Layla Cosmetics

Layla Cosmetics is an Italian colour-cosmetics company founded in Milan in 1936 [1]. It began as a nail-polish maker and, according to the company, became the first producer of nail polish in Italy [2]. Nail products remain its core business, alongside makeup and a smaller skincare line, all manufactured at its Milan headquarters.

The company says it produces more than 2,500 items by hand in its Milanese laboratories and distributes them through more than 3,500 retail and professional points of sale. It remains active, selling directly through its own e-commerce site and expanding internationally.

Layla was founded in 1936 by Emanuele Rossetti. According to the brand, Rossetti imported emerging trends from the United States, and with them the basis for the artisanal production of nail polishes [2]. The company credits him with establishing nail polish as its founding category in the Italian market.

Since 1952, Layla has produced its cosmetics at a headquarters on Via dei Pestegalli in Milan, where it still operates.

Leadership has passed through three generations of the founding family. In 1975, Emma Rossetti, the founder's daughter, took over the business and broadened it beyond nail polish into makeup, and later skincare [4]. The third generation is represented by Babila Spagnolo, described in the company's own materials as creative director and granddaughter of the founder.

In 2020, Layla opened a subsidiary in Las Vegas to enter the United States market, and the Italian investment firm AF1 acquired a reported 55% stake to support international growth [5]. According to trade-press reporting at the time, overseas markets accounted for around 30% of revenue, with planned expansion into Saudi Arabia, India, Morocco and several other markets [5].

Nail polish is the centre of the range. The company offers semi-permanent polishes under names such as LaylaGel Polish, traditional enamels, and nail-reconstruction products including the Sculptura Builder Gel. Makeup spans face, eye and lip products, and a skincare line rounds out the catalogue. According to one trade report, nail polish makes up roughly 60% of revenue, with makeup and skincare each contributing about 20% [5].

The company positions itself as a leader in semi-permanent nail polish [2]. On its nail collection, Layla lists formulation claims including "BIG 6 FREE", "NICKEL TESTED" and "TPO FREE" [3], referring to the exclusion of certain common ingredients. No vegan or cruelty-free certification appears on the brand's site.

The brand's product categories are described slightly differently across sources. The company's current homepage navigation presents only Nails and Make Up [1], while trade-press reporting and the brand's own expansion history treat skincare as an established third category accounting for about a fifth of revenue [5].

Layla frames itself around what it calls "Excellence and Innovation", pairing technological development with artisanal craft. The company describes its products as the result of "a perfect synergy between technological innovation and artisanal expertise", intended to bring "the prestige of Made in Italy to the world" [2]. Its stated values centre on Italian heritage, craftsmanship and manufacturing in Milan, summed up in the tagline "A bold and recognizable style, everywhere".

Italian editorial coverage has noted a shift in the company's recent communications toward "irreverence and irony" within a traditionally conservative sector [4].

Layla Cosmetics remains active. It operates from Milan, sells through a live e-commerce site, and continues international expansion following its 2020 entry into the United States and the AF1 stake acquisition [5]. The brand approaches its ninetieth year, describing itself as carrying "ninety years of Italian passion".