Major groups circle Charlotte Tilbury beauty brand

Unilever, L'Oréal, Puig and Shiseido are all reported to be eyeing the opportunity to acquire Charlotte Tilbury's beauty business as the company is being marketed for £1bn.

Such as deal could result in a £500m pay-out for the celebrated make-up artist and entrepreneur who established her brand in 2013.

A fashion favourite, Tilbury has collaborated with Kate Moss on a fragrance and has become known for cult products such as Airbrush flawless foundation and Magic Cream moisturiser.

The brand is sold online and in major department stores such as Selfridges, John Lewis and Fenwick, along with branches of Space NK nationwide and Sephora in Europe.

Its value indicates the continuing boom in personality-led beauty brands and follows on from the success of ranges, such as Rihanna's LVMH-backed Fenty brand and Kylie Jenner's line which sold a 51% stake to Coty, valuing the business at around $1.2bn.

Glossier-backer Sequoia Capital took a stake in Charlotte Tilbury, which posted sales of £145m in 2018, in 2017 and other shareholders include photographer Mario Testino, model Stella Tennant and entrepreneur Wendi Murdoch.

It is not known whether Tilbury would cash in all of her shares in a deal and she is believed to control more than half of the shares.

According to Bloomberg the company is working with Goldman Sachs and Jefferies Financial Group on the deal with the winning bidder announced as early as next month.