Eugène Schueller
Encyclopedia
Eugène Schueller was the founder of L'Oréal
, the world's leading company in cosmetics
and beauty
.
chemist
and 1904 graduate of the Institut de Chimie Appliquée de Paris (now Chimie ParisTech), Eugene Schueller developed in 1907 an innovative hair-color formula. He called his dye Auréale. With that, the history of L'Oréal began. He formulated and manufactured his own products, and sold them to Paris
ian hairdressers.
In 1909, he registered his company, the "Société Française de Teintures Inoffensives pour Cheveux", the future L'Oréal
. The guiding principles of the company that would become L'Oréal were put into place from the start: research and innovation in the interest of beauty.
at L'Oréal headquarters. La Cagoule was a violent French fascist-leaning and anti-communist group. L'Oréal hired several members of the group as executives after World War II
, such as Jacques Corrèze
, who served as CEO of the U.S.
operation. This involvement was extensively researched by Michael Bar-Zohar
in his book, Bitter Scent.
, is the widow of André Bettencourt
with whom she had one daughter, Françoise Bettencourt Meyers
, a member of L'Oréal's board of directors
. Françoise Meyers is married to Jean-Pierre Meyers, whose parents died in the Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz. Liliane Bettencourt is currently the second wealthiest woman in the world, with holdings estimated at $23.5 billion.
is named Centre Eugène Schueller.
L'Oréal
The L'Oréal Group is the world's largest cosmetics and beauty company. With its registered office in Paris and head office in the Paris suburb of Clichy, Hauts-de-Seine, France, it has developed activities in the field of cosmetics...
, the world's leading company in cosmetics
Cosmetics
Cosmetics are substances used to enhance the appearance or odor of the human body. Cosmetics include skin-care creams, lotions, powders, perfumes, lipsticks, fingernail and toe nail polish, eye and facial makeup, towelettes, permanent waves, colored contact lenses, hair colors, hair sprays and...
and beauty
Beauty
Beauty is a characteristic of a person, animal, place, object, or idea that provides a perceptual experience of pleasure, meaning, or satisfaction. Beauty is studied as part of aesthetics, sociology, social psychology, and culture...
.
Career with L'Oréal
As a young FrenchFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
chemist
Chemist
A chemist is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties such as density and acidity. Chemists carefully describe the properties they study in terms of quantities, with detail on the level of molecules and their component atoms...
and 1904 graduate of the Institut de Chimie Appliquée de Paris (now Chimie ParisTech), Eugene Schueller developed in 1907 an innovative hair-color formula. He called his dye Auréale. With that, the history of L'Oréal began. He formulated and manufactured his own products, and sold them to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
ian hairdressers.
In 1909, he registered his company, the "Société Française de Teintures Inoffensives pour Cheveux", the future L'Oréal
L'Oréal
The L'Oréal Group is the world's largest cosmetics and beauty company. With its registered office in Paris and head office in the Paris suburb of Clichy, Hauts-de-Seine, France, it has developed activities in the field of cosmetics...
. The guiding principles of the company that would become L'Oréal were put into place from the start: research and innovation in the interest of beauty.
Controversy
During the early twentieth century, Schueller provided financial support and held meetings for La CagouleLa Cagoule
La Cagoule , officially called Comité secret d'action révolutionnaire , was a violent French fascist-leaning and anti-communist group, active in the 1930s, and designed to attempt the overthrow of the French Third Republic...
at L'Oréal headquarters. La Cagoule was a violent French fascist-leaning and anti-communist group. L'Oréal hired several members of the group as executives after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, such as Jacques Corrèze
Jacques Corrèze
Jacques Corrèze , a French businessman and politician, was the former chief executive officer of the United States operation of L'Oréal , the world's leading company in cosmetics and beauty products...
, who served as CEO of the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
operation. This involvement was extensively researched by Michael Bar-Zohar
Michael Bar-Zohar
Dr Michael Bar-Zohar is an Israeli historian, novelist and politician. His World War II-era nonfiction and fiction works have been published in English, French, Hebrew, and other languages. He was also a member of the Knesset on behalf of the Alignment and Labor Party during the 1980s and early...
in his book, Bitter Scent.
Family
Schueller's daughter, Liliane BettencourtLiliane Bettencourt
Liliane Bettencourt is a French heiress, socialite, businesswoman and philanthropist. She is one of the principal shareholders of L'Oréal and, with a fortune estimated at US$23.5 billion, is one of the wealthiest people in the world.-Biography:...
, is the widow of André Bettencourt
André Bettencourt
André Bettencourt was a French politician. He had been awarded the Croix de Guerre, and is a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor...
with whom she had one daughter, Françoise Bettencourt Meyers
Françoise Bettencourt Meyers
Françoise Bettencourt-Meyers is a French heiress and author of Bible commentaries and works on Jewish-Christian relations. The only daughter and thus under French law heiress of Liliane Bettencourt, Meyers was raised in a strictly Catholic household. However she married the Jewish grandson of a...
, a member of L'Oréal's board of directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
. Françoise Meyers is married to Jean-Pierre Meyers, whose parents died in the Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz. Liliane Bettencourt is currently the second wealthiest woman in the world, with holdings estimated at $23.5 billion.
Legacy
The head office of L'Oréal in Clichy, Hauts-de-SeineClichy, Hauts-de-Seine
-Administration:The canton covers a part of the commune; the other is in the northern part of Levallois-Perret-Twinnings: Heidenheim, Germany, since 1959 Sankt Pölten, Austria, since 1968 Santo Tirso, Portugal, since 1991 Rubí, Spain, since 2005 Southwark, United Kingdom, since 2005Clichy has also...
is named Centre Eugène Schueller.