Estée Lauder to acquire full ownership of India’s Forest Essentials

The Estée Lauder Companies (ELC) has announced plans to acquire the remaining stake in Forest Essentials, an Indian luxury beauty brand known for its Ayurvedic skincare products, giving the US cosmetics giant full ownership of the company, as per reports.

The move will expand ELC’s existing minority stake in the brand and reflect the company’s strategy to strengthen its presence in India while expanding the global reach of luxury Ayurvedic beauty products.

According to ELC, Forest Essentials is currently the leading prestige skincare brand in India.

The chief executive officer of The Estée Lauder Companies, Stéphane de La Faverie, reportedly stated that the next phase of partnership reflects a long-term commitment to India. 

As per reports, ELC first invested in Forest Essentials in 2008 and later increased its holding to 49 per cent in 2020. The proposed acquisition of the remaining shares is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to be completed in the second half of 2026.

Forest Essentials was reportedly founded in 2000 by Mira Kulkarni, who will continue to lead the brand locally as founder and managing director following the acquisition.

Kulkarni reportedly said the company would retain its core focus on Ayurveda as it expands globally.

As per reports, the deal comes at a time when Indian beauty brands are gaining increased global attention. Another Indian brand, Indē Wild, is expanding its presence in the United States through retail outlets of Sephora.

Industry analysts reportedly say these developments reflect rising international interest in Indian cosmetics as domestic brands expand globally and multinational beauty companies deepen their investment in the Indian market.

India’s beauty and personal care market is expected to grow significantly in the coming years, with estimates suggesting it could reach between $40 billion and $45 billion by 2030.

Following the acquisition, the brand will continue its operations in India, maintaining research and development based on Ayurvedic science and traditional botanical knowledge, while sourcing ingredients locally and manufacturing products through its existing facilities.