L’Oréal has opened a $160 million research and innovation facility in Clark, New Jersey, to develop new products for its US brands, including Maybelline, CeraVe, Redken, and Kiehl’s.
The 250,000 sq. ft. location will employ over 600 scientists, engineers, and researchers focused on product innovation, development, and testing.
It is L’Oréal’s largest innovation hub outside France, complementing the company’s research and innovation centers Brazil, South Africa, India, China, and Japan.
The beauty giant plans to collaborate with US-based academics, biotech companies, and startup businesses to formulate new products that enhance personalization, inclusivity, and sustainability.
Barbara Lavernos, deputy CEO of L’Oréal Groupe, said: “The US plays a defining role in shaping the future of beauty.
“With its diverse and demanding consumers and world-leading innovation ecosystem, it is the ideal environment to drive our vision forward.”
The new facility has a 26,000 sq. ft. modular laboratory, a testing facility, and mini-factory for product testing.
Other features include eco-conscious additions, including 10,000 solar panels, which will power 70% of the center’s energy needs, an eco-retention pond for stormwater management, and gardening and composting initiatives.
Lavernos added: “This center embodies L’Oréal’s uniquely end-to-end innovation model, from upstream advanced research on new breakthrough ingredients to the downstream development of formulas ready for scale-up to deliver high-performance, safe, and responsible beauty solutions.”
L’Oréal is headquartered in Paris, France, and operates over 37 global brands under its banner, including L’Oréal USA which has over 12,000 employees across 16 states.
Click here to sign up to Retail Gazette‘s free daily email newsletter
