US beauty giant The Estée Lauder Companies has agreed to acquire the remaining 51% stake in Indian luxury Ayurvedic skincare brand Forest Essentials, gaining full ownership of the label as it ramps up its focus on India’s burgeoning prestige beauty sector.
The deal builds on a long-standing relationship that began with a minority investment in 2008, which was increased to 49% in 2020. The acquisition is expected to be completed later this year, subject to regulatory approvals.
Estée Lauder’s global CEO, Stéphane de La Faverie, described the move as a strategic step to deepen its footprint in one of the world’s fastest-growing beauty markets. While prestige beauty still represents a relatively small share of India’s overall beauty spend, demand for luxury and wellness-oriented products is accelerating, driven by a young population, rising incomes and digital retail growth.
Forest Essentials, founded in 2000 by Mira Kulkarni, will remain headquartered in New Delhi, and Kulkarni along with her son Samrath Bedi will continue to lead the brand. Estée Lauder plans to leverage its global reach to support international expansion while preserving the brand’s Ayurvedic heritage and local operations
