Garnier

Garnier is a mass market cosmetics brand of French cosmetics company L'Oréal. It produces hair care and skin care products.

Launch
Laboratoires Garnier was founded in France in 1904 by Alfred Amour Garnier. The company's first product was a patented as the first hair lotion derived from natural plant ingredients. The company then introduced sun-care products in 1936, followed by permanent home hair color in 1960.

Expansion and products
Over the decades Garnier expanded from hair color and hair care into skincare since acquisition in 1970. In the 2000s, Garnier launched a line of hair color products, including permanent and semi-permanent dyes.

Concerns about skin-tones diversity
Garnier demonstrated concern about the diversity of skin tones in its products. In 2021, the brand launched a line of products aimed at black skin in Brazil. The product was co-created by the brand with Brazilian singer Iza and is especially aimed at darker skin tones.

Transition to Cruelty Free status
On 05 March 2021, Cruelty Free International announced that Garnier had been approved as Cruelty Free under the Leaping Bunny programme.

Many, but not necessarily all, of Garnier's products are also labelled as 'Vegan'. Garnier is still part of the L'Oreal group, which although claims not to test on animals, has not received Cruelty Free status on account of having an active market in China, where animal testing is a legal requirement for cosmetic products.