Lauder, Estée (1908–2004)

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Lauder, Estée (1908–2004)

American cosmetics entrepreneur. Name variations: Estee Lauder. Born Josephine Esty (changed to Esther on birth certificate) Mentzer, July 1, 1908, in Corona, Queens, NY; died April 24, 2004, in New York, NY; dau. of Max Mentzer (businessman) and Rose (Schotz) Rosenthal Mentzer; m. Joseph Lauter (later changed to Lauder), 1930 (div. 1939, remarried 1943, died 1983); children: Leonard and Ronald Lauder.

Founder of a cosmetics empire, sold her 1st products, a Cleansing Oil, Creme Pack, and Super-Rich All-Purpose Cream, to the House of Ash Blondes, a beauty salon she frequented on West 72nd Street; with 4 products and a substantial order from Saks Fifth Avenue, established an office in NY (1946); introduced Youth Dew (1953), a bath oil that doubled as a skin perfume and was distinguished by its lasting scent, to great success; introduced several product lines, including Clinique (a hypoallergenic line for women with sensitive skins), Prescriptives (a customized makeup line), and the classic Estée Lauder products.

See also autobiography Estée (1985); and Women in World History.