Happy 80th Birthday Lancome!
The venerable French luxury house celebrates eight decades of beauty. Here’s a timeline chronicling its remarkable evolution.
1935
Lancome unveils five exotic fragrances at the Brussels World’s Fair. With names such as Bocages, Kypre, Tropiques, Conquete and Tendres Nuits, women are immediately charmed.
La Boutique Lancome opens its doors at 29, rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore, Paris. A multi-faceted line that was created by the visionary Armand Petitjean featured fragrance, skincare and make-up from its inception and quickly grew to be distributed in 30 countries within its first five years.
The name Lancome is taken from Petitjean’s Chateau de Lancosme.
The rose becomes the signature emblem of the brand.
1942
Lancome school was founded to teach proper skincare and makeup techniques. The Lancome “ambassadresses” are then dispatched to remote locations around the globe to represent, introduce and promote the brand. Each woman embodied the “Parisienne”, the stylish Parisian woman who embodies Lancome’s image.
1946
Lancôme offers a taste of the exotic through its high quality fragrances. The spicy Marrakech debuts and becomes a sensation.
1952
The original Tresor bottle is unveiled featuring seventy-five hand-polished facets. It was created by George Delhomme. The scent was a warm spicy-woody fragrance for her.
1955
La Ligne Oceane skincare line launches in France.
1965
Lancôme invests heavily in skin care and creates luxurious formulas that soothes dry skin and addresses a variety of concerns. Absolue launches this year and offers effective hydration in a beautiful texture.
1967
Lancomatique: Lancome’s first fluid mascara is an instant hit.
1978
Lancome makeup collections first appear.
1982
Lancome expands into Asia
1983
Isabelle Rossellini becomes the face of Lancome.
1995
The innovative brightening line, Blanc Expert debuts.
2009
Skin perfector Genifique debuts.
2012
Julia Roberts appears as the face of La Vie est Belle.
2014
Actress Lupita Nyongo signs on as a brand ambassador
Grandiose mascara debuts.
2015
Pro Makeup Artist Lisa Eldridge signs on as Creative Director of Makeup.
La Vie est Belle, a sumptuous coffee table book is published celebrating 80 years of French beauty.”
“Beauty is a woman who can love with her whole self. Without vanity and unconditionally.” – Kate Winslet, Lancome Amassador
What is your all-time favourite Lancome product and why? Tell us in a comment below and you could win this spectacular “My French Palette” from the French Innocence Spring Collection. We’ll draw a winning name on Friday, February 20th.
739 Comments
heather cain
February 28, 2015 at 6:08 pmwell I would be a happy girl if I could have everything on this page, there isn’t anything that I don’t want (or need)
Sarah
February 26, 2015 at 9:00 pmBienfait Multivitale SPF 30 is the only SPF moisturizer that doesn’t irritate my skin or leave me dry and flaky by the end of the day. I use it every day!
Connie Moore
February 26, 2015 at 1:20 pmI love the Grandois mascara!!!
Liz Croft
February 26, 2015 at 11:33 amI adore la vie est la belle , always get amazing comments when wearing the eau du perfume xxx
Rhonda
February 25, 2015 at 3:51 pmI LOVE Lancome’s Treser perfume. It is beautiful and classic without being overwhelming.
Julie Simpson
February 25, 2015 at 3:12 pmI was able to get a sample of Genefique and that small amount made a huge impact! Love
tuğçe caner
February 25, 2015 at 9:42 ammy favorite pruduct is Absolue Bx Cream 🙂
Michelle CHWALKA
February 25, 2015 at 8:29 amTheir moisturizers are great. My fave is Genifique
Coco
February 24, 2015 at 10:56 pmOh my goodness, how do you choose…..I love their eye makeup remover. I also love la vie est belle.
Michelle
February 24, 2015 at 5:24 pmAny Lancome mascara, they are all great!
Bonnie Humphrey
February 24, 2015 at 2:07 pmMy favorite all time Lancome product was a facial cream HYDRIX many years ago
and my current favorite is La Vie est Belle