Natural skincare brand Oak Essentials has secured a first-round dual funding from Silas Capital and Unilever Ventures. The two prominent investors in the beauty sector have joined forces to provide the California-based brand, which just had its 3-year anniversary, with new resources to fuel expansion, new product developments, increased marketing efforts, and broader distribution. The amount of the investment was not disclosed.
Founded in 2021 by Jenni Kayne — known for her eponymous fashion, lifestyle, and home collections — Oak Essentials offers moisture-rich prestige body and skincare products that value efficacy alongside a sensorial, spa-like experience and minimalist aesthetic.
We love how Jenni Kayne has applied tasteful curation to create Oak Essentials as a luxurious beauty lifestyle brand centered around ritual, relaxation, and sensorial experiences reminiscent of a visit to the spa – at your own convenience. The brand delivers for consumers who are increasingly embracing the holistic wellness benefits of beauty products with an appreciation for self-care and beauty routines,” said Anna Ohlsson-Baskerville, Partner at Unilever Ventures.
In the three years since its inception, the brand has launched 26 products, initially focusing on skincare before successfully expanding into body care. Oak Essentials has sold over half a million products since launch.
2024 has been transformative for Oak Essentials, marked by substantial growth. The brand has evolved from being DTC only to being stocked at ShopBop and Nordstrom, with more retail relationships anticipated. Oak Essentials is set to nearly double its revenue during the year.
Having spent the last three years building our DTC business, we’re incredibly proud of how far we’ve come but are eagerly looking ahead to this next phase. We are so grateful to have Silas and Unilever Ventures’ support and expertise as we place focus on the key areas that we believe will solidify us as leaders in prestige beauty; keeping product innovation at the forefront and building upon our existing assortment and categories, expanding our distribution channels with new and upcoming retail partnerships, and deepening our focus on sustainability as a core pillar of the brand,” said Lauren Harris, CEO at Oak Essentials.
