Portrait of Estée Lauder
Biography for young readers

Estée Lauder

Founder of the Estée Lauder Companies and a leader in the beauty industry

Lived
1906-2004
From
American
Reading time
About 2 min
Reading guide
Developing-reader friendly

Watch Estée Lauder's story unfold

Portrait of Estée Lauder
01

Early Life

Estée Lauder was born as Josephine Esther Mentzer in New York City.

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A life worth remembering

Founder of the Estée Lauder Companies and a leader in the beauty industry

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  • Which achievement or idea do you think mattered most?
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Early Life

Estée Lauder was born as Josephine Esther Mentzer in New York City. She grew up in a busy family with many brothers and sisters, which taught her how to work hard and share ideas.

As a young girl, Estée loved science and helping people feel good about themselves. Her uncle was a chemist, and he showed her how to make skin creams in his lab. This sparked her lifelong interest in beauty products.

A Big Dream Begins

Estée believed that everyone could feel confident with the right skincare. She started making creams at home and giving them to friends and family to try. People loved them and asked for more.

She didn’t have a big store or lots of money at first. Instead, Estée visited beauty salons and showed her products in person. She explained how to use them and listened carefully to customers.

Building a Beauty Brand

In 1946, Estée and her husband, Joseph Lauder, started the Estée Lauder Companies. One of her smart ideas was giving free samples, so people could try products before buying them. This idea is still popular today.

Estée also believed in kindness and good service. She trained workers to help customers and answer questions with care. Her focus on quality made her brand grow around the world.

Achievements and Success

Over time, Estée Lauder became one of the most famous names in beauty. Her company created skincare, makeup, and fragrances used by millions of people.

She received many awards for her business skills and creativity. Estée was one of the few women leading a big company during her time, and she inspired others to follow their dreams.

Legacy

Estée Lauder passed away in 2004, but her company continues to grow. Today, the Estée Lauder Companies include many popular brands sold worldwide.

Her story shows that with passion, hard work, and kindness, big dreams can come true. Estée Lauder is remembered as a woman who believed in herself and helped others feel their best.

Did you know?

Fun facts about Estée Lauder

  1. Estée Lauder believed bedtime was the best time to use skincare products.

  2. She helped make free beauty samples popular in stores.

  3. Her first products were mixed by hand in her kitchen.

  4. Estée preferred being called by her nickname instead of her full name.

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2 min read · Developing-reader friendly

Three things to remember

  1. Known for: Founder of the Estée Lauder Companies and a leader in the beauty industry
  2. Lived: 1906-2004
  3. From: American
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What is Estée Lauder best known for?

Founder of the Estée Lauder Companies and a leader in the beauty industry

When did Estée Lauder live?

1906-2004

What place or nationality is connected to this story?

American

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