Unilever Ventures invests in Luna Daily bodycare

Luna Daily has new investment with the intimate bodycare brand having raised funds in a round led by Unilever Ventures.

We haven’t been told how much it raised but we know the amount topped £2 million and brings the firm’s total funding so far close to £5 million.

It also saw investment from existing backers Redrice Ventures and Joyance Partners, and new ‘angel investors’ including Peanut founder Michelle Kennedy, Feelunique co-founder Aaron Chatterley, Mintel beauty and wellness chair Jane Henderson, and Taos Edmondson of Dmg Ventures.

The money will be used to grow the specialist part of its offer for women during and after pregnancy, as well as increasing its marketing spend.

Luna Daily is one of a growing number of ranges addressing what the firm says is bodycare “for all skin, even your most intimate. And for all stages of Womanhood”.

Searches and sales for such products are rising with women more inclined to discuss their needs in this area compared to just a few years ago.

The brand’s products include wash items that don’t need to be kept away from intimate areas, moisturisers, soap-free bars, on-the-go body cleansing sprays that claim to remove the need for wipes, and more.

The products are all free from multiple ingredients likely to irritate skin, as well as being vegan-friendly.

Sales rose 1,000% last year and the brand scored a key win, launching in Sephora in the US.

“The collaboration will bring [Unilever Ventures’] unparalleled global expertise and resources at such an exciting time for Luna Daily’s growth,” said founder Katy Cottam. 

And Anna Ohlsson-Baskerville, partner at Unilever Ventures, said: “We are excited by how Katy has elevated the consumer experience of body wash and care with her microbiome balancing formulations for all skin. She used her own experience to create an offering that cares for women’s bodies in their entirety and for all stages of womanhood. We think that is a powerful and empowering idea. Daily routines have now been transformed into desirable rituals.”

Unilever Ventures is a major investor in companies disrupting the market and driving innovation. This year it has invested in Indian personal care brand Wishcare and vitamin brand Perelel. Its other investments include Blow Ltd, Bybi, Curlsmith, Frank Body, Live Tinted and Minimalist, among others.