Beekman 1802 was born in 2008 when founders Josh Kilmer-Purcell and Dr. Brent Ridge moved to the historic Beekman farm in rural Sharon Springs, NY. There they found a tight knit community and 100 goats looking for a home. With one act of Kindness and the discovery of nutrient-dense goat milk, Beekman 1802 quickly became a skincare company synonymous with efficacious goat milk products that moisturize, exfoliate, and nourish the skin’s microbiome.

Beekman 1802’s approach to their Clinically Kind skincare is innovative, scientifically proven, and clinically tested products made for sensitive skin and with the microbiome in mind. The brand is constantly pushing boundaries, leveraging new developments in goat milk research and biotech ingredients to formulate skincare that nourishes and balances the skin’s microbiome.

Founders:

• Dr. Brent Ridge, Co-Founder
• Josh Kilmer-Purcell, Co-Founder 

Founded: 2008

Leadership:

• Jill Scalamandre, CEO
• Brad Farell, CMO

2023 Full Year Expected Revenue Range: $75 to $100 million

Category: Skincare, Body Care

Other Beauty Categories:
Body Care (eg., skincare products designed for use anywhere but the face)

Distribution Channel: Prestige, Amazon, Boutique, Professional

Funding Rounds: Eurazeo acquired a controlling stake in Beekman 1802, investing $62 million out of a total of $92 million to acquire a majority stake alongside co-investors Cohesive Capital Partners and the Cherng Family Trust in December 2021.

Notable Investor: Eurazeo Brands

What are some of your key business initiatives for 2023?

• We will continue pushing the boundaries when it comes to product innovation―using biotech ingredients and formulas that nourish and balance the microbiome.
• Our plan is to grow our retail footprint and distribution domestically as well as internationally.
• As a brand founded by a doctor that specializes in aging, our team is committed to funding microbiome research and experimenting with new technology for microbiome skin testing.
• Our brand was founded with two main ingredients: goat milk and Kindness. We work hard every day to spread Kindness like we do our moisturizer―everywhere! In 2023, we are implementing our Nurses First initiative, where we will be celebrating nurses with surprise acts of Kindness every month such as special products, charitable donations, 20% off our products, and funding small acts of Kindness through our Kindness Grants program.

What are you most proud of having accomplished?

• Kindness is part of our brand’s DNA, and we believe that cultivating a Kind workplace and company culture not only results in a healthy environment but happier and more productive employees.
• We also spread Kindness through our Kindness Grants, Kindness Workshops, and Kind Donations. In 2023, we funded 41 Kindness Grants, donating money and products for small acts of Kindness. Our team held 25 Kindness Workshops and gave away over 5,000 products and donated more than $185,000 to charity.
• We are the first skincare brand certified as Microbiome-Friendly at Ulta Beauty. After rigorous testing done by MyMicrobiome, our products were proven to balance and nourish the microbiome.
• We’re also known for our collaborations. Most notably would be our Schitt’s Creek partnership, creating a range of Rose Apothecary products (which sold out in minutes) and pop-up, where we transformed our Kindness Shop into the fictional Rose Apothecary from the show. Most recently we partnered up with Netflix and Shondaland to create a Beekman 1802 x Bridgerton collection.

What has been the biggest surprise since the brand was founded?

Over the past 15 years, there have been many surprises for the brand. The biggest discovery has been the depth of goat milk’s scientific benefits and efficacy. Goat milk has been used for centuries, especially by people who have very sensitive or dry skin. It’s said that Cleopatra used to bathe in goat milk for its nourishing and moisturizing qualities. Fifteen years of research has uncovered 34 key skin-nourishing ingredients in every single drop of goat milk, namely omega fatty acids, lactic acid, linoleic acid and calcium. It has the same pH to human skin and is rich in natural lips, vitamins, minerals, and oligosaccharides that helps nourish the skin’s microbiome. The goat milk used in Beekman 1802’s products is the first ingredient to be certified as Microbiome-friendly following testing conducted by MyMicrobiome.

What aspect of your brand DNA fuels your competitive advantage?

What fuels Beekman 1802 are our two main ingredients―goat milk and Kindness.

Please share your insight on the future of the beauty industry.

We believe that the industry will move away from “beauty” and into “wellness,” because it helps inspire confidence and will make people feel their best.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

To be a good leader, you have to be a good listener.

Paying it forward, what advice would you give to someone contemplating launching a beauty brand?

Make sure you know what you are bringing to the party and that no one else has brought it before.

If you could change one thing in the beauty industry, what would it be?

More Kindness.