Edgewell Personal Care
A United States-based multinational personal-care company whose portfolio spans shaving, sun care, feminine care, and related everyday consumer products.
Last updated August 21, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Edgewell Personal Care is a publicly traded American consumer-products company headquartered in Shelton, Connecticut. It manages a portfolio of personal-care brands serving grooming, sun protection, feminine care, baby care, and adjacent household-use occasions. Its best-known brands include Schick and Wilkinson Sword in shaving, Banana Boat and Hawaiian Tropic in sun care, Playtex and Stayfree in feminine care, Wet Ones in cleansing wipes, and a number of acquired or developed brands aimed at more specialized consumer segments. The company was created in 2015 through the separation of Energizer Holdings' personal-care operations from its household-products and battery operations. In the transaction, the existing Energizer Holdings corporate entity became the personal-care company and adopted the Edgewell Personal Care name, while the household-products assets were placed into a new entity that subsequently resumed the Energizer Holdings name. David Hatfield, then president and chief executive of Energizer Personal Care, became Edgewell's chief executive during the separation. Edgewell's business model is built around branded products sold through mass retailers, supermarkets, drugstores, club stores, e-commerce channels, and other distributors. The company competes in categories where product performance, convenience, brand recognition, innovation, packaging, and retail availability are important purchasing factors. Its portfolio combines large global labels with niche and digitally oriented brands. Acquisitions have been used to broaden the company's capabilities and reach, including the purchase of men's skin-care brand Jack Black in 2018, shaving brand Cremo in 2020, and women's body-care brand Billie in 2021. The company's strategic history also includes a significant abandoned transaction. In 2019, Edgewell agreed to acquire razor company Harry's, which included the female-focused Flamingo brand. The United States Federal Trade Commission challenged the transaction in 2020, arguing that the combination could harm competition in razors. Edgewell terminated the agreement after the FTC initiated legal action. The episode illustrated the competitive importance of the shaving category and the regulatory scrutiny applied to consolidation among branded razor businesses. Edgewell has also reshaped its portfolio through divestitures. In 2019 it announced the sale of its diaper and cat-litter-disposal businesses to Le Holding Angelcare. In 2025, the company was reported to have agreed to sell its feminine-care business to Essity. These moves reflect an effort to concentrate resources on categories and brands considered most strategically relevant to the company's long-term personal-care platform. The company has faced product-safety scrutiny as well. Certain Banana Boat sunscreen products were recalled in 2022 and 2023 after the detection of benzene, a chemical identified as a carcinogen. The recalls affected specific products rather than representing a general description of the entire Banana Boat range, but they became an important public issue for the brand and its parent company. Edgewell therefore combines the advantages of a diversified branded portfolio with the operational responsibilities associated with formulation, manufacturing, regulatory compliance, product quality, and global distribution.
History
Edgewell Personal Care emerged from the corporate separation of Energizer Holdings in 2015. Before the separation, Energizer operated both a household-products and battery business and a personal-care business. In February 2015, the company announced a plan to divide those activities. The original corporate entity was converted into the personal-care company and renamed Edgewell Personal Care, while the household-products assets were transferred to a newly created entity that later adopted the Energizer Holdings name. David Hatfield, who had led Energizer's personal-care operations, became Edgewell's chief executive. The new company entered the market with an established portfolio of personal-care brands. Shaving was one of its central categories, supported by Schick and related international operations such as Wilkinson Sword. Sun care was represented by Banana Boat and Hawaiian Tropic, while feminine care included Playtex and Stayfree. The company also operated in wipes and other everyday-use categories through brands such as Wet Ones, alongside baby-care and other personal-care products. Edgewell pursued portfolio expansion through acquisitions. In 2018 it agreed to acquire Jack Black, a premium men's skin-care brand, in a transaction completed in March of that year. In 2019 it announced an agreement to purchase Harry's, a prominent razor company, including the women's-focused Flamingo brand. The proposed Harry's deal was not completed. In February 2020, the Federal Trade Commission announced that it would seek to block the acquisition because of competition concerns, and Edgewell terminated the merger agreement shortly afterward. The company continued its acquisition strategy with Cremo, a shaving-products brand purchased in an all-cash transaction completed in September 2020. In November 2021, Edgewell acquired Billie, a women's body-care brand with a digitally oriented market presence. These transactions expanded the company's exposure to premium grooming, specialized shaving, and newer consumer-engagement models. Edgewell also streamlined its portfolio. In October 2019, it announced the sale of its diaper and cat-litter-disposal businesses to Le Holding Angelcare. The divestiture reduced exposure to activities outside the company's principal branded personal-care categories. In 2025, Edgewell was reported to have sold its feminine-care business to Essity, indicating another step toward reshaping the company's category mix. Product quality and regulatory issues have formed another part of the company's history. In 2022 and 2023, certain Banana Boat sunscreen products were recalled after benzene was detected. Benzene is recognized as a carcinogen, making the recalls a significant safety and reputational event even though they concerned specified products rather than the whole Banana Boat portfolio. Today, Edgewell is a multinational personal-care company whose products are distributed through traditional retail and e-commerce channels. Its history is defined by the 2015 separation from Energizer, an emphasis on branded grooming and personal-care categories, selective acquisitions, portfolio divestitures, competition-related regulatory scrutiny, and the continuing need to manage product safety across a broad international business.
- 2025
Feminine-care business sold to Essity
[1]Edgewell is reported to have agreed to sell its feminine-care business to Essity.
- 2021
Billie acquired
[1]Edgewell acquires women's body-care brand Billie.
- 2020
Harry's transaction abandoned
[1]After the FTC seeks to block the deal, Edgewell terminates the Harry's merger agreement.
- 2020
Cremo acquired
[1]Edgewell completes its all-cash acquisition of shaving brand Cremo.
- 2019
Harry's acquisition announced
[1]Edgewell announces a proposed $1.37 billion purchase of Harry's, including Flamingo.
- 2018
Jack Black acquisition announced
[1]Edgewell announces an agreement to acquire premium men's skin-care brand Jack Black; the deal closes in March.
- 2015
Edgewell Personal Care is created
[1]Energizer separates its personal-care activities from its household-products and battery activities, with the personal-care company renamed Edgewell Personal Care.
Products and positioning
Mass-market and premium personal care, with a portfolio spanning everyday essentials, specialized grooming, and digitally oriented direct-to-consumer offerings.
Shaving
Schick
A major Edgewell shaving brand offering razors, replacement blades, and related men's and women's grooming products. Schick is one of the company's principal global platforms and competes across disposable, system, and refillable razor segments.
Shaving
Wilkinson Sword
An international shaving brand associated with razors and blades. It extends Edgewell's shaving presence particularly in markets where the Wilkinson Sword name has strong historical recognition.
Sun care
Banana Boat
A sun-care brand offering sunscreen and related protection products. Its range addresses everyday outdoor use and different protection needs, although selected products were subject to benzene-related recalls in 2022 and 2023.
Sun care
Hawaiian Tropic
A sun-protection and tanning-oriented brand within Edgewell's sun-care portfolio, marketed around outdoor and leisure use.
Feminine care
Playtex
A personal-care brand historically associated with feminine-care products and other consumer-care offerings. Its feminine-care activities formed part of the business later reported as sold to Essity.
Cleansing wipes
Wet Ones
A wipes brand focused on convenient personal cleansing and on-the-go hygiene occasions.
Men's skin care
Jack Black
A premium men's skin-care and grooming brand acquired by Edgewell in 2018. Its assortment broadened Edgewell's reach beyond mass-market shaving into specialized and higher-end men's grooming.
Shaving and grooming
Cremo
A shaving-products and men's grooming brand acquired in 2020. Cremo is associated with shaving creams and related grooming products and strengthened Edgewell's position in premium and specialized shaving.
Women's body care
Billie
A women's body-care brand acquired by Edgewell in 2021. Billie expanded the portfolio toward contemporary, digitally engaged consumers and complementary body-care occasions.
Controversies
2023
Further Banana Boat sunscreen recall
Additional Banana Boat sunscreen products were recalled in connection with benzene concerns.
2022
Banana Boat benzene-related sunscreen recall
Certain Banana Boat sunscreen products were recalled after benzene was detected. Because benzene is recognized as a carcinogen, the event created a product-safety and reputational issue for Edgewell and the affected brand.
Brand decisions
2025
Sell feminine-care business to EssityM&ABackground
Edgewell continued to reshape its category portfolio and focus on selected personal-care platforms.
Action taken
The company was reported to have agreed to sell its feminine-care business to Essity.
Aftermath
The transaction would transfer the feminine-care operations to Essity and reduce Edgewell's exposure to that category.
Transaction value. $340 million (2025 announcement)
2021
Acquire BillieM&ABackground
Edgewell sought to expand in women's body care and reach a digitally oriented consumer base.
Action taken
The company acquired Billie in an all-cash transaction.
Aftermath
Billie broadened Edgewell's women's grooming and body-care presence.
Purchase price. $310 million (November 2021 acquisition)
2020
Acquire CremoM&ABackground
Following the failed Harry's transaction, Edgewell continued to expand its grooming portfolio through a smaller acquisition.
Action taken
Edgewell completed an all-cash acquisition of shaving brand Cremo.
Aftermath
Cremo became part of Edgewell's shaving and men's grooming portfolio.
Purchase price. $235 million (2020 acquisition)
2019
Propose acquisition of Harry'sM&ABackground
Edgewell sought to expand its razor portfolio and add Harry's and Flamingo.
Action taken
The company agreed to a proposed $1.37 billion acquisition.
Aftermath
The FTC challenged the transaction, and Edgewell terminated the agreement in February 2020.
Proposed transaction value. $1.37 billion (2019 announcement)
2015
Separate personal care from household productsStrategyBackground
Energizer sought to divide its personal-care activities from its household-products and battery activities.
Action taken
The existing corporate entity became Edgewell Personal Care, while the household-products assets were transferred to a new entity that later resumed the Energizer Holdings name.
Aftermath
Edgewell became an independent publicly traded personal-care company with a portfolio centered on branded grooming and consumer-care products.
Recent events
Edgewell launches U.S. disposable razor recycling program[3]
Reported:
Edgewell launched a U.S. program for consumers to return disposable razors for recycling. The company said returned Xtreme, Skintimate and Quattro razors would be recycled into new products through a third-party partner.
Edgewell announces recycled-plastic disposable razor handles[3]
Reported:
Edgewell announced that its global portfolio of men's and women's disposable razors, including Schick Xtreme 3 and Skintimate razors, now has handles made with up to 100% post-consumer recycled plastic.
Edgewell prices $500 million notes offering[4]
Reported:
Edgewell Personal Care Company announced that it had priced a private offering of $500 million in unsecured, unsubordinated notes. The offering was expected to close on March 8, 2021, subject to customary closing conditions.
Edgewell appoints director of diversity, equity and inclusion[5]
Reported:
Edgewell Personal Care Company announced that Karen Anderson was appointed Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, where she will lead the company's global DEI strategy.
Sources5 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/edgewell-personal-care · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled