The founding family of the Clarins Group has always had an eye for fast-growing brands and trends. To further its ambition of tapping into categories with a bright future, the Courtin-Clarins clan have acquired clean beauty pioneer, Ilia Beauty, through its investment firm, Famille C.
Prisca Courtin-Clarins, the deputy CEO of Famille C, is the granddaughter of Jacques Clarins, who founded the company that bears his name in the 1950s, and has long been a key player in the beauty industry through the prestige French company.
It’s my role in Famille C to identify the brands of tomorrow and therefore diversify the family assets, she says. “Ilia is Famille C’s first major and strategic acquisition. The idea is to make it the world leader in clean colour cosmetics.”
The brand was founded in 2011 by Canadian entrepreneur Sasha Plavsic. In the beginning, Ilia sold mainly lip products but has branched out into award-winning complexion and eye products including Super Serum Skin Tint, Soft Focus Finishing Powder and Limitless Lash Mascara.
Ilia has its own DTC website and is available in hundreds of Sephora stores globally, Space NK in the UK and Mecca in Australia.
There’s a dynamic synergy between Ilia and Clarins, one of the first companies to popularise natural ingredients in beauty. Jonathan Zrihen, President and CEO of Groupe Clarins, confirmed the acquisition as being in line with the ambitions of the Courtin-Clarins family and its aim of delivering sustainable beauty.
Ilia is an amazing brand managed by a great team, he adds. “I am truly convinced that this acquisition will enable Ilia to benefit from both Famille C and Clarins expertise to further accelerate and conquer new territories.”
Since its launch, Ilia has pursued growth through two rounds of fund-raising in 2018 and 2020.