French elegance: the history of the Lancôme brand

French grace and classic beauty are closely associated with the Lancôme brand. This luxury brand, which was founded in the center of Paris, has evolved into a symbol of sophistication by providing premium skincare products, cosmetics, and fragrances that have enthralled women for decades.

Lancôme has a long history of being at the forefront of innovative beauty, with roots in the glitz and glamour of 1930s France. From its initial products to its current lineup, the brand has consistently upheld its dedication to quality, fusing history with modern fashion.

The tale of Lancôme is one of passion and sophistication, capturing the spirit of French culture. It is a company that

History of the name

For what reason Lancôme? There’s a truly French, romantic tale hidden behind this name. According to legend, Ptizhan took his name from Le Château De Lancosme, a small castle close to Chateauroux. Ptizhan abbreviated the original name to Lancôme because he felt that the name’s euphony and ease of pronunciation in all languages were significant. The roses that grew close to the castle served as the model for the primary emblem of Lancôme, which is now easily recognized on bottles and tubes thanks to its distinctive golden logo featuring a rose.

Where it all began?

In 1935, the French company Lancôme was established. Ptizhan was the first to introduce fragrances to the general public; at the Brussels International Exhibition, five different Lancôme scents—Conquête, Kypre, Tropiques, Bocages, and Tendre Nuit—were on display. It was a success because Lancôme products received recognition and awards. The fragrances started to be sold in numerous nations worldwide. Ptizhan was able to confidently pursue his career in the beauty industry thanks to all of this.

Even though it seemed possible to grow Lancôme as a perfume brand, he did not even consider stopping. But he already had his first line of skin care products, Nutrix, in 1936, a year after the brand was founded. Women have been using these skin-restoration cosmetics for more than a generation; Nutrix remains a favorite. Consider Lancôme Nutrix Royal Restorative Cream, for instance.

Ptizhan kept working on products that were meant to give women all over the world French charm at the time, not realizing that Nutrix had a bright future. The release of decorative cosmetics was his next move.

Decorative cosmetics

Ptizhan began by applying lipstick. It’s not a coincidence either: this product allows you to instantly alter your appearance. He displayed a line of lipsticks under the Lancôme umbrella, including Clé de Coquette, Menestrel, and Longue Vue. Their soft and comfortable texture, rich color, thin coverage, ease of application, and pleasant aroma all contributed to their success. Furthermore, Ptizhan made lipsticks into a true fashion accessory that can be purchased for pleasure on its own.

After a few years, Lancôme introduced Lancômatique, their first mascara, to the public. When it was released in 1967, it raised the bar for quality across the board for the sector. Naturally, there were more premieres. Lancôme actively worked on research and development, and after analyzing the findings, they introduced novel formulas.

Keracils mascara, which had a medicinal formula that helped heal eyelashes, first came out in the late 1980s. Additionally, Définicils mascara for flawless separation was introduced in the early 1990s.

Breakthroughs also occurred in the 2000s; women were impressed by the volume effect of the new Hypnôse mascara, which quickly became popular. In this article, we went into greater detail about it.

And in 2008, Lancôme unveiled an even more incredible new product: the vibrating brush-equipped Oscillation Powermascara! For flawless separation and uniform mascara distribution from the roots to the tips of the lashes, the bristles had to oscillate at a microscopically small size. You can read here about the other mascara varieties that are currently available in the Lancôme collection.

By the way, did you know that one mascara can be used to create three different looks? If not, make sure to view this instructional video.

The scientific work of the brand’s research centers, which number over 15, and which employ experts in a wide range of disciplines like dermatology, biophysics, biochemistry, and many more, made these and other cosmetic releases from Lancôme possible. Collaboration with top universities across the globe and product testing involving thousands of women also helped to achieve the desired results.

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Skin care

Lancôme has been able to produce numerous potent skin care formulas thanks to this strategy. Apart from Nutrix, a range that continues to assist women in preserving their youthful appearance, the brand introduced the Océan collection in 1955, utilizing algae and ocean water as the foundation for its designs.

A decade later, Crème Absolue, another creation, hits the shelves. This is a high-end daily care cream that contains a high concentration of plant extract, rose oil, and Lancôme rose cells—a different variety that was developed in 1974 by breeder Georges Delbard.

As it has always done, Lancôme has made an effort to adapt to changes in the market, including those related to skin care. Consequently, Lancôme provided women with an alternative in the form of Rénergie cream with a lifting effect when plastic surgery started to gain popularity in the early 1990s.

Anti-aging care is still a top priority for Lancôme. In 2009, the company’s experts developed Génifique products, whose formula became recognized as a "youth activator." One example of these is the Advanced Génifique serum.

Experts from the brand concluded in the 2000s that men should also have access to superior skin care products. For this reason, Lancôme Homme made a splash in 2005 when it unveiled a range of skincare products designed specifically for men’s skin.

Lancôme, a representation of French sophistication, has influenced the beauty business for many years with its high-end goods and chic approach to makeup and skincare. The brand, which was established in 1935, has become a global leader in beauty thanks to its dedication to quality and innovation. It creates iconic products that epitomize luxury and elegance by fusing modern science with classic French charm.

Perfumes

Given that Lancôme started with fragrances, their history is significant. Ptizhan repeatedly succeeded in making perfume experts happy. He ordered a bottle from René Lalique in 1946, turning one of the Marrakech brand’s initial scents into a sought-after item. And in 1952, he pompously unveiled Trésor, an oriental scent that went on to become a legend. To celebrate its launch, the public was invited to a ballet featuring Prince Trésor as the lead role.

The composition itself, housed in a 75-faceted diamond-shaped bottle, was deserving of such a premiere and has endured—Trésor still makes women fall in love with it today. Including some very well-known ones: Penelope Cruz, for instance, previously acknowledged using this scent since she was a young girl.

It is truly amazing how far Lancôme has come since its founding in 1935 to become a representation of French elegance. Raising the standard in the beauty industry with a strong commitment to innovation and a keen sense of luxury, Lancôme has never failed.

The brand has always been committed to highlighting each woman’s individual beauty. Modern technology combined with the best ingredients has allowed Lancôme to create timeless, iconic products.

The fact that Lancôme still exudes elegance and confidence in women all over the world shows that its legacy will live on long into the future. The brand’s history is proof of the value of grace, beauty, and a dedication to perfection.

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