Core Insights - The two major beauty groups, L'Oréal and Unilever, are pursuing different strategies, with L'Oréal focusing on acquisitions while Unilever is divesting non-core assets [2][4]. Group 1: L'Oréal's Acquisition Strategy - L'Oréal announced the acquisition of an additional 10% stake in Galderma, increasing its ownership from 10% to 20%, with plans to explore further scientific research projects together [1][2]. - The acquisition is part of L'Oréal's ambition to enter the rapidly growing medical aesthetics market, alongside its investments in high-end and clean beauty segments [2][3]. - In October, L'Oréal spent €4 billion to acquire beauty licenses from Kering Group, indicating a strong partnership and capability to enhance luxury brands [3]. - L'Oréal's investments in China include a stake in Naturgy and further investments in local skincare brands, reflecting its strategy to accelerate brand innovation and consumer attraction [3]. Group 2: Unilever's Divestment Strategy - Unilever is undergoing a restructuring process to focus on core businesses, highlighted by the planned spin-off of its ice cream division, expected to be completed by Q4 2025 [1][5]. - The CEO of Unilever emphasized that the spin-off will create a more streamlined company, concentrating on beauty, health, and personal care sectors for higher profit margins [5]. - Unilever's recent quarterly performance showed improvement after excluding the ice cream business, indicating a positive trend in its core operations [5]. Group 3: Industry Trends and Brand Matrix - The contrasting strategies of L'Oréal and Unilever reflect a broader industry trend where companies are either expanding their brand portfolios or optimizing them by shedding non-core assets [6][7]. - The ideal brand matrix should exhibit strategic synergy, growth gradient, and profit orientation, allowing companies to withstand market fluctuations [7].