Another natural cosmetics firm for L'Oreal

PARIS, Oct. 24 (UPI) -- L'Oreal, the Paris cosmetic and perfume giant, is buying Laboratoire Sanoflore, a French natural cosmetic maker.

The price of the privately held firm was not disclosed, which is expected to have 2006 sales of about $19 million, but the deal gives L'Oreal a respected producer of organic essential oils, skin creams and toiletries, the Financial Times said Tuesday.

Sanoflore employs 147 people, who will be absorbed into L'Oreal's "active cosmetics" division.

Earlier this year L'Oreal bought Britain's Body Shop, another non-main stream cosmetics firm.