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
Olivia Helliwell
February 13, 2015 at 7:27 amLancôme’s La Vie Est Belle is my favourite product – it’s my signature scent. Sweet, feminine, a little sexy and a little bold. It’s bliss.
Flora Ger
February 13, 2015 at 7:26 ammy favourite Lancome product is the perfume la vie est belle!!!
Emma
February 13, 2015 at 7:13 amMy favourite Lancôme product has to be their primer! Or their wonderful lipsticks
Jodi
February 13, 2015 at 5:59 amThe Bi-facil eye make up remover is amazing. Hero product, for sure!
Sandie
February 13, 2015 at 5:52 amI have not tried much from the line but just tried the nail polish and i love it. I can definitely see me getting a few more. I also like the Bi-facial remover.
Dave Lackie
February 17, 2015 at 12:32 pmThey reworked their nail polish formula and it is really good now. I hear so many people loving it!!
Maria Ploumi
February 13, 2015 at 5:45 amMy favourite Lancome product is Hypnôse homme men’s fragrance spray because i love the way my husband smells when he wears it!
Daniëlle
February 13, 2015 at 4:32 amThe Hypnôse Doll Eyes Mascara!
Soos
February 13, 2015 at 4:04 amTeint Idols Ultra 24 foundation. I was sad when they discontinued the original Tent Idols. Oh, well.
Edyta
February 13, 2015 at 3:52 amHi, I love Lancome and right now I’m very impressed with their new compact Miracle Cushion Foundation. It is soo nice…almost like a dream. I would love to win this eye palette 🙂
Raven Sinclair
February 13, 2015 at 1:51 amLove the Grandiose mascara, but the Lancome Juicy Tube lipgloss holds a place in my heart since that was the first Lancome item i had the privilege of purchasing.
Connie peixoto
February 13, 2015 at 1:23 amAmen to Lancôme foundation “Teint Miracle”it’s a really miracle to cover any imperfections…
Dave Lackie
February 17, 2015 at 12:33 pmThat is a good foundation!! I agree
aletha
February 13, 2015 at 12:31 amI love ❤ the mascara!
Eileen
February 13, 2015 at 12:22 amI love Lancome’s Bi-facil eye makeup remover…works so well!
Mike
February 13, 2015 at 12:00 amGenifique!
Karen Ali
February 12, 2015 at 10:43 pmI absolutely love Lancome hypnose perfume! All time favorite for sure!!!
Toni Wilson
February 12, 2015 at 10:36 pmWhen Lancôme was offering a free gift with purchase a couple years ago, I went in to the department store and just grabbed a perfume, just to get the gift!!! I grabbed O d’Azur and absolutely fell in love when I actually tried it on later!! My husband loves it more than I do, I think!! And since that first day, I’ve gradually added many Lancôme products to replace my old favorite makeup, nail polishes, fragrances, etc., etc. I think there’s just a few products left that I’ve yet to try, and I’ll add them as I can. Lancôme has since became my favorite -everything-!!!
Dave Lackie
February 17, 2015 at 12:35 pmThanks for sharing that story Tony. So glad you love the brand.
Natalie
February 12, 2015 at 10:32 pmOh gosh where do I start. I lived in Israel and I had my fave pale pink nail polish that got used so often to this day it is the only one that truly was finished and not dried up like others. And just 2 weeks ago I got La Vie est Belle!!!
Ariel
February 12, 2015 at 10:31 pmLancome Hypnose is my favorite mascara! I can’t believe the volume.
Stephanie Mac Isaac
February 12, 2015 at 10:16 pmLa Vie est Belle is my favourite Lancome product
Hang Le
February 12, 2015 at 10:15 pmI got the Bi-facil eye makeup remover as a gift last year and so far, this has been my #1 eye makeup remover; it works like magic, taking away all the waterproof mascara; amazing product <3
Bernadette
February 12, 2015 at 10:13 pmGrandiose mascara is my fav Lancome product! It is so unique – the wand and formula are fabulous!
Bernadette
February 12, 2015 at 10:12 pmGrandiose mascara is my fav Lancome product! It is so unique – the wand and formula are fabulous!
Denise Q
February 12, 2015 at 10:05 pmI’m in love with the Galatee Confort! It removes my makeup effectively when I’m too tired to use a proper makeup remover and it feels so good on my skin. I know its best for dry skin but I have combination skin and I have had experimented with a lot of cleansers but this one is my favorite thus far. Plus a little goes a long way with this cleanser so its definitely worth the steep price.
Dave Lackie
February 17, 2015 at 12:36 pmI haven’t tried that particular product Denise. Thanks for the tip. I’m going to have to see how it works.
Brittany Kerr
February 12, 2015 at 9:38 pmI’ve never been able to try their products…
Margaret Rice
February 12, 2015 at 8:56 pmRÉNERGIE LIFT MULTI-ACTION NIGHT
Margaret Rice
February 12, 2015 at 8:57 pmAt my young age of 70, this gives my face a much needed lift.
Dave Lackie
February 12, 2015 at 9:15 pmGreat product Margaret!! good choice!!