Kryolan: Where Science Meets Art
The Birth of a Vision (1945)
In the rubble of post-war Berlin, a young chemist named Arnold Langer had a dream. Born in the dazzling Berlin of the 1920s, he had discovered his passion for theater and make-up at an early age. As a laboratory chemist's apprentice, he earned his first pocket money selling soaps and creams created in his mother's kitchen.
When the theaters reopened after World War II, Arnold saw his moment. On August 14, 1945, armed with his savings and supported by his wife Waltraud Langer, he founded Kryolan in a small Berlin lab. His mission was clear: to bring theater back to life through the transformative power of make-up.
What started as mixing creams and colors for Berlin's reopened stages would become a global legacy that has endured for 80 years.
The Philosophy That Built a Legacy
Arnold Langer's credo became the foundation of everything Kryolan stands for:
"First the person, then the business."
This wasn't just a motto—it was a way of life. Arnold listened intently to make-up artists, understanding their needs through long conversations. He valued personal relationships and informal exchanges with customers and partners. This individuality, this human-first approach, helped make Kryolan great.
Today, that same philosophy lives on through three generations. Wolfram Langer (Arnold's son) and his sons Sebastian and Dominik, along with their families, continue to honor Arnold's legacy while steering the company into the future with a modern vision rooted in deep tradition.
What Makes Kryolan Different
We Don't Just Sell Make-up. We Make It.
Unlike most beauty brands, Kryolan manufactures its own products from start to finish. For over 80 years and across three generations, every formula is developed in-house at the Berlin headquarters. The brand's chemists work side-by-side with make-up artists, ensuring that innovation is always driven by real-world needs.
Listen. Create. Care.
The secret behind Kryolan's 18,000+ products is simple: Listen.
For 75 years, Kryolan has listened to what make-up artists want and need. Every product begins with a conversation, a challenge, a vision from the professionals who use them. True to the claim "Make-up Is A Science," the team of chemists in Berlin works meticulously on creating innovations and perfecting existing formulas.
Before any product joins the Kryolan portfolio, it undergoes seamless testing across multiple departments. A test panel of make-up artists and consumers ensures excellent usability. Professional creativity doesn't happen without professional safety.
Six Fields, One Unmatched Expertise
Kryolan started in theater—Arnold's first love. But through decades of listening and innovating, the brand expanded into six distinct fields of competence:
- Theater - Where it all began
- Film & TV - From Hollywood to global cinema
- Special Effects - Pushing the boundaries of transformation
- Body Art - Living canvases brought to life
- Beauty - Professional artistry for everyday elegance
- Fashion - High-concept creativity for the runway
This versatility is what distinguishes Kryolan from every competitor. One brand, six worlds of expertise.