Sol de Janeiro explained

Sol de Janeiro is an American skincare and fragrance brand founded in 2015 and inspired by Brazilian beach culture.^{[1] [2]} Sol de Janeiro products carry its signature base of almond and vanilla scents.^[3]

History

Co-founder and CEO Heela Yang worked as a director of marketing at Clinique and as a manager at Lancôme before moving from New York City to Brazil with her husband in 2008.^{[4] [5]} Yang, a Korean-American and Harvard Business School alumna,^[6] founded Sol de Janeiro after living in Brazil and experiencing its inclusive beach culture firsthand.^[7]

In 2021 L’Occitane Group acquired a majority stake in Sol de Janeiro, valuing the company at US$450 million.^{[8] [9] [10] [11]}

Marketing

TikTok had a major effect on the brand's business, collaborating with social media influencers such as Katie Fang.^{[12] [13]} "Euphoria" star Barbie Ferreira was chosen as a brand ambassador in 2023.^[14]

Awards and honors

Fast Company named Sol de Janeiro to its 2024 list of the most innovative companies.^[15]

Controversies

In December 2023, a review of a Sol de Janeiro moisturizer went viral, claiming it attracted spiders. Other users backed up this claiming by saying the cream contained pheromones sexually attracting male spiders.^{[16] [17]} Sol de Janeiro later denied the rumors, along with experts labeling it unlikely to be true.^[18]

External links

• • When Sol de Janeiro Rules Supreme, Is There Room for The Body Shop? Business of Fashion, Priya Rao, 23 February 2024

Notes and References

1. Web site: Mitchell . Heidi . Sol de Janeiro's candy-sweet scents are what summer 2023 smells like . Fast Company . June 10, 2023.
2. Web site: Montemayor . Cristina . HOW SOL DE JANEIRO TURNED A SINGLE HERO PRODUCT INTO A FRAGRANCE PHENOMENON . BeautyMatter . October 24, 2023.
3. News: Shatzman . Celia . How CEO Heela Yang Infused 6 Brazilian Beauty Lessons Into Sol De Janeiro . Forbes . July 19, 2021.
4. News: Weil . Jennifer . Sol de Janeiro's Heela Yang on Being Hyperfocused CEO . Women's Wear Daily . May 19, 2023.
5. Web site: Tan-Gillies . Hannah . Interview: Heela Yang on spreading body positivity and Brazilian confidence with Sol de Janeiro . The Moodie Davitt Report . 26 April 2023.
6. Web site: Tsuzuki . Heela . STRONG FINISH A timely, strategic partnership pays off . Harvard Business School . 2 November 2022.
7. Ali Donaldson, How PE Helped This Beauty Founder Land a Sale to L'Occitane Inc magazine, October 2022
8. Press Release L’OCCITANE acquires majority stake in Brazilian-inspired premium beauty brand Sol de Janeiro 15 November 2021
9. Web site: L'Occitane acquires Sol de Janeiro, valuing the brand to US$450 million. 2021-11-18. Premium Beauty News. en.
10. https://wwd.com/beauty-industry-news/beauty-features/loccitane-sol-de-janeiro-acquisition-1234996252-1234996252/ L’Occitane to Acquire Sol de Janeiro: L'Occitane is buying a majority stake in Sol de Janeiro, while the founder and CEO will maintain a minority position.
11. News: Bersola . Camille . "Stellar" Sol de Janeiro helps L'OCCITANE Group deliver strong first-half results . The Moodie Davitt Report . 25 October 2023.
12. Web site: PAULY . ALEXANDRA . HOW SOL DE JANEIRO BECAME TIKTOK'S FAVORITE FRAGRANCE BRAND . Highsnobiety.
13. Web site: Spruch-Feiner . Sara . 2023-11-10 . Glossy Pop Newsletter: Meet Katie Fang, Gen Alpha's favorite beauty influencer . 2023-12-25 . Glossy . en.
14. News: MZIZI . YOLA . Sol de Janeiro Bets On Barbie . Business of Fashion . 3 May 2023.
15. Web site: THE WORLD'S MOST INNOVATIVE COMPANIES OF 2024 . Fast Company.
16. News: Deb . Sopan . 2023-12-29 . This Body Butter at Sephora Doesn’t Really Attract Spiders, Right? . 2024-01-22 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331.
17. Web site: Skincare Brand Responds to Viral Claim Their Product Attracts Wolf Spiders, and a Dermatologist Weighs In (Exclusive) . 2024-01-22 . Peoplemag . en.
18. Web site: 2023-12-30 . Beauty Company Denies Its Body Butter Sold At Sephora Attracts Spiders . 2024-01-22 . HuffPost . en.