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
Deborah H
February 13, 2015 at 11:02 amLa Vie est Belle
Carole B.
February 13, 2015 at 10:57 amTresor fragrance!
Muriel Michael
February 13, 2015 at 10:56 amI love the bi-facial double action eye makeup remover by Lancôme.. best on the market!
Petya Goranova
February 13, 2015 at 10:52 amI love all Lancome mascara 🙂
Jolene
February 13, 2015 at 10:50 amI always thought Lancôme was for grandmas. Boy was I wrong. So I have just started to dip my toe into the magical waters of Lancôme. From what I have tried so far I am in love with the Lancôme cils booster xl. Can’t wait to try more products.
April
February 13, 2015 at 10:42 amHand’s down, their mascara! It’s the BEST for full, lush lashes!
Halifax
February 13, 2015 at 10:40 amLa Vie est Belle for me
Susan Smith
February 13, 2015 at 10:36 amgenifique eye
Rabbiya Waseem
February 13, 2015 at 10:35 amLancome Mascara and Nail colors…
mairi
February 13, 2015 at 10:35 amAll the mascara!!!
Pat B
February 13, 2015 at 10:34 amI’m a fan of Hypnose waterproof mascara
meghan castillo
February 13, 2015 at 10:31 amTeint Visionnaire foundation
Christina Leek
February 13, 2015 at 10:29 amI love all the mascara…. Just gorgeous.
revathi sweetyy
February 13, 2015 at 10:28 amGrandoise Mascara .. <3 🙂
Natasha
February 13, 2015 at 10:27 amThe most classy French perfume ever – TRESOR. Timeless, beautiful, always in style. :O)
Elizabeth Vlug
February 13, 2015 at 10:26 amThis was so easy. When I think of Lancôme I think of my favourite mascaras. Yes multiple mascaras. I have never met a Lancôme mascara that I didn’t love. Loving Grandiose, although it did take me a while to get comfortable with the wand. Love it. And I often give Lancôme mascara as a gift to my GFs. Can you tell I love them?
Dave Lackie
February 17, 2015 at 12:40 pmThanks so much for this Elizabeth! I’ve had many women tell me it took a little while to figure out that Grandiose wand. But they fell in love with the product.
Rachael Petty
February 13, 2015 at 10:23 amI love the Advanced Genifique Youth Activating Concentrate because im closing in on 40:/ lol.
Hazel Ainslie
February 13, 2015 at 10:16 amLove all Lancôme products but if I had to pick it would be the base makeup. Always covered flawlessly and is smooth and soft. Never feels heavy or cakey, But I love it all. Thanks Dave and Happy Birthday Lancôme.
angel thompson
February 13, 2015 at 10:16 amTeint Visionnaire foundation, it’s great for mature skin :-/
Jennifer Rayment
February 13, 2015 at 10:11 amThey discontinued it like over 20 years ago so I cannot completely remember the name but it was the most perfect colour of lipstick for me – think it was called raisin
Lubka K.
February 13, 2015 at 10:09 amPerfumes Tresor and Hypnose Senses, thanks!
Wendy hutton
February 13, 2015 at 10:07 amI love La Vie est Belle.
Carolyn Corrin
February 13, 2015 at 10:05 amGrandoise Mascara
Joanne W
February 13, 2015 at 10:04 amBy far my favourite is Lancôme Hypnose Mascara! I’ve tried so many mascaras and am extremely picky! The first time I tried this one though, I was completely hooked! I get asked all the time what mascara I’m wearing and recommend it to all my friends!
Julie
February 13, 2015 at 10:03 amHappy birthday to Lancome