Unilever Sells Kate Somerville Brand to Rare Beauty Brands

Unilever announced the sale of its Kate Somerville skincare brand to Rare Beauty Brands, the latest step in the company's ongoing portfolio reshaping within its Prestige beauty division.

The Kate Somerville brand—which includes skincare, bodycare, and a clinic on Melrose Place in Los Angeles—is transferring ownership to Rare Beauty Brands, led by CEO Chris Hobson. The sale follows an 18-month rebranding effort for Unilever Prestige aimed at stabilizing performance and repositioning the brand.

PricewaterhouseCoopers Corporate Finance LLC served as exclusive financial advisor to Unilever on the transaction, which is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2025, subject to regulatory approvals.

The divestment reflects Unilever's strategy to focus resources on priority brands while providing Kate Somerville with the opportunity to grow under ownership more aligned with its premium skincare positioning.