Key Takeaways
- • L'Oréal's BOLD venture capital fund announced an investment in Hanni, a U.S.-based premium body care brand founded in 2021 by Leslie Tessler, with the announcement made via LinkedIn on April 17, 2026.
- • Hanni positions itself as a "clean," vegan, cruelty-free body care system with clinically tested formulations, featuring hero products including Splash Salve (a water-activated in-shower moisturizer) and The Fatty (an acid moisture stick).
- • BOLD's investment thesis reflects a strategic pivot in the body care category, which the fund characterizes as transitioning from a commoditized, functional segment into a premium, experiential market space aligned with modern consumer expectations.
- • Financial terms of the investment were not disclosed; Hanni achieved Sephora U.S. shelf space less than one year after its May 2021 launch, establishing early retail validation in a major beauty channel.
- • The investment underscores L'Oréal's venture strategy to back brands with clear market differentiation and modern positioning in emerging beauty subsegments, with Samantha Etienne, general manager at BOLD, citing the brand's "sharp vision, clear mission and radically modern take on everyday rituals."
Summary
L'Oréal's BOLD venture capital fund has completed an investment in Hanni, a premium body care brand, according to announcements made on LinkedIn on April 17–18, 2026. Hanni was founded in May 2021 by Leslie Tessler, a former beauty executive who serves as the brand's chief executive officer. The company's mission centers on delivering body care products that are "easy, elevated and unforgettable," addressing what Tessler identified as a gap between indulgent efficacy and practical integration into daily routines.
The investment reflects BOLD's thesis that the body care category is undergoing fundamental market repositioning. As stated in BOLD's LinkedIn announcement, the segment has historically been viewed as "commoditised, functional and low-engagement," but is now "evolving into a more sophisticated, experiential space." BOLD identified Hanni as a category leader executing this transition through a premium, simplified product system designed for efficiency without sacrificing sensorial or efficacy benefits. The brand's formulations are positioned as clean, vegan, cruelty-free, and clinically tested.
Hanni's product lineup includes Splash Salve, a water-activated in-shower moisturizer emphasized as the brand's flagship innovation, and The Fatty, an acid moisture stick designed to deliver rapid results with minimal application steps. The brand achieved notable retail validation within its first year of operation, becoming the first razor partner in Sephora U.S. less than one year after launch—a significant distribution milestone in the beauty channel.
Samantha Etienne, general manager at BOLD, characterized the investment as aligned with the fund's mandate to partner with brands demonstrating "clear vision and a strong point of view on where beauty is heading," citing Hanni's "sharp vision, clear mission and radically modern take on everyday rituals." Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The investment expands BOLD's portfolio within the body care and shower experience categories, positioning L'Oréal to capture growth in a segment increasingly driven by premiumization and experiential positioning rather than functional commoditization.
The investment reflects BOLD's thesis that the body care category is undergoing fundamental market repositioning. As stated in BOLD's LinkedIn announcement, the segment has historically been viewed as "commoditised, functional and low-engagement," but is now "evolving into a more sophisticated, experiential space." BOLD identified Hanni as a category leader executing this transition through a premium, simplified product system designed for efficiency without sacrificing sensorial or efficacy benefits. The brand's formulations are positioned as clean, vegan, cruelty-free, and clinically tested.
Hanni's product lineup includes Splash Salve, a water-activated in-shower moisturizer emphasized as the brand's flagship innovation, and The Fatty, an acid moisture stick designed to deliver rapid results with minimal application steps. The brand achieved notable retail validation within its first year of operation, becoming the first razor partner in Sephora U.S. less than one year after launch—a significant distribution milestone in the beauty channel.
Samantha Etienne, general manager at BOLD, characterized the investment as aligned with the fund's mandate to partner with brands demonstrating "clear vision and a strong point of view on where beauty is heading," citing Hanni's "sharp vision, clear mission and radically modern take on everyday rituals." Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The investment expands BOLD's portfolio within the body care and shower experience categories, positioning L'Oréal to capture growth in a segment increasingly driven by premiumization and experiential positioning rather than functional commoditization.
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