Philip B.
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Haircare, Skincare |
| Founded | 1992 |
| Founder | Philip Berkovitz |
| Headquarters | United States |
Area served | International (Europe, Middle East, Asia, United States) |
Key people | Philip Berkovitz (CEO, creator, educator), Michael Huober (Creative Director) |
| Products | Hair, scalp, and body care products |
Philip B. is the professional alias of Philip Berkovitz, an American hairstylist and business founder behind the luxury botanical hair and skincare brand Philip B. The company specializes in products designed for hair, scalp, and body care.
Career
Philip B. began his journey in hair styling during his teenage years in Massachusetts. In 1984, he relocated to Los Angeles where he worked at salons frequented by Hollywood stars. Noticing that conventional commercial treatments fell short for damaged hair, he crafted his own botanical formulations using ingredients sourced from local markets. His inaugural commercial product, Philip B. Rejuvenating Oil, debuted at Fred Segal in 1992 and by 1993 had expanded nationally with distribution through Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman. Currently, Philip B. products are available online and distributed internationally throughout Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
His acclaimed four-step hair and scalp treatment has received praise from Vogue along with other prominent beauty magazines. Serving as CEO, creator, and educator, Philip B.’s work has been highlighted in Vogue, Elle, Glamour, Lucky, InStyle, Town & Country, W, and various global publications. Forbes recognized his scalp treatment in 1999 as one of "100 Things Worth Every Penny." In 2014, he styled models on the thirteenth season of Project Runway utilizing his product range.
Celebrities such as Dyan Cannon, Linda Gray, Sharon Stone, Madonna, Paul Newman, Sandra Bullock, Robert Redford, Courtney Love, Gwyneth Paltrow, Lauren Bacall, and Ronnie Wood have all shown preference for Philip B.’s offerings.
In 1995, he authored Blended Beauty, a guide empowering women to create natural beauty remedies using concentrated ingredients originally sourced from the United States and later incorporating global elements like African shea butter and Russian amber—components that inspired subsequent product development.
Controversy
The Philip B. Peppermint & Avocado Volumizing and Clarifying Shampoo was identified by the Center for Environmental Health (CEH) for containing cocamide DEA, a chemical classified as carcinogenic. This led to a violation notice under California’s Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act. Despite being promoted as a "botanicals" brand, Philip B. clarifies on its FAQ section that it is neither entirely botanical nor strictly a "clean" brand.
Personal life
In July 2013, founder Philip Berkovitz married Michael Huober, an artist and designer who also holds the position of creative director at Philip B. Botanicals International. The couple divides their time between Southern California and Munich, Germany.