Rainbow Cosmetics

What Rainbow Cosmetics does

Rainbow Cosmetics Ltd is a UK-based B2B wholesale distributor of cosmetics, fragrances, skincare, haircare, bath and body, self-tan, nail care, and gift products, headquartered in Manchester and founded in 1990. The company sells both third-party branded products (including Issey Miyake, Calvin Klein, Paco Rabanne, Ted Baker, Dove, Mitchum, and Vaseline) and a portfolio of six owned brands: Sunkissed (premium bronzing/self-tan launched 2006 and relaunched in 2018 as 95% natural/vegan/cruelty-free), Q-Ki (gifting kits launched 2017), The Kind Edit Co. (sustainable beauty), Tilly (pre-teen toiletries), Style & Grace, and Active. Sunkissed is exported to 31 countries, Q-Ki to 19, and Tilly to 16, with overall distribution reach spanning more than 40 countries globally.

The business operates a trade-only model requiring new buyers to complete a registration form reviewed by an account manager before online activation, with pricing structured around category-based minimum order values (£300 for Fragrance/Branded Cosmetics/Branded Skincare; £500 for Rainbow Brands) and carriage-paid thresholds (£500 and £1,500 respectively). Rainbow supports four delivery modes — container shipment, central depot, direct to store, and direct to consumer — and maintains ADR/IMDG hazardous-goods compliance for international shipping of aerosols and fragrances, in partnership with freight carriers DSV and Trans Global. The company employs 11–50 staff with a workforce that is 61% female and where 66% of managerial roles are held by women.

Revenue is generated through transaction-based wholesale distribution to retailers, wholesalers, distributors, market traders, agents, and online sellers. Marketing is multi-channel, combining influencer and beauty YouTuber collaborations (#SunkissedReady drove a 300% increase in website sales), organic social (3m+ tutorial video views), trade show participation (Spring Fair NEC Birmingham, Cosmoprof Bologna), and dedicated retail brand-bay programmes at anchors including The Range, Wilko, and Asda. The company holds the Queen's Award for Enterprise in International Trade (2018) and is privately held with no disclosed institutional investment.

Name

Rainbow Cosmetics

Legal name

Rainbow Cosmetics Ltd

Website

https://rainbowcosmetics.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Rainbow Cosmetics is a Manchester-based B2B wholesale distributor selling both third-party beauty brands and its own portfolio (Sunkissed, Q-Ki, The Kind Edit Co., Tilly, Style & Grace, Active) to trade customers across more than 40 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cosmetics Wholesale Distribution

NAICS

Cosmetics, Beauty Supplies, and Perfume Retailers (45612)

SIC

Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations (2844)

akta.pro primary industry

Cosmetics & Color Makeup Distribution (CRAOAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Private Label & Contract/White-Label Beauty Distribution (CRAOAEAO), Fine Fragrance (Women’s/Men’s/Unisex) (CRABADAA)

Keywords

• Wholesale cosmetics distribution
• Branded beauty products
• Own-brand cosmetics
• Fragrance wholesale supply
• Trade beauty products

Headquarters

HQ city

Manchester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Wholesale Distribution: Wholesale distribution of cosmetics, fragrances, beauty products, and personal care items to trade customers including retailers, wholesalers, distributors, and market traders. Products sold include own brands (Sunkissed, Q-Ki, The Kind Edit Co., Tilly, Style & Grace, Active) as well as third-party branded cosmetics and mass market fragrances.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Rainbow Cosmetics is a B2B wholesale distributor that supplies cosmetics, fragrances, skincare, bath and body, self-tan, nail care, haircare, kids and gift-set products to trade customers including retailers, wholesalers, distributors, agents and market traders. The company operates a portfolio of six own brands (Sunkissed, Q-KI, The Kind Edit Co., Tilly, Style & Grace, Active) alongside third-party branded lines such as Issey Miyake, Calvin Klein, Paco Rabanne, Ted Baker, Dove, Mitchum, Vaseline and OPI. Orders are placed exclusively through a trade account portal, with products shipped to more than 40 countries worldwide.

Product overview

Rainbow Cosmetics is a B2B cosmetics wholesaler and distributor operating primarily in the UK, distributing products to over 40 countries. The company offers a diverse portfolio of branded and own-brand cosmetics across multiple categories including Fragrance, Makeup, Nail Care, Skin Care, Bath & Body, Self Tan, Haircare, and Kids products. Their proprietary brand portfolio includes Sunkissed (premium bronzing and self-tan launched 2006), Q-KI (gifting kits launched 2017), The Kind Edit Co. (sustainable beauty with 95%+ natural ingredients), and Tilly (pre-teen toiletries). They also distribute major third-party brands including Issey Miyake, Calvin Klein, Paco Rabanne, Ted Baker, Dove, Mitchum, and Vaseline. The company operates as a trade-only platform requiring customer accounts for ordering.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sunkissed: Bronzing beauty brand launched in 2006, relaunched in 2018 with 95% natural, vegan, and cruelty-free formulations. Now exported to 31 countries worldwide.
• Q-KI
• The Kind Edit Co.
• Tilly
• Style & Grace
• Active

Products and services

• Sunkissed Bronzing cosmetics brand featuring self-tan, skincare and cosmetics, formulated with 95% natural, vegan and cruelty-free credentials; sold to trade customers in 31 countries.
• Q-KI Gifting and cosmetics brand offered in kit formats aimed at young makeup users and social influencers, including the 24 days of Beauty Advent Calendar; exported to 19 countries.
• The Kind Edit Co. Sustainable beauty brand with collections (Kind, Spa Botanique, Signature, Utopia, Bubble Boutique, Skin Expert) formulated with over 95% natural ingredients, vegan and PETA approved, packaged in recycled materials without throw-away plastic.
• Tilly Pre-teen toiletry brand featuring colourful Fizzers and gift sets designed for play; exported to 16 countries.
• Style & Grace Own brand gift collection featuring bath and body products, with seasonal launches such as the Valentines Gin Fizz range stocked in Asda.
• Active Own brand offering bath and body care products distributed through Rainbow's wholesale catalogue.
• Sunkissed Airbrush Body Make-up New Sunkissed cosmetic product (Airbrush Body Make-up) launched in July 2024 as part of the company's newest product roll-out.

Quantifiable outcome

• 300% increase in website sales from digital advertising campaign #SunkissedReady
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The RangecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 6 August 2024Major UK retailer partnership for Sunkissed brand. Sunkissed has achieved significant success with The Range over the years. Launch of dedicated Sunkissed bays in larger stores to showcase full range of tan, skincare, and cosmetics under one banner with branded shelf strips and POS materials.
• WilkominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 6 August 2024Upcoming dedicated Sunkissed bays in Wilko stores. Customers will soon be able to see Sunkissed bays in Wilko locations.
• Refan and Niop Beauty StorescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 24 July 2024International distribution partnership in Cyprus. Sunkissed launch at Refan and Niop Beauty Stores exceeded expectations thanks to distributor's efforts in perfect in-store merchandising and impactful social media campaign.
• PrettyLittleThing.comcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 July 2024Third Sunkissed collaboration with PrettyLittleThing.com. Collaborative posts gathered over 1.5 million comments and reached an audience of 8 million. Strong social media marketing partnership driving brand awareness and sales.
• DSVminorOthersPreferred freight carrier partner for international shipping. Rainbow is partnered with DSV and Trans Global for freight services.
• Trans GlobalminorOthersPreferred freight carrier partner for international shipping. Rainbow is partnered with DSV and Trans Global for freight services.
• ChoconchocminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with Choconchoc boutique chocolates for Instagram campaign 'Girls Night in Hamper' featuring Sunkissed cosmetics and tan products.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Sephora UK: Global multi-brand beauty retailer now operating in the UK. Competes for premium beauty shelf space and consumer mindshare in the same categories Rainbow distributes.
• Space NK: Premium multi-brand beauty retailer in the UK with curated cosmetics, skincare, and fragrance assortment. Competes at the higher end of the beauty distribution chain where The Kind Edit Co. and Sunkissed are positioned.
• Boots: UK's largest health and beauty retailer with extensive private-label and branded cosmetics range. Competes indirectly on shelf space for the same consumer beauty spend, including premium and own-label fragrance and skincare categories.
• Superdrug: UK high-street health and beauty retailer carrying mass and premium cosmetic brands. Functions as both a customer for Rainbow's distribution and a competing channel to Rainbow's trade buyer accounts.
• THG (The Hut Group): Vertically integrated beauty and well-being platform that owns brands (Elemis, Glossybox) and operates direct-to-consumer distribution at much greater scale. Overlaps with Rainbow as a beauty owner-distributor but at substantially larger scale and with proprietary technology.

Direct peers

• Capital Hair & Beauty: UK hair and beauty products distributor serving trade buyers. Operates a similar B2B wholesaler model with branded and own-brand assortment to professional customers.
• Salon Services: UK-based B2B distributor of hair and beauty products to trade buyers, including salons and retailers. Closest comparable to Rainbow's B2B wholesale distribution model serving trade accounts with category minimum-order thresholds.
• Burmans Cosmetics: Family-owned beauty products distributor serving drug, food, and mass retail channels. Comparable trade-distribution model with focus on cosmetics, fragrance, and personal care categories.

Emerging players

• AllBeauty: Online-only UK beauty and fragrance retailer focused on discounted branded cosmetics and perfume. Overlaps with Rainbow's distribution of mass-market and luxury fragrance brands.
• Escentual: UK online retailer specializing in fragrance, skincare, and cosmetics from premium brands. Comparable to Rainbow on the fragrance and cosmetics distribution side with a direct-to-consumer angle.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/WeLoveSunkissed
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@WeLoveSunkissed
• Instagraminstagram.com/WeLoveSunkissed

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

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 Rainbow Cosmetics