L'Oreal USA, Inc.

The changes made by L'Oréal USA since its 1953 founding have been anything but cosmetic. The US arm of L'Oréal (the world's #1 cosmetics firm), L'Oréal USA boasts a host of big-name brands, including Maybelline and Redken. It also owns salon product makers Matrix and Kérastase, as well as consumer-focused SoftSheen/Carson and perfume brands Ralph Lauren and Gloria Vanderbilt. The unit's upscale Lancôme (makeup, skin care) and Biotherm (skin care) lines are sold nationwide in department stores. Its parent bought Dallas-based SkinCeuticals. Laurent Attal took over as president and CEO in April 2006, when former president and CEO Jean-Paul Agon became CEO of L'Oréal SA.