L’Oreal Acquisition Opens Door To Global Sonic Skin Care Device Market

In a move that is likely to boost L’Oreal’s innovation capacity in cosmetic devices, the company announced the acquisition of sonic skin care device maker Pacific Bioscience Laboratories Inc. The acquisition gives L'Oréal access to the patented sonic skin care technology of  Clarisonic, “enabling the company to acquire strategic positions in the quickly emerging skin care devices category.” Clarisonic, which is available mainly in the U.S., the U.K., Australia, Mexico, Canada and the Far East, is sold through a distribution network that includes dermatologists and cosmetic surgeons, spas, prestige retail, e-tail, television shopping and clarisonic.com. Clarisonic sales were $105 million in fiscal 2010. L’Oreal plans to roll out the Clarisonic product internationally.