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
Jen
February 13, 2015 at 8:50 amI LOVE my Hypnose perfume
Carmen
February 13, 2015 at 8:49 ami love their Bi-Facil make up remover and Définicils mascara!
Sandra Zepeda
February 13, 2015 at 8:46 amMy fav is Advanced Genifique Youth Serum……makes my skin feel and look wonderful!!!
Sheonagh G
February 13, 2015 at 8:44 amTheir Hypnose mascara for sure!
Vasilis Voutsas
February 13, 2015 at 8:43 amMousse rasage haute définition for my shaving!
Vasilis Voutsas
February 13, 2015 at 8:44 ambecause it is the best from all the products i have used!
Debbie Bashford
February 13, 2015 at 8:37 amARTLINER eyeliner
Cindy
February 13, 2015 at 8:35 amAbsolu Rouge lipsticks are my favorite Lancome products!
Helene Decoste
February 13, 2015 at 8:35 amLa vie est belle-love everything about it. The scent is amazing, the bottle is beautiful and the compliments keep coming. Thank you so-so much.
Dave Lackie
February 17, 2015 at 12:37 pmI know they worked on that scent for over two years and did 1,000 different versions. You can tell by the quality of the scent how much work went into it. Great choice.
Victoria Ess
February 13, 2015 at 8:30 amI love the Lancome Hypnose Drama Mascara.
Sandra Ritchie
February 13, 2015 at 8:28 amLa Vie est Belle is my favorite Lancome product, so far. The palette is gorgeous! That could become my new fave!
Mélanie Chartier
February 13, 2015 at 8:27 amI looooove my “C’est la vie” perfum by Lancôme!!
Toby
February 13, 2015 at 8:26 amGÉNIFIQUE EYE LIGHT-PEARL!
Suzanne Bell
February 13, 2015 at 8:20 amTresor is now my favorite thing I put on every day,people ask me what parfume I’m warring
And I share.
Joanne Martin Menard
February 13, 2015 at 8:20 amBi-facil is not only my favorite Lancôme product but one of my all time “can’t do without” cosmetics!
Joanne Martin Menard
February 13, 2015 at 8:24 amThe reason Bi-Facil is my favorite product is because just a small amount of the product wipes any eye cosmetic away with a gentle stroke without pulling the delicate skin around the eye.
elena k
February 13, 2015 at 8:18 amgreat post! l’absolu rouge lipsticks are the best! they last and there are so many amazing colors
Megan Kelly Botha
February 13, 2015 at 8:15 amLancome’s foundation is the lightest and blends really easy – one of my fav!
Jane Sandona
February 13, 2015 at 8:13 amAbsolu Rouge lipsticks! hydrating and long lasting. Definicils Mascara is a close second
Barbara Wallace
February 13, 2015 at 8:05 amI love my Lancôme Definicils mascara. Best lashes ever!!
Dave Lackie
February 17, 2015 at 12:38 pmGreat choice Barbara!!!
Lynn Baskin
February 13, 2015 at 8:03 amMy favorite Lancome product is Artliner eye liner. It goes on smoothly with zero mess.
Annie Petrie
February 13, 2015 at 8:03 amLancôme mascaras are the best
Justine Kovach
February 13, 2015 at 8:02 amI have loved the parfume, Tresor. I never realized it first appeared so long ago; the original bottle is lovely. I enjoy the mascara as well, and have for the past twenty years!
Paulina Rios
February 13, 2015 at 8:00 amLove my red lipstick of Lancome! L’absolu Rouge because was my first red lipstick!!
Jennifer B.
February 13, 2015 at 7:59 amMy favorite Lancome product is Visionnaire skin serum. Since using it, I feel prettier now in my early 40s than I did in my late 20s. It has transformed my complexion from having large pores, rough patches and rosacea, to baby soft, even skin tone. I will never stop using it and highly recommend it for anyone with problem complexions.
Jodi hill
February 13, 2015 at 7:59 amTheir doll lashes mascara is a beauty bag must have!!! Nothing else compares
Sandra Eisen
February 13, 2015 at 7:57 amI’m in love with my Lancome Hypnose Drama Mascara. It’s the best