Estée Lauder Brands Too Faced and Smashbox Cosmetics Initiate Layoffs

Estée Lauder beauty brands are in trouble with its California staples such as Too Faced and Smashbox Cosmetics announce looming layoffs.

According to recent WARN notices filed in California, Too Faced and Smashbox are enacting layoffs effective August 15. Too Faced will be laying off 22 employees at its Irvine, California office, while Smashbox is letting go of 37 employees from its Culver City office. Employees from both Estée Lauder Companies were made away of impending layoffs on June 5.

The layoffs at Too Faced come a year after the brand changed its executive board. In June 2022, co-founders Jerrod Blandino and Jeremy Johnson departed the brand, with Tara Simon promoted to global brand president in July of that year. Estée Lauder pointed to the layoffs of Smashbox as it was part of its Post-COVID Business Acceleration Program, designed to “Strategically reposition Smashbox to capitalize on changing consumer preferences and to mitigate the impact caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on the brand.” said in a press release.

Estée Lauder also houses makeup brands such as MAC Cosmetics and Tom Ford Beauty in its portfolio, which are positioned to be a few of its pillar brands.

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