History of Estee Lauder

Estée Lauder was co-founded by Estée Lauder and her husband Joseph Lauder in New York in 1946. Estée Lauder had been preparing skincare creams and selling them to beauty salons and department stores. The company's early range included four products, and its distribution expanded when Saks Fifth Avenue agreed to carry the line in 1948. The Youth-Dew bath oil and fragrance, introduced in 1953, significantly increased the company's profile and revenue.

Over subsequent decades, Estée Lauder expanded its portfolio through internal brand development and acquisition. Clinique was introduced in 1968 as a dermatologist-developed skincare line. Later additions included Aramis, Origins, MAC Cosmetics, Bobbi Brown, and Jo Malone London, each targeting distinct segments of the prestige beauty market. The company listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 1995, though the Lauder family retained majority voting control.

Estée Lauder experienced significant financial difficulties in the early 2020s, driven by a sharp decline in sales in China — a key growth market — following changes in consumer sentiment and distribution disruptions. The company announced restructuring plans in 2023 and 2024, including workforce reductions. CEO Fabrizio Freda announced his departure in 2023, and the company undertook a search for new leadership as sales in the Asia-Pacific region remained under pressure.

The Lauder family has maintained longstanding ties to Israel, with various family members serving on boards and funding organisations connected to Israeli cultural and academic institutions. Ronald Lauder, son of Estée Lauder, has been particularly active in Jewish and Israeli affairs, serving as president of the World Jewish Congress. These affiliations have contributed to the inclusion of Estée Lauder in BDS boycott campaigns, alongside the company's commercial operations in the Israeli market.