Birkenstock, famous for its successful shoe empire, has launched its first venture into the cosmetics market with the announcement of the new skin care line Birkenstock Natural Care.

The company is well known for its popular sandals range, and is now branching into new markets with the launch of the skin care line that is said to be synonymous with ‘health, very high quality and a conscious lifestyle.’

The new certified range will focus on the naturals market and include ingredients such as cork oak extract, a combination of active ingredients and environmentally-friendly packaging. Likewise the company is foregoing use of ingredients such as parabens, surfactants, silicones or paraffins.

The range will have a ‘made in Germany’ stance, and will feature five series of 28 products, using the same natural cork that’s used in the company’s footwear.

It’s not the first time a shoe brand has had a foray into the cosmetics world, with Christian Louboutin one such company that has heralded a successful market shift from footwear to cosmetics, entering the beauty market in 2014.

The launch was a successful one, with further collections subsequently coming to the fore, including nail varnish, lip lacquers and fragrances.