Unilever sells Kate Somerville as prestige reshuffle continues

Unilever has announced the sale of luxury skincare brand Kate Somerville to Rare Beauty Brands, marking another shift in the beauty and wellness giant’s ongoing portfolio streamlining within its Prestige Beauty division.

The move transfers ownership of the skincare line, along with its clinic on Melrose Place, Los Angeles, to the Massachusetts-based beauty group known for its portfolio of fast-growing, founder-led brands.

Mary Carmen Gasco-Buisson, CEO of Unilever Prestige, said: "Over the past 18 months, the team has worked diligently to accelerate Kate Somerville’s turnaround. As the brand enters a new chapter, we believe that its continued growth and success will be best supported by new ownership better aligned to its evolving needs. We are confident that under Chris Hobson’s leadership and the Rare Beauty Brands team, Kate Somerville has a bright future ahead."

Founded by celebrity facialist Kate Somerville in 2004, the brand became synonymous with results-driven, clinic-grade skincare and achieved cult status through products like ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment and DeliKate Recovery Cream. Its Los Angeles clinic has long been a go-to for Hollywood A-listers and beauty insiders alike.

Rare Beauty Brands, which owns eye patch brands Dot Dot Dash and Patchology as well as clinical nailcare brand Dr. Dana, described the acquisition as a "significant milestone" in its expansion strategy.

"We have long admired the brand's innovative spirit and its commitment to results-driven skincare, which aligns perfectly with our mission to create products that delight, communities that empower, and brands that inspire," said Rare Beauty Brands President and CEO Chris Hobson. "Together, we see a bright future ahead, with new opportunities to grow and reach even more consumers who share our passion for highly efficacious, luxurious skincare."

The sale comes amid a broader strategic shift toward beauty and wellbeing, reinforced by strong financial performance earlier this year. In its half-year results, Unilever reported a 3.4% increase in sales for the first half of 2025, with beauty and wellbeing up 3.7%. Growth was led by its wellbeing brands Liquid I.V. and Nutrafol, which delivered double-digit gains for the 21st consecutive quarter.

While its prestige beauty division remained flat overall, Unilever highlighted strong double-digit growth from Hourglass, Tatcha, and K18, offset by softer sales at Paula’s Choice and Dermalogica.

The company is also preparing for the spin-off of its ice cream division by mid-November 2025, as it sharpens its focus on premium beauty and wellbeing.

The transaction, advised by PricewaterhouseCoopers Corporate Finance LLC, is expected to close in Q4 2025, subject to regulatory approval.