NEW YORK — Babo Botanicals, a U.S. based, botanically-infused mineral skin care brand for babies and adults headquartered in Scarsdale, New York, has been acquired by Laboratories Expanscience, a family-owned French pharmaceutical and dermo-cosmetics company that specializes in skin health.

Kate Solomon

The acquisition of Babo helps to reinforce the presence in the skin health market of Expanscience, which was established in the U.S. in 1989 with Mustela, the well-known French dermo-cosmetic and natural skin care brand for babies and new and expecting mothers.

Founded in 2010 by Kate Solomon — a young mother looking to find safe, efficacious and natural products for her children — Babo Botanicals develops and markets a full range of mineral and plant-based premium skin care, sun care and hair care solutions for babies, children and adults with sensitive skin. Babo Botanicals’ formulations, which incorporate botanical ingredients, are certified by the Environmental Working Group and are ideal for families looking to protect and safely nurture their babies’ skin with reliable and authentic products.

The strategic acquisition of Babo Botanicals will allow Expanscience to strengthen its presence in the baby and family category with the addition of a business and brand that are complementary to its own Mustela brand in terms of product lines, customers and expertise — particularly in the natural skin care and mineral-based sun care categories.

Mustela will also gain access to important U.S. distributors specialized in premium natural and safe products, as well as to key retailers including Whole Foods where Babo Botanicals is launching nationwide. Furthermore, Babo Botanicals’ growth will be accelerated both in the U.S. and international markets.

Babo Botanicals, Expanscience and its brand Mustela, are all B-Corp certified, which is the international label for companies that are socially responsible, illustrating their will to continue developing products with a positive economic, social and environmental impact, while being particularly mindful of their product formulations.

Babo Botanicals was also recently named a 2018 honoree for Best For The World: Environment from B the Change, which is a collaboration of B Lab, the community of Certified B Corps, “and the movement of people using business as a force for good.”