By Meghna Sharma Lakme is an Indian cosmetics brand which is owned by Hindustan Unilever Limited, a subsidiary of the global FMCG giant, Unilever. It is India’s first home-grown makeup brand and is a market leader in the country’s cosmetics sector. The brand is known for offering products tailored to the Indian skin tones and climates. Lakme’s major products include colour cosmetics like lipsticks/eyeliners/foundations and skincare products like creams/face washes. In addition, the brand also offers beauty services through dedicated salons.
| Details | Info |
| Founded | 1952 |
| Founder | J.R.D. Tata, Simone Tata |
| Headquarters | Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| CEO | Vipul Chaturvedi |
| Sector | Personal Care and Beauty Services |
Company Profile
Lakme was founded in the year 1952 by the industrialist J.R.D Tata as a subsidiary of Tata Oil Mills in Mumbai. It focused on producing cosmetics specifically designed for the Indian skin tones and climates. In 1961, Lakme expanded its product range and soon established itself as a premium yet affordable cosmetics brand in the Indian market. Lakme entered into a 50:50 joint venture with Hindustan Unilever Limited in the year 1996. In the year 1998, Lakme became a fully-owned subsidiary of HUL, after Tata Group sold its stakes in the company to HUL.
Lakme holds around 15% and 12% share in the Indian cosmetics and skincare market respectively. The company sells its products through more than 1200 aided retail stores across India and a D2C e-commerce platform launched in 2018. Lakme also has a network of over 450 dedicated beauty salons in India, offering beauty services like makeup, hairstyling and skin care.
Origin Country
Lakme originated in India as an initiative of the Tata Group under J.R.D Tata. Even though the brand is owned by the Indian subsidiary of an Anglo-Dutch multinational company, Unilever, it continues to function as an Indian brand.
Market Cap
As a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hindustan Unilever Limited, Lakme does not have its own market capitalisation. However, Lakme contributes significantly to HUL’s portfolio and its value is reflected in the latter’s market capitalisation. HUL’s market capitalisation, as of October 2025, is INR 6.12 trillion.