics brand founded in 2019 by Élodie Carpentier and Salem Ghezaili, offering a comprehensive color cosmetics and skincare portfolio centered on patented plant-based pigment extraction technology. The core offering spans lips (16 lipstick shades with eco-refillable cartridges, tinted balms, lip oils, scrubs), eyes (mascaras with indigo extract, eyeliners, pencils, brow/lash serums), face (cream and powder blushes, foundation fluids/tints, pressed powders, cleansing and body oils), and nails (bio-sourced polishes with 81% natural ingredients). Notable innovations include their first biosourced lipstick case made from vegetable oil, COSMOS organic certification, and collaborations with Opéra national de Paris and Rahul Mishra. The brand operates its first Paris flagship in the Marais district and distributes through Neiman Marcus, Credo Beauty, and Nocibé retailers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lipsticks Iconic lipsticks in plant-based shades with eco-refillable aluminum cartridges, combining comfort and skincare benefits. Available in 16 shades including Rouge Français, Rouge Alizarine, Brun and Nude series. Priced at $52.
• Lip Oils Lip care oils with plant-based pigments offering glossy finish. Includes ingredients like turmeric, orcanette, and coconut oil for nourishment. Priced at $32.
• Tinted Balms Skincare lip products with delicate color and glossy finish, nourishing and protecting lips while enhancing natural beauty.
• Mascaras Organic mascaras combining performance and care with indigo extract for lash conditioning and lengthening. Priced $41-$45, with travel sizes available.
• Eyeliners Organic eyeliners combining indigo with barley straw hydrosol and castor oil for precise application and nourishing properties. Priced $28-$35.
• Eye Pencils Soft, pigmented pencils with vegetable charcoal for precise eye outlining while caring for sensitive eyes.
• Cream Blushes Melting sensorial texture cream blushes that nourish skin while providing buildable color and fresh glow. Priced $34-$38.
• Powder Blushes Light and silky powder blushes that diffuse soft, velvety color while respecting skin with nourishing plant-based active ingredients. Priced $48-$60.
• Foundation Fluids / Skin Tints Lightweight tinted fluids with hyaluronic acid, probiotics, and organic argan oil providing hydration, illumination, and second-skin effect. Titanium dioxide-free formulations.
• Nail Polishes Bio-sourced nail polishes with approximately 81% natural ingredients derived from plants, using red algae anthocyanins for powerful dyeing pigment.
• Eco-Refill Lipstick Cartridges 100% recyclable aluminum eco-refill cartridges compatible with the signature bio-sourced lipstick case, allowing consumers to replace shades sustainably.
• Lip Care & Scrubs Nourishing and restorative lip care formulas including exfoliating scrubs and multi-purpose balms.
• Eyelash & Eyebrow Serum Treatment serum with clover extract that nourishes, strengthens, and stimulates eyelash and eyebrow growth.
• Cleansing Oil Gentle makeup removal oil combining nourishment and comfort with alkanet flower extract, removing makeup while preserving skin's natural balance.
• Body Modelling Oils Sensory oils for body nourishment, softening, and relaxation with alkanet flower, turmeric, and pomegranate ingredients.
• Foundation Brushes Sophisticated, soft, and precise complexion brushes designed for seamless blending with vegan fibers.
• Beauty Gift Sets Curated gift sets and beauty rituals featuring iconic creations including mascara-lipstick combinations. Priced $57-$152.
• Opéra National de Paris Collaboration (Rouge Opéra Edition) Limited edition collaboration products blending ballet and opera tradition with plant-based cosmetics, including lipstick and blush in special Rouge Opéra Edition packaging.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99% of global makeup industry uses petrochemical-derived synthetic pigments (CIs) — Le Rouge Français replaces these with plant-based alternatives
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered key, flagship, minor, core and supporting.

• NocibékeyChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 October 2025French beauty retail chain where Le Rouge Français will soon enter 50 stores, significantly expanding domestic retail footprint. Represents a major channel expansion in the brand's home market of France.
• Opéra national de ParisflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024For 350 years the Opéra national de Paris has embodied excellence in ballet and opera. Le Rouge Français joined forces with this institution for a co-creation blending tradition and audacity, resulting in the limited edition Rouge Opéra collection including lipstick and blush.
• Rahul MishraflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Indian haute couture designer (collaborating with over 1,000 Indian artisans) partnered with Le Rouge Français for Paris Fashion Week 2023. The brand provided signature plant-based makeup for the runway show. Attended by celebrities Kelly Rutherford and Ashley Park.
• Neiman MarcuskeyChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPremium US department store chain that stocks Le Rouge Français products internationally, providing access to affluent American consumers seeking clean beauty alternatives.
• Credo BeautykeyChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpecialty clean beauty retailer in the US market, distributing Le Rouge Français as part of its curated clean beauty assortment.
• Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI)minorOthersLe Rouge Français joined the international Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI), adopting its new global standard for Mica supply according to environmental and social criteria, overseen by the OECD.
• ECOCERTcoreOthersECOCERT is the certifying body for COSMOS organic standards. Le Rouge Français maintains annual COSMOS certification through ECOCERT, which audits the entire supply chain from ingredient sourcing to packaging and recycling.
• Luxury Hotels & Spas Network (France, Italy, Switzerland)supportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProducts are distributed through a network of luxury hotels and spas including Airelles Gordes, Hôtel Le Negresco (Nice), Hotel Royal Evian Resort, Spa Château de La Gaude, Theodora (Geneva), and La Rinascente Milano. These partnerships serve as both retail and brand visibility channels.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Kosas: Clean color cosmetics brand positioned at the intersection of makeup and skincare. Comparable premium pricing, similar lip and face product categories, and overlapping distribution through Sephora and Credo Beauty.
• 100% Pure: US-based cosmetics brand built on fruit and plant pigments. Most direct comparable to Le Rouge Français given its foundational use of botanical colorants in lipsticks, blushes, and makeup, and similar positioning around natural, vegan, and cruelty-free credentials.
• RMS Beauty: Premium clean color cosmetics brand known for organic, food-grade ingredients in luminizers, lipsticks, and blushes. Comparable target consumer (high-end clean beauty buyer) and similar premium price positioning, though RMS uses minerals rather than plant pigments.
• ILIA Beauty: Clean beauty brand combining skincare and color cosmetics with naturally derived ingredients. Sells through Credo Beauty and Sephora, directly overlapping Le Rouge Français's retail channels and consumer segment.
• Ere Perez: Australian plant-based makeup brand using natural ingredients like beetroot, rice, and calendula in color cosmetics. Directly comparable plant-pigment approach with similar size and international specialty retail distribution.
• Juice Beauty: US-based organic beauty brand formulating with antioxidant-rich juices and botanicals. Comparable organic certification (USDA) approach and similar premium clean beauty positioning in color cosmetics and skincare.
• W3LL PEOPLE: Clean color cosmetics brand with plant-derived formulas and EcoCert certifications. Comparable clean ingredient approach and similar positioning in the natural beauty retail channel (Credo Beauty).
• Bite Beauty: Lip-focused clean beauty brand known for natural, food-grade ingredients. Directly comparable in lip product category (lipsticks, balms, scrubs) and clean ingredient philosophy.

Broad incumbents

• L'Oréal (Clean Beauty Portfolio): Global beauty conglomerate with multiple clean beauty initiatives (La Roche-Posay, Garnier Organic). Represents both the competitive threat and potential acquirer given its plant-based R&D capabilities and global distribution scale.

Regional players

• Patyka: Paris-based organic luxury cosmetics brand with COSMOS/ECOCERT certifications and similar premium positioning in French clean beauty. Comparable target consumer, certification strategy, and French heritage branding.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses2 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 LE ROUGE FRANCAIS