In short: Repêchage, O3+ and Dermalogica are three professional skin care brands that Indian salons, spas and clinics use for facials. Repêchage is an American brand founded in 1980 and built on seaweed, best known for its Four Layer Facial. O3+ is an Indian professional brand founded in 2004 in New Delhi and known for salon facial kits.
Dermalogica was founded in Los Angeles in 1986, is known for its skin therapist education, and has been part of Unilever since 2015. Each has a different focus, so the right choice depends on your clients, your treatment menu and the support you want. A note before you read: this guide is published by JB Skincare, the exclusive authorized importer of Repêchage in India, and we have kept the comparison to published facts.
The three brands at a glance
| Repêchage | O3+ | Dermalogica | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1980, United States, by Lydia Sarfati | 2004, New Delhi, by cosmetologist Vineet Kapur | 1986, Los Angeles, by Jane and Raymond Wurwand |
| Signature approach | Seaweed-based formulas and layered facials | Salon facial kits made for Indian salons | Skin analysis and skin therapist education |
| Best known for | The Four Layer Facial | Facial kits widely used in salons across India | Professional training through its International Dermal Institute |
| Ownership | Led by its founder, Lydia Sarfati | Indian family business | Part of Unilever since 2015 |
| In India | Exclusively through JB Skincare, its authorized importer since 2012 | Salons, its own website and online retailers | Through Hindustan Unilever's beauty business, salons and retail |
A seaweed mask during a professional facial. Image: Repêchage
Repêchage
Repêchage was founded in 1980 by Lydia Sarfati, an esthetician who built the brand around seaweed. Its formulas use seaweeds such as Laminaria digitata, which Repêchage sources sustainably from the coasts of Brittany in France and Maine in the United States and processes in the United States. Its best-known professional treatment is the Four Layer Facial, which layers a seaweed serum, a hydrating cream with massage, a fresh seaweed mask and a mineral mask.
- For salons: signature facials in single-use unidose packs, including the Four Layer Facial, Biolight Miracle Facial, Vita Cura 5 Phase Firming Facial and Hydra Dew Pure Moisturizing Lift Facial, plus back bar products, sheet masks, body treatments and tools.
- For clients at home: a full retail range by skin need, with starter kits.
- In India: supplied, with training and support, by JB Skincare. See the Signature Facial Treatments.
O3+
O3+ is an Indian professional skin care brand started in New Delhi in 2004 by cosmetologist Vineet Kapur, who had earlier imported European skin care brands. It was built to serve Indian salons with professional facial kits, and it became a familiar name for salon facials across the country. Over time it has added online sales and a consumer range alongside its salon business.
- Known for: a wide presence in Indian salons, facial kits designed for the Indian market, and familiarity among clients.
- Worth asking: which kits suit your clients' concerns, what training is included, and the cost per treatment.
Dermalogica
Dermalogica was launched in Los Angeles in 1986 by Jane and Raymond Wurwand, who had earlier set up a training school for skin therapists that became the International Dermal Institute. The brand is known for its emphasis on professional education and skin analysis. Unilever acquired Dermalogica in 2015, and in India it sits within Hindustan Unilever's beauty brands.
- Known for: a strong education program, a well-known international name and a broad retail range.
- Worth asking: local training availability, treatment protocols and the cost per treatment for your salon.
How to choose between them
All three are established professional brands. The better question is which one fits your business:
- Your clients' concerns. List the five concerns clients ask about most and check which brand has a clear treatment and home-care routine for each.
- Your treatment menu. Do you want one signature facial clients ask for by name, a wide menu of kits, or a skin-analysis-led approach?
- Training. Ask how your therapists will be trained, where, and how often.
- Hygiene and consistency. Single-use treatment packs keep every treatment fresh and the same.
- Cost per treatment and retail margins. Compare the full cost of one facial, not the price of a box.
- Supply and paperwork. For imported brands, buy through the authorized importer, with CDSCO registration and Indian importer details on the label.
Our checklist on how to choose a professional skincare brand for your salon goes through these points in detail, with questions to ask any supplier.
For clients: which facial should you book?
If you are booking a facial rather than choosing a brand, start with your skin, not the label. Tell your therapist your main concern and ask what the facial involves, how long it takes and how to care for your skin afterwards. Our guide to what happens in a professional facial explains the steps.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Repêchage, O3+ or Dermalogica?
None is better for every salon. They differ in focus: Repêchage in seaweed-based layered facials, O3+ in salon facial kits made for India, and Dermalogica in skin analysis and education. Choose the one that fits your clients, menu and budget.
Is Repêchage available in India?
Yes. JB Skincare is the exclusive authorized importer and distributor of Repêchage for India. See our guide is Repêchage available in India.
Is O3+ an Indian brand?
Yes. O3+ was founded in New Delhi in 2004.
Who owns Dermalogica?
Dermalogica has been part of Unilever since 2015.
What is the Repêchage Four Layer Facial?
Repêchage's signature professional facial, introduced in 1980: a seaweed serum, a hydrating cream with massage, a fresh seaweed mask and a mineral mask, applied in order.
Can a salon offer more than one professional brand?
Yes. Some salons use one brand for a signature treatment and another for other services. Keep protocols and training clear for each.
How can my salon start offering Repêchage facials?
Write to info@jbskincare.in or call 011-47504498. JB Skincare supplies professional products and provides training and support.
Sources and further reading
Further reading:
