The Estée Lauder Companies

File:Estee and Joseph H. Lauder at a Red Cross Ball at The Breakers in Palm Beach. BM00538 (crop).jpg in 1971]]

The company began in 1946 when Estée Lauder and her husband Joseph began producing cosmetics in New York City. They first carried only four products: Cleansing Oil, Skin Lotion, Super Rich All-purpose Creme, and Creme Pack.{{Cite web |url=https://trace.tennessee.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?httpsredir=1&article=1553&context=utk_chanhonoproj |title=The Estee Lauder Companies Background and History |first=Ashley Brooke |last=Howerton |website=University of Tennessee}} Two years later, in 1948 they established their first department store account with Saks Fifth Avenue in Manhattan.

Over the next 15 years, they expanded the range and continued to sell their products in the United States. In 1960, the company started its first international account in the London department store Harrods. The following year it opened an office in Hong Kong.

In 1964, they introduced Aramis, a line of fragrance and grooming products for men named after an exotic Turkish root originally used as an aphrodisiac.[http://www.elcompanies.com/who-we-are/key-moments#1964-aramis Aramis] elcompanies.com In 1967, Estée Lauder herself was named one of ten Outstanding Women in Business in the United States by business and financial editors.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/423/3424.html|title=Cosmetics billionairess, Estée Lauder, dies|website=www.bizcommunity.com|language=en|access-date=2020-03-14}} This was followed by a Spirit of Achievement Award from Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Yeshiva University in 1968.{{citation needed|date=August 2018}} In that year, the company expanded again, opening Clinique, a dermatologist-guided (Dr. Norman Orentreich), allergy-tested, fragrance-free cosmetic brand.

Estée Lauder's Clinique brand became the first women's cosmetic company to introduce a second line for men when, in 1976, they began a separate line called "Skin Supplies for Men", which continues to be sold at Clinique counters worldwide. In 1981, the company's products became available in the Soviet Union.

In the 1990s, brand acquisitions and licensing agreements contributed to explosive growth as the company transformed from a family-owned business to a publicly traded, family-controlled organization. The decade opened with the creation of Origins – the first wellness brand in U.S. department stores. The first licensing agreement for fragrances was with fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger in 1993, followed by Kiton,[https://www.elcompanies.com/our-brands/kiton Kiton] elcompanies.com an Italian fashion house (1995), and with American fashion designer Donna Karan (1997).[http://www.elcompanies.com/who-we-are/key-moments Who we are: Key moments] elcompanies.com

Brand acquisitions began with an investment in the Toronto-based MAC Cosmetics in 1994, which the company then acquired in 1998. Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, designed by the celebrated makeup artist, was acquired in 1995, as was La Mer – along with the original recipe for its supreme luxury product, Crème de la Mer, containing the nutrient-rich Miracle Broth. The company ventured into its first hair care and holistic beauty brand with Aveda in 1997. The fragrance house Jo Malone London was acquired in 1999.

On November 16, 1995, the Estée Lauder Companies went public on the New York Stock Exchange at $26.00 a share ($6.50 on a post-split basis).[https://www.elcompanies.com/investors#when-was-the-estee-lauder-ompanies-initial-public-offering-and-at-what-price-did-it-go-public Investors] elcompanies.com

Acquisitions and licensing continued in the 2000s as the Estée Lauder Companies bought a majority interest in the hair salon Bumble and bumble and completed its acquisition in 2006; an exclusive global licensing agreement was signed with fashion designer Michael Kors (2003). Designer Tom Ford began a project with the company and later an agreement was signed with him (2005) to develop and distribute fragrances and cosmetics under the Tom Ford Beauty brand.

On July 1, 2010, the company acquired Smashbox Beauty Cosmetics, Inc., a brand created in Smashbox Studios in Culver City, California, by brothers Dean and Davis Factor (as in Max).{{cite web|url=http://investors.elcompanies.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=109458&p=irol-newsarticle&id=1443800&highlight= |title=ESTÉE LAUDER COMPANIES - Investor Relations - News Release |publisher=Investors.elcompanies.com |access-date=2015-07-17}}

File:Estée Lauder MYER Sydney City 2013.jpg Sydney City]]

File:Estée Lauder Farmers Dunedin 2013.jpg]]

On October 28, 2011, Aramis and Designer Fragrances, a division of the Estée Lauder Companies Inc., and Tory Burch LLC announced the signing of a multiyear agreement for the exclusive worldwide license of the Tory Burch fragrance business. This partnership marked Tory Burch's first step into the beauty industry. The first Tory Burch fragrance products were introduced in 2013.{{cite web|url=http://investors.elcompanies.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=109458&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1623164&highlight= |title=ESTÉE LAUDER COMPANIES - Investor Relations - News Release |publisher=Investors.elcompanies.com |access-date=2015-07-17}}

In 2012, the company launched AERIN Beauty, a luxury lifestyle beauty and fragrance brand inspired by the signature style of its founder, Aerin Lauder.

In 2014, the company acquired two insider beauty brands, RODIN olio lusso, a skincare brand known for its "Luxury Face Oil", and Le Labo, a fragrance and sensory lifestyle brand. Later that year, the company also made its first investment in India by buying a minority stake in Forest Essentials, a luxury cosmetics company specializing in Ayurvedic products.{{cite web|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/cons-products/fashion-/-cosmetics-/-jewellery/estee-lauder-to-up-stake-in-forest-essentials/articleshow/45556119.cms?from=mdr |title=Estee Lauder to up stake in Forest Essentials |publisher=Economictimes.indiatimes.com |date=2014-12-18 |access-date=2020-01-04}} In 2015, the company acquired Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle, a fragrance brand, and GLAMGLOW, a Hollywood skin care brand.{{cite web|url=http://elcompanies.com/Pages/Fact-Sheet.aspx |title=Fact Sheet FY 2014 |publisher=Elcompanies.com |access-date=2015-07-17}}

In 2016, the company acquired Becca Cosmetics, its first color cosmetic group acquisition since Smashbox in 2010.{{Cite web|url=https://www.elcompanies.com/en/news-and-media/newsroom/company-features/2016/welcoming-becca-to-the-estee-lauder-companies|title=Welcoming BECCA to The Estée Lauder Companies|website=www.elcompanies.com}} In November 2016, the company made its largest acquisition to date by acquiring California-based cosmetics company Too Faced for US$1.45 billion.{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/chloesorvino/2016/11/15/estee-lauder-family-acquisition-billion-too-faced/#5a7765f941f9 |title=Did Too Faced Founders Cash Out Too Early? Sale To Estee Lauder Suggests Yes |website=Forbes|date=2016-11-15 |access-date=2017-02-15}}

In 2019, the company acquired Dr. Jart+. Founded in Korea in 2004, Dr. Jart+ pioneered the marketing of BB Cream as cosmetic, setting the standard for multifunctional beauty.{{Cite web|title=Dr. Jart+|url=https://www.elcompanies.com/en/our-brands/dr-jart-plus|access-date=2020-08-17|website=www.elcompanies.com|language=en}}

In 2021, the company acquired Canadian-based Deciem Beauty Group Inc.{{Cite web|title=The Estée Lauder Companies to Increase Its Ownership in DECIEM|url=https://www.elcompanies.com/en/news-and-media/newsroom/press-releases/2021/02-23-2021-114517626 |access-date=2021-08-29|website=www.elcompanies.com|language=en}} In 2022, Estée Lauder opened a 300,000 sq ft. distribution center in Galgenen, Switzerland.{{Cite web |first=Georgina |last=Caldwell |date=2022-06-13 |title=The Estee Lauder Companies cuts ribbon on new distribution center for travel retail channel |url=https://www.globalcosmeticsnews.com/the-estee-lauder-companies-cuts-ribbon-on-new-distribution-center-for-travel-retail-channel/ |access-date=2022-06-13 |website=Global Cosmetics News |language=en-GB}}

In November 2022, the company announced it was to acquire the designer fashion house Tom Ford in a deal worth $2.8bn, with Ford remaining as creative director until at least 2023.{{cite news |title=Estee Lauder to buy designer brand Tom Ford |work=BBC News |date=15 November 2022 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-63642175 |access-date=16 November 2022}}

In 2024, the company announced its partnership with Messika.{{Cite web |title=Estée Lauder et Messika dévoilent leur collaboration. |url=https://www.journalduluxe.fr/fr/beaute/messika-estee-lauder-collaboration-creme-nutriv-diamant |access-date=18 March 2024 |website=Journal du Luxe|date=8 January 2024 }}

In June 2024, Estée Lauder completed the acquisition of DECIEM Beauty Group.{{Cite web |title=Le groupe Estée Lauder finalise l'acquisition de DECIEM Beauty Group |url=https://luxus-plus.com/le-groupe-estee-lauder-finalise-lacquisition-de-deciem-beauty-group/ |access-date=4 June 2024 |website=Journal du Luxe}}

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic the Estée Lauder Companies announced on August 20, 2020, a reduction in their workforce by 1,500 to 2,000 personnel worldwide, or about 3 percent of total employees. Most of the reductions will be support workers and store employees. The company also announce they would be closing approximately 10 to 15 percent of their stores, close in-store beauty counters, and focus more on digital operations.{{cite news |last1=Bhasin |first1=Kim |last2=Porter |first2=Gerald Jr. |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-08-20/estee-lauder-to-cut-as-many-as-2-000-jobs-as-covid-hits-sales |title=Estee Lauder to Trim 3% of Global Workforce to Curb Costs |work=Bloomberg Business |date=2020-08-20 |access-date=2020-08-20 }}

The Estée Lauder company has many brands and Estée Lauder is one of the brands. It has had sometimes high-profile spokesmodels, sometimes referred to simply as 'faces'. Past 'faces' for Estée Lauder include Karen Graham, Bruce Boxleitner, Shaun Casey, Willow Bay, Paulina Porizkova, Elizabeth Hurley, Carolyn Murphy, supermodel Liya Kebede – the first African 'face' of Estee Lauder, Anja Rubik, and actress Gwyneth Paltrow. {{As of|2008}} the main spokesmodel for Estée Lauder was supermodel Hilary Rhoda. In 2010, the company added three more faces to the roster, Chinese model Liu Wen, Puerto Rican model Joan Smalls, and French model Constance Jablonski.{{cite web|url=http://models.com/oftheminute/?p=17176 |title= The New Faces of Beauty: Of the Minute|work=models.com|access-date=2010-04-16}}

In 2015, Estée Lauder signed model Kendall Jenner to promote the brand.[http://fashionista.com/2014/11/kendall-jenner-estee-lauder Kendall Jenner and Estée Lauder] fashionista.com November 2014

In 2017, the company announced Violette Serrat as their Global Beauty Director.{{Cite news|url=https://uk.fashionnetwork.com/news/Violette-named-new-global-beauty-director-for-Estee-Lauder,841754.html#.XAAz7VVKjIU|title=Violette named new global beauty director for Estée Lauder|last=Jensen|first=Emily|work=FashionNetwork.com|access-date=2018-11-29|language=en-UK}}

Alvin Chereskin, the founder of AC&R, was the long-time creative partner of the company.{{Cite news|last=Elliott|first=Stuart|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/12/15/business/media-business-advertising-alvin-chereskin-longtime-force-beauty-advertising.html|title=THE MEDIA BUSINESS: Advertising;Alvin Chereskin, a longtime force in beauty advertising, gives up retirement for Fresh Carats.|date=1995-12-15|work=The New York Times|access-date=2020-03-05|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}

Current roster of Estée Lauder Global Ambassadors include Ana de Armas, Amanda Gorman, Bianca Brandolini d'Adda, Carolyn Murphy, Grace Elizabeth, Imaan Hammam, Karlie Kloss, Manushi Chhillar and Yang Mi. In 2024, the company announced singer, songwriter and actress, IU, as their first Korean Global Brand Ambassador.{{Cite web |title=Estée Lauder Signs Korean Singer and Actress IU as New Global Brand Ambassador |url=https://www.elcompanies.com/en/news-and-media/newsroom/press-releases/2024/04-11-2024-120032323 |access-date=2024-04-11 |website=www.elcompanies.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Estée Lauder signs singer IU as first Korean Global Brand Ambassador |url=https://cosmeticsbusiness.com/est%C3%A9e-lauder-signs-iu-as-global-brand-ambassador |access-date=15 April 2024 |website=Cosmetics Business}}

For fiscal year 2016, the Estée Lauder Companies achieved net sales of $11.26 billion, a 4% increase compared with $10.78 billion in the prior year. Net earnings for the year were $1.11 billion, a 2% increase compared with $1.09 billion in the previous year, and diluted net earnings per common share rose 5% to $2.96, compared with $2.82 reported in the prior year.{{Cite web |title=Investors |url=http://www.elcompanies.com/~/media/Files/E/Estee-Lauder/investors/toolkit/4qtr16.pdf |access-date=2024-08-26}} As of 2018, Estée Lauder Companies ranked 258 on the Fortune 500 list of the largest United States corporations by revenue.{{cite web|url=http://fortune.com/fortune500/estee-lauder/|title=Estee Lauder|website=Fortune|language=en-US|access-date=2018-11-25}}

Leonard A. Lauder is chairman emeritus. William P. Lauder is the chairman of the board. Fabrizio Freda was president and chief executive officer from 2009 through 2024.{{cite web|url=http://www.elcompanies.com/Pages/Our-Leaders.aspx |title=Our Leaders |publisher=Elcompanies.com |access-date=2015-07-17}} As of 2025, Stéphane de la Faverie, the former executive group president, was named president and CEO of ELC.{{cite news|last=Scott|first=Nateisha|title=Stéphane de la Faverie named president and CEO of Estée Lauder Companies|url=https://www.voguebusiness.com/story/beauty/stephane-de-la-faverie-named-ceo-of-estee-lauder-companies|date=30 October 2024|website=Vogue Business}}

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Jeanette Sarkisian Wagner was president of the company's International Operations division, who quickly introduced the brand's product line to the women of the Soviet Union and China when those countries began to open up in the 1980s and '90s. Under Wagner, the division went from a small and relatively unprofitable arm of Estee Lauder to one that brought in about half of the company's revenue. She oversaw the opening of the company's first location in the USSR one week after the fall of the Berlin Wall.{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/18/business/jeanette-wagner-dead.html | title=Jeanette Wagner, Who Globalized the Estée Lauder Brand, Dies at 92 | work=The New York Times | date=18 March 2022 | last1=Traub | first1=Alex }} Wagner launched marketing campaigns in over 100 countries for the company.{{Cite web |title=A former Estée Lauder executive wanted to create a Harvard scholarship for students of Armenian descent, the school turned her down |url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/a-former-estee-lauder-executive-wanted-to-create-a-harvard-scholarship-for-students-of-armenian-descent-the-school-turned-her-down-ac6f91d3 |access-date=2024-08-26 |website=Market Watch}}

In October 1992, the Breast Cancer Awareness campaign was launched by Evelyn Lauder (Estée's daughter-in-law) who co-created the "Pink Ribbon"{{cite web|url=https://www.esteelauder.com.au/estee-stories-article-history-of-the-pink-ribbon-breast-cancer-awareness |title=Breast Cancer Awareness | Estée Stories Blog |publisher=esteelauder.com |access-date=2020-01-04}} with Self magazine as a symbol of breast health. Since then, millions of people globally have heard the message about the importance of breast health and early detection can save lives.

The Estée Lauder Companies' annual Breast Cancer Awareness campaign involves all of the 19 brands that make up the Estée Lauder Companies. They collectively represent The Breast Cancer Research Foundation's first and largest corporate supporter.

Since 1992, the Estée Lauder Companies' Breast Cancer campaign has raised more than $89 Million globally for lifesaving research, education, and medical services.{{Cite web|title=The Breast Cancer Campaign|url=https://www.elcompanies.com/en/our-commitments/the-breast-cancer-campaign|access-date=2020-08-17|website=www.elcompanies.com|language=en}}

The Estée Lauder Companies brands include:{{cite web|url=http://www.elcompanies.com/pages/our-brands.aspx |title=Our Brands |publisher=Elcompanies.com |date=2011-03-22 |access-date=2015-07-17}}

{{Col-begin}}

{{Col-break}}Cosmetics

• AERIN Beauty
• Bobbi Brown
• Clinique
• DECIEM by Brandon Truaxe
• Dr. Jart+
• Estée Lauder
• GLAMGLOW
• La Mer
• Lab Series
• MAC Cosmetics
• Origins
• Darphin Paris
• Smashbox
• Too Faced{{cite web|title=Why Estee Lauder Is Buying This Cosmetics Brand for $1.45 Billion|url=http://fortune.com/2016/11/15/estee-lauder-too-faced-deal/|website=Fortune|access-date=15 November 2016|date=15 November 2016}}
• Tom Ford Beauty

{{Col-break}}Fragrance

• Aramis
• Kilian Paris
• Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle
• Jo Malone London
• Lauder (Fragrances)
• Le Labo

Haircare

• Aveda
• Bumble and bumble

{{col-end}}

{{criticism section|section|date=March 2021}}

Estée Lauder Companies appeared on lists of major companies supporting SOPA, the controversial, but unsuccessful, Congressional anti-piracy bill that was considered overreaching by critics.{{cite web|url=https://gizmodo.com/5870241|title=All the Companies Supporting SOPA, the Awful Internet Censorship Law—and How to Contact Them|publisher=Gizmodo.com|access-date=2015-07-17}}{{cite web|url=http://judiciary.house.gov/issues/Rogue%20Websites/SOPA%20Supporters.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111227040857/http://judiciary.house.gov/issues/Rogue%20Websites/SOPA%20Supporters.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2011-12-27|title=List of Supporters: H.R. 3261, the Stop Online Piracy Act|publisher=Judiciary.house.gov|access-date=2015-07-17}}

In 2001, it was reported that children were discovered working in a factory in Cambridge, New York, making products for Origins, one of Estee Lauder's natural products brands. The contracted company was Common Sense Natural Soap & Bodycare, owned by a group led by cult leader Yoneq Gene Spriggs. Estee Lauder said it immediately moved to terminate the contract with the manufacturer it had been in business with for 5 years, stating it was totally unaware prior to the initial inspection.{{cite news |author=Jeane MacIntosh |url=https://nypost.com/2001/04/09/state-probes-cult-in-child-labor-scandal-acting-on-heels-of-post-report/ |title=State probes cult in child-labor scandal – acting on heels of post report|work=New York Post |date=April 9, 2001| access-date=April 9, 2018}}

The Estée Lauder Companies perform non-animal and human volunteer testing to assess product safety and efficacy. Estée Lauder Companies product goes through animal testing where required by law by its country government. The Chinese government requires testing on animals for many cosmetic products.{{cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/04/19/in-china-big-cosmetics-firms-are-selling-products-tested-on-animals.html |title=In China, big cosmetics firms are selling products tested on animals |website=CNBC |date=19 April 2017 |access-date=April 1, 2018}} This causes controversy for smaller brands that are "cruelty free" but were acquired by Estée Lauder.{{Cite web|date=2015-07-22|title=These Beauty Brands Are Still Tested on Animals|url=https://www.peta.org/living/personal-care-fashion/beauty-brands-that-you-thought-were-cruelty-free-but-arent/|access-date=2022-01-31|website=PETA|language=en-US}}

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Since at least February 2001, Estée Lauder and its brands have been the target of a boycott campaign led by pro-Palestine activists who have targeted the corporation because of the pro-Israel activities of Ronald Lauder.{{cite web|url=http://www.inminds.co.uk/boycott-estee-lauder.html|title=Boycott Israel Campaign|access-date=August 6, 2006}}{{cite web|url=http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/boycotts/lauder.asp|title=American Muslims for Jerusalem have called for a boycott of Estee Lauder products|date=May 30, 2002 |publisher=Snopes|access-date=August 6, 2006}} In June 2003, the San Francisco-based Queers Undermining Israeli Terrorism (QUIT) took up the boycott with their "Estée Slaughter" campaign.{{cite web|url=http://www.quitpalestine.org/esteeslaughter/esteeindex.html|title=Queers Undermining Israeli Terrorism|access-date=August 6, 2006|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060708211054/http://quitpalestine.org/esteeslaughter/esteeindex.html|archive-date=July 8, 2006|df=mdy-all}} The boycott has generated an anti-boycott campaign by supporters of Israel.{{cite web|url=http://jdl.org/action/armchair/estee_lauder.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020607110614/http://jdl.org/action/armchair/estee_lauder.html|archive-date=June 7, 2002|title=Armchair Activist: Buy Estee Lauder Products|date=May 11, 2001|access-date=August 6, 2006}}

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