Estee Lauder

With more than 10000 products under a large umbrella of brands, Estee Lauder Companies has brought about a renaissance in the cosmetic world. The company was founded by Mrs. Estee Lauder and her husband in 1946 in New York City. It started with four products, a cleansing oil, skin lotion, crème pack, and an all purpose cream, under its main brand Estee Lauder, but soon diversified into make up items, bath and body products, fragrances, and skin care products under different brands.


Youth-Dew, the first fragrance created by the company in 1953, is even today immensely popular. The Aramis brand started for men in 1964 and the Clinique brand started in 1968 are well known brands with a global presence. With the acquisition of brands like M-A-C, Bobbi Brown, Aveda and Stila Cosmetics in the 1990s, the company’s product range increased substantially. By late 1990s, Estee Lauder Companies started selling its products online through its new division created for this specific purpose known as ELC Online.


Today the company has got operations in 43 countries. It manufactures its products through 14 manufacturing units situated in 6 countries. Besides its own products, the group markets well known brand names like Mustang, Tommy Hilfiger, Missoni, Kiton, Donna Karan, Michael Kors, Sean John, Tom Ford etc. In 2008 the net sales of the company has exceeded $8 billion.


Estee Lauder Companies is a pioneer of the international cosmetic world. Besides their contribution to the cosmetic revolution, they have championed the cause of breast cancer research and have donated millions for the cause.