Mastercard and L’Oréal to Transform the Future of Beauty Commerce and Empower Entrepreneurs; Clara to Join Partnership in Mexico

Mastercard and L’Oréal join forces in LAC to empower thousands of beauty professionals and entrepreneurs by launching L’Oréal Mastercard BusinessCard – a bold step toward a more inclusive digital economy.

The L’Oréal Mastercard BusinessCard, issued first in Mexico by Clara – a leading Latin American spend management solution – is the region’s only credit card designed specifically for the beauty industry with the goal of advancing financial inclusion and fueling small business growth. The card is currently available for salon owners, independent stylists, beauty creators, and distributors within L’Oréal’s professional network in Mexico. Expansion across other markets in the LAC region is also planned with additional financial partners.

With an estimated 350,000 beauty salons across LAC, according to local Stylist Associations, these businesses play a critical role in local economies by providing employment opportunities and fostering entrepreneurship. Yet, the industry’s long reliance on cash increases fraud risk and widens the digital divide, restricting beauty professionals’ ability to access secure, convenient, and affordable financial services. This digitization gap is a hurdle for many small retailers in LAC with 90% of B2B payments still handled in cash, check and bank transfers.

“Small and medium businesses are the heartbeat of Latin America’s economy, and this partnership represents a powerful step forward for the millions of entrepreneurs who move our region every day,” said Walter Pimenta, EVP Commercial and New Payments Flow for LAC at Mastercard. “What excites us most is the impact we can create together — empowering SMEs with seamless access to the digital economy, practical financial tools, and smarter ways to grow. By joining forces with an industry leader like L’Oreal, we’re not just expanding services; we are fueling the potential of a segment that drives innovation, job creation, and inclusive economic progress across the region”.

Beauty payments get a digital makeover

Traditionally, obtaining a business card meant in-person steps and waiting for approvals — valuable time that took beauty entrepreneurs away from their shops and customers. By streamlining the credit-decisioning process and embedding financial products where salon professionals operate, Mastercard, L’Oréal and Clara are making the process faster and easier – empowering more beauty professionals, especially those traditionally underserved, to participate in the digital economy with confidence and agility.

Key card benefits include:

• Beauty that pays off: discounts and points on salon products purchased through L’Oréal’s network, a $150 welcome bonus on initial inventory purchases, and access to product launches and pre-sales to stay current with trends and techniques.
• Business essentials, rewarded: for purchases outside of the L’Oréal network, accumulate points on other salon expenses, such as utilities and insurance, and earn rebates on everyday business expenses from over 50,000 global brands through Mastercard Easy Savings®.
• Growth opportunities that are styled for success: Access L’Oréal Academy trainings, hands-on workshops and exclusive industry events to build skills and grow networks.
• Buzz through expense management: Make reconciliation easier, reduce financial risk, and gain valuable time back with free access to Clara’s innovative digital expense management platform.
• One-stop shop for pros: Embedded into L’Oréal’s new B2B marketplace, access a one-stop shop for managing inventory, making payments and accessing professional resources.
• Access to Clara’s AI solutions: including Financial Analyst, available 24/7 to identify savings opportunities, generate any type of report, and facilitate compliance, giving business owners a clear view of their finances in real time.

“Mexico’s beauty community is incredibly vibrant, with hundreds of thousands of talented stylists who deserve every opportunity to succeed,” said Alonso Gotuzzo, Director for the Professional Products Division of L’Oréal Mexico. “We’ve listened to our beauty professionals, and we know that access to education, financing, and professional development can be game-changing. That’s why we’re proud to launch the card Mastercard x L’Oréal in Mexico as our first market in Latin America —combining financial inclusion with access to L’Oréal’s world-class training programs and resources. Our commitment goes beyond products; we’re investing in people, helping stylists sharpen their skills, expand their expertise, and unlock new opportunities that will elevate both their businesses and the entire beauty industry in Mexico.”

“At Clara, our goal is to make business operations agile, simpler, and more transparent. Partnering with L’Oréal and Mastercard allows us to extend that mission to thousands of beauty professionals, reducing inefficiencies, leveraging AI, and helping them spend more time building their business and serving their clients,” mentioned Gerry Giacomán Colyer, CEO and Co-founder, Clara.

Together, Mastercard, L’Oréal and Clara are breaking down barriers for small businesses, turning financial access into a driver of growth and inclusion across LAC.