Beauty and business: Why the industry keeps growing

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The beauty industry is a multi-billion dollar business. From makeup to clothes, the market for beauty never seems to be satiated. Financial experts believe that the industry will continue growing, despite economic slumps and global economic fluctuations. That said, it is important to understand why. There are various hypotheses, but the two most popular ones are listed below:

It serves a biological purpose: Science will say that the main objective of humanity is to procreate. Each is hardwired to look for potential mates and choose another person with whom they can have healthy children with. The choosing aspect of this age-old game involves appearing more attractive or simply, appearing more "mate-able." Beauty products enhance attractive physical properties in the person and can hide other traits that may not be.

It is a great economic and psychological concept: Research has shown that experiences dramatically change the way the brain functions. When a person experiences intense emotions (whether it is something good or bad), the brain alters to adapt to these situations. Fashion revolves around pleasure, and also on fear. Trends often last only a few months, creating an assumed need to have that piece of clothing or that coveted lipstick. When a person is fashionable, or wearing something attractive, he or she is often complimented, which triggers the reward system in the brain. The individual wants to have more experiences like these and becomes more inclined to follow the trends.

The business in beauty is truly an interesting topic, and scientists are only now taking the time to research thoroughly on it. It would be interesting to note what will be further revealed through future data.

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As the leading force behind the Estee Lauder brands, William Lauder understands the beauty industry inside and out. For more expert insights, follow this Twitter account.

Pop princess, MAC girl: Ariana Grande is the newest Viva Glam ambassador

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In keeping with the tradition of selecting an individual who is beautiful, talented, and puts on a great show, MAC Cosmetics has picked pop princess Ariana Grande as its 2015 Viva Glam spokesperson. The team up between the 22-year-old singer and the makeup giant will yield to two lip products: a matte dark plum lipstick and a shimmering lip gloss. As Grande explained during the live video announcement of her selection as the new Viva Glam girl, “These are my colors. We have a dark plum to represent the bad girl in you, and a light pink lip gloss to represent the good girl in you because I think you should be able to play up both sides.”

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Grande follows a long list of celebrities that have teamed up with the mega brand for the Viva Glam line, wherein all proceeds of the products will go the MAC AIDS Foundation. Some of the stars who were previous Viva Glam spokespersons include Miley Cyrus, Rihanna, Cristina Aguilera, Eve, Fergie, and Nicki Minaj. The very first Viva Glam spokesperson was drag queen Ru Paul. MAC founders Frank Angelo and Frank Toskan created the MAC AIDS Fund in 1994 in their desire to make a difference in the world with a community outreach for HIV/AIDS.

Fans of MAC Cosmetics will be able to get hold of Grande’s creations starting January.

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MAC Cosmetics is part of the unrivaled portfolio of beauty brands from The Estee Lauder Companies. For the latest on product collaborations and launches, follow this William Lauder Facebook page.

Neutrals rule: Everyday makeup look from Bobbi Brown

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Most women are familiar with the morning rush. Every morning, women’s adrenaline kicks in as they scramble to get to work or school looking their best. This daily mad rush entails picking the “perfect” outfit for the day, including the right shoes, accessories, and bag. And the quest to look picture-perfect as one heads out the door is polished off with an impeccably coiffed hair and perfectly applied makeup.

Many women have already mastered the art of selecting the ensemble of the day, but applying makeup is one element in their morning routine that some have trouble acing. Despite the multiplication of YouTube makeup tutorial videos, the task can be pretty intimidating for those who have little experience with cosmetics. Rather than risk looking like a clown, some women would rather step out into the world bare-faced. But as makeup guru Bobbi Brown notes, one can still aim for the natural look without all the fuss (and hard work). The key is working with neutral hues.

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For a great makeup look, the basis would always be a healthy, glowing skin, and to achieve this, the skin needs to be properly moisturized, and the tone evened out. All flaws should also be concealed, including visible breakouts and deep undereye circles.

Once these are achieved, it is time to do the eyes. For an everyday look, Brown suggests sticking with the basics, such as soft, brownish tint that will enhance the eyes’ natural contours. As a guide, women can choose a shade slightly darker than their skin. Apply the eyeshadow on the lid and along the lower lashes. Then apply mascara to enhance the lashes.

Pick warm colors for the cheeks such as peaches or pinks for a natural flush. Then use a lip tint that matches the shade of the lips.

The everyday makeup look may be a challenge at first especially for those who are not used to wearing cosmetics. But with regular practice, the morning makeup rush will be a breeze.

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Bobbi Brown is one of The Estée Lauder Companies prestige brands. For more of ELC’s unrivaled portfolio of beauty brands, follow this William Lauder Facebook page.

Shop pink: ELC's 2015 Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign products

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and this year, The Estée Lauder Companies brings its beauty brands together for a unified stance against the killer disease. Through the sales of their Pink Ribbon products this month, 15 brands will be raising funds for education and medical research through the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF).

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Below is a roundup of some of the ELC products that you can purchase to help the fight against breast cancer:

1. Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+. For every sale of the dermatologist-developed moisturizer, $10 will be donated to BCRF. This month, the moisturizer will come in a special edition package embellished with Clinique Signature Pink Ribbon key chain.

2. Bobbi Brown Peony Set. Pretty with a purpose, the set includes a silky powder blush in Peony and a Mini Face Blender Blush with a pink handle. For every purchase of the limited edition set, Bobbi Brown will donate $12 to the BCRF.

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3. Lab Series Skincare for Men Pink Pocket Square. Men, too, can show their support for the fight against breast cancer. For every Lab Series products purchase worth $50, they will receive a complimentary pink pocket square.

4. Jo Malone London Red Roses Cologne.. Jo Malone London will donate $45,000 to the BCRF. In addition, for each Red Roses 100ml cologne sold throughout October within the U.K., the company will donate 20 pounds (about $30) to the BCRF.

5. Tony Burch Lip Color. In support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Tory Burch created a limited edition golden and pink fretwork case for one of her favorite shades, Ramble on Rose. The brand will also allocate 20 percent of the retail price to the BCRF.

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The Estée Lauder Companies’ Breast Cancer Awareness (BCA) Campaign was founded in 1992 by the late Evelyn H. Lauder, mother of executive chairman William Lauder and was launched with the iconic Pink Ribbon, the universal symbol for breast health. Since then, the BCA Campaign has raised more than $58 million to support global research, education, and medical services. For more information about this year’s BCA Campaign, visit this page.

Getting a flawless, natural look in three easy steps

The natural look has always been a fashion staple. The trend has its high and low points with several magazines telling women when it’s popular and when it’s not. Nevertheless, any style student would realize that regardless of whether the look is trending or not, knowing how to achieve this look is important. Thankfully, with the sheer volume of make-up brands out there, (it must be noted that no woman should ever have to choose quality with price; many top-tier brands now have a more affordable line) any person can get a flawless, natural look with these three steps.  

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Choosing the right foundation: The natural look highlights the beauty of the biggest organ humans have: the skin. All other tips may be disregarded, as long as the right foundation is used. This not only refers to choosing a shade that matches the skin tone but the foundation’s ability to mask any imperfections. What is important is that the woman forgets she has anything on, so choosing a product that matches one’s skin type is essential.  

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Highlight what is already there: This seems incongruous because make-up already does this, but most women play with colors; for example, a certain shade to make the eyes pop or a bold hue to make the lips more attractive. However, the natural look demands using neutral colors to highlight what is already beautiful on a person’s face. This can refer to anything, really- be it the eyebrows, cheekbones, or lips. There are other make-up tutorials online that give step-by-step instructions on how to achieve this.

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Lastly, and most importantly is confidence. A flawless look is only achieved when the woman feels beautiful. The goal of make-up is to make a person feel good. The natural look is a trend that allows a woman to be more confident with her skin tone and overall face shape.  

As the force behind the Estee Lauder brands, William Lauder understands what women want. Learn more beauty trends by liking this Facebook page.

From family-owned firm to brand powerhouse: The story of Coach

Coach was founded in 1941 in a New York City loft by husband-and-wife team Miles and Lillian Cahn. Originally, their leather goods workshop had only six artisans who crafted men's billfolds and wallets by hand.

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In 1961, the Cahns designed a leather handbag, inspired by the look and feel of a worn baseball glove. It became a hit, and soon, the workshop was producing a line of bags.

In 1961, Coach tapped Bonnie Cashin, a pioneer in sportswear design, to create a line of bags. Cashin was instrumental in transforming the Coach image through her creative use of colors and materials. She introduced some of the brand's design trademarks, such as the turn-key metal closings, striped interior, and piped leather seams. The Cahns sold Coach in 1985. By that time, Coach had already developed a strong following among women who wanted strong, durable bags that were stylish enough to be worn to work and events.  

Affordable luxury

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Lew Frankfort was named chairman and CEO of Coach in 1996. Despite stiff competition from luxury labels, Frankfort was successful in ensuring the brand's continued success. He hired Reed Krakoff and gave him full creative control. Krakoff introduced fabric bags, scarves, sneakers, and other accessories in trendy colors and patterns, including the Signature C. Coach became a sought after brand, in demand yet accessible among both the older and younger sets.  

Timeless appeal

Krakoff has since left Coach to pursue other ventures, but the brand has continued to innovate while keeping its image of contemporary American luxury. While most of Coach's offerings remain mid-priced, the brand has also tapped into the high-fashion market with offerings such as the Coach + Billy Reid Warrior Tate, made from Louisiana alligator leather and the Coach Lily in Ostrich.

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Coach has also ventured into other markets and found great success particularly in its line of fragrances. Its first fragrance collection was launched in 2007 in partnership with Beauty Bank, a division of Estée Lauder, Inc. Coach has since produced more than 20 fragrances.

From a tiny family-owned workshop churning out leather goods, Coach is now an international household name with a market cap of $11.5 billion and is poised to grow even further. As a tribute to its humble beginnings, Coach's corporate headquarters is located on the site of its former workshop.  

William Lauder is the executive chairman and member of the nominating and board affairs committee at Estée Lauder, Inc. Learn more about Estée Lauder, Inc. and its brand portfolio by subscribing to this blog.

Born with class and a simple spoon: Linda Rodin

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Linda Rodin seems to emit glamor through her invisible pores, but she has become a cult proponent of beauty simplicity. As the face fronting the global favorite beauty brand, Rodin Olio Lusso, Miss Rodin has become a veritable empowerment muse, a woman who has knowing control of making beauty work and wearing it with style.

As Rodin Olio Lusso continues to win global distribution, there has been a louder clamor for Linda-style non-fussiness among stylish Web influencers. The Man Repeller, of fashion blogging fame, has been seen to dialogue with Miss Rodin lately. Olio Lusso’s face oil, meanwhile, has been flying off shelves to the point that the brand’s loyal followers have been asking for additional products.

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In fact, Miss Rodin’s background as a fashion and beauty icon melds with the philosophy of ELCompanies’ founder and matriarch, Estee Lauder. The three-minute (or less) regimen ruled the outlook of both women, and Miss Rodin could even credit this no-nonsense approach while growing up to her storied career as a model, stylist, and businesswoman.

Make no mistake about it: while there is nothing low-key about the women Miss Rodin had inspired (she counts Gisele Bündchen, Adriana Lima, and Madonna among her style clients), her own style questions over-dependence on expensive anti-aging creams and other ultra-exclusive skincare lines. This sensible approach can’t hurt the woman who works around a budget for her skincare needs. After all, Miss Rodin has the beauty to lend her credibility.

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Rodin Olio Lusso is part of the global portfolio of the Estee Lauder Companies, which has been seeing enviable expansion under the leadership of CEO Fabrizio Freda and executive chair William Lauder. Visit the Estee Lauder Companies website to browse its stable of elite brands.

Osiao: Unveiling true Asian beauty with traditional Chinese medicine and modern science

Having been experts in the beauty and skincare field since Estee Lauder and her husband Joseph founded their cosmetics company in 1946, the Estee Lauder Companies know that skin quality can vary vastly and that Asian skin has different needs from other types.

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To help Asian women nourish and revitalize their skin in a way that truly highlights their innate beauty, Estee Lauder introduced a new China-specific luxury beauty brand, Osiao, in 2012.

Osiao products, produced in Japan, combine plants typically used by Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) doctors such as ginseng, asiatic pennywort (centella), and ganoderma (lingzhi) extract, with Western ingredients like argireline and sodium hyaluronate in order to reveal the skin's true radiance and beauty.

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In addition to these, Osiao also developed the Osiao Diagnostic Method which can be taken as a quick online quiz based on TCM principles where doctors evaluate the patient's "Hei Sik" based on the patient's resting and lifestyle habits as well as the body's inner and outer conditions. The test, found here, helps users determine their type of skin constitution from among the five types of skin constitutions and then find the right products and regimen for their unique skin types. Further diagnostic tests may also be found in Osiao counters in Causeway Bay and Tsim Sha Tsui Hong Kong.

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With the Osiao product lines for cleansing, hydrating, detoxifying and maintaining the skin's light, among others, carefully concocted through the TCM tenets and ingredients, and Western dermatological technology, Asian women are assured that they're always getting the best of Eastern and Western skin care and protection from Osiao and Estee Lauder.

The Estee Lauder Companies' executive chair William Lauder welcomed Osiao to its stable of luxury cosmetics brands in 2012 in order to cater to the needs of Chinese women. Learn more about Osiao and other Estee Lauder brands by visiting this website.

Thumbs up: A strong performance by the Estée Lauder Companies

Buoyed by its recent product launches and an expanding digital presence, Estée Lauder Companies reported strong performance in the third quarter. Net earnings for the period under review rose 28 percent year-on-year.

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President and CEO Fabrizio Freda attributed the group’s excellent showing to “compelling product innovation, targeted advertising and marketing investments, and selective distribution expansion.” For instance, the rollout of contouring kits from Smashbox and the MAC collection inspired by Disney’s Cinderella fueled sales growth. The performance of its legacy brands such as Estée Lauder and Clinique also boosted the company’s earnings.

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Meanwhile, the company noted that its robust online sales, especially in China, its third-biggest market after the U.S. and U.K., were huge contributions to its healthy third-quarter performance. Online services that helped expand the company’s digital presence are how-to-videos and live chats with beauty experts, mimicking those seen in traditional counters.

Its social media marketing efforts also paid off handsomely for ELC, thanks in part to the hiring of rising model Kendall Jenner as Estée Lauder’s brand ambassadress. Jenner provides a powerful online platform for Estée Lauder to launch new products and attract younger customers. The certified “instagirl” has a 30-millon strong following across social media sites Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

 

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Looking into the future, ELC is optimistic that its recent wave of acquisitions will result in a stronger market performance in the coming months. It is also banking on upcoming brand collaborations and product innovations to drive sales growth. It also expects its online sales to grow steadily, pegging a 30 percent overall increase this year.

Executive chairman William Lauder is the unseen hand behind Estée Lauder Companies’ strategic moves that keep the company on top of the global beauty market. Learn how prestige brands power ELC’s portfolio here.

Bumble and bumble: Styling the hairdressing business from root to tip

Although now a part of luxury cosmetics giant The Estée Lauder Companies, Bumble and bumble still retains the same grounded, hands-on philosophy it had when Michael Gordon first opened the salon on Hairdresser's Row more than three decades ago.

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Taking its cues from the fashion houses back in the day where everything is done in-house, the creative teams at Bumble and bumble do everything. It's not just about concocting the latest hair products such as the recently-launched "Surf Infusion," a salt-in-oil re-imagining of the brand's popular salt-infused "Surf Spray," or performing expert hairstyling services in the Bb. Salons. Bumble and bumble's philosophy is to take a personal approach to designing product packaging, directing its films and ads, and even producing its own literature.

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Whether it's in the creative or the business side of things like PR, marketing, and financials, Bumble and bumble takes pride in the fact that it does everything firsthand, allowing the brand's trademark hands-on and innovative style to come through in every aspect of the company.

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Additionally, through its Bumble and bumble University program, the company helps members of the Bb. Network Salons improve their styling skills, learn new hairdressing techniques, and become better leaders and service providers, thereby spreading the same culture and philosophy that made Bumble and bumble the successful business it now is.  

William Lauder leads The Estée Lauder Companies as the beauty and luxury products conglomerate's chief executive. Visit this Facebook page for more updates on the company's ever-growing line of products and brands.

Real beauty is sustainable: Inside Estée Lauder's green initiatives

Real beauty transcends what meets the eye. As wonderful and laudable as the products Estée Lauder has purveyed all these years are its efforts to source out botanical ingredients and packaging materials with an utmost respect for biodiversity.

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To illustrate the company's efforts in responsible sourcing, Estée Lauder ensures that palm oil, an important ingredient for a few of its lotions, creams and similar products, are procured exclusively from suppliers that source the said ingredient from suppliers identified by the 2004 Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil. To further its commitment, the company has come up with a comprehensive statement of goals and actions to support sustainable palm oil sourcing.

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Meanwhile, when harvesting sea kelp for Crème de La Mer, the luxurious, ocean-based moisturizing cream, Estée Lauder only gathers blades that have reached the ocean's surface. To keep the plant growing and supporting marine life for generations to come, the harvesters never scrape algae from sea rocks.

But the company's environmentally conscious initiatives do not end in ethical and sustainable sourcing of ingredients.

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Boasting an 82 percent recycling rate in 2014, Estée Lauder has become increasingly known for its efforts in eliminating waste and reducing the carbon footprint of its products. In 2013, Aveda, its world-famous salon-grade hair care line, launched a recycling program that gathers packaging not accepted by municipal recycling programs, so it can build new packaging out of such materials. The packaging materials are also designed in a way that individual parts can be separated from recycling.

Crème de la Mer is one of the most coveted luxury brands under the Estée Lauder Companies. Headed by William Lauder, the beauty conglomerate offers a wide array of cosmetic, skincare, and hair care products for people of all ages and beauty needs. Visit this website for the a full range of its products.

The newest face of cosmetics: A social media star

Kendall Jenner has proven herself to be more than Kim Kardashian's half-sister. Last November, the social media it girl was named the new face of global luxury brand Estée Lauder. The details of her contract have remained undisclosed, but as it is known in industry circles, a cosmetics deal is considered the Holy Grail of modeling.

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As the beauty brand’s newest brand ambassador, Kendall joins the ranks of Carolyn Murphy, Elizabeth Hurley, and Karen Graham, the legendary "Estée Lauder Woman." Although the decision to sign Jenner in did not lend as much prestige and sophistication to the brand as the above-mentioned models did in the past, it was a very strategic and commercially viable move for the 69-year-old brand.

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A sprawling room for reinvention is what Jenner offers best as the newest face for the timeless brand. For one, her combined followers over Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram add up to 30 million, allowing the makeup brand to reach more consumers than simply putting out a glossy spread in a magazine. Jenner's fan base comprises of teenage girls and twenty-something career women who think getting her fresh, fierce, and selfie-ready look is the ideal way to doll themselves up. Hence, by introducing the brand to Jenner's legions of social media followers, Estée Lauder can anticipate sales to go notches higher than in the past decades.

The timing is also perfect: although its sales remain impressive, the consumer base of Estée Lauder Companies’ flagship brand is getting older, as younger women prefer the beauty conglomerate's relatively newer product lines such as MAC, Bobbi Brown, and Clinique (although ladies of the '90s who swore by its three-step system are definitely not getting any younger, too).

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Social media's influence to today’s buyers is undeniable, as the Jenner-Estée Lauder partnership demonstrates. Thus it will come as no surprise if more social media superstars will be tapped in the future to add some refreshing touch to the campaigns of makeup and skincare brands millions of women have dearly kept in their beauty arsenals.

William Lauder, executive chairman of Estée Lauder Companies, has been instrumental in the launch of innovative campaigns and strategies for the conglomerate’s multibillion-dollar beauty brands. Follow this Twitter account for the latest updates on the global luxury beauty market.

Strengthening the brand: Estée Lauder’s newest beauty acquisitions

From the period of October to December 2014, Estée Lauder Companies Inc. acquired two luxury brands: Rodin Olio Lusso, a skincare company with a potent face oil as its flagship product, and Le Labo, a high-end fragrance brand. In January 2015, the company finally completed its acquisition of the ultra-luxury fragrance brand, Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle and the Hollywood skincare brand, GlamGlow.

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The acquisition spree was a dynamic momentum since the company’s hiatus in mergers and acquisitions in 2010 with Smashbox as its last takeover during that time. This focus on promoting luxury brands means that the company continues to target a very high-end customer base.

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Estée Lauder has been known in developing small brands into influential ones that drive the luxury beauty market. Its recent acquisitions are a way of maintaining high-end customers and attracting potential converts to luxury product lines. Estée Lauder is in a great position to grow the brands and strengthen their place in the beauty business.

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This is what William Lauder, executive chairman of The Estee Lauder Companies, stressed during the acquisition of Le Labo. “Entrepreneurship is at the heart of our Company’s heritage. One of the leading strengths of our Company is our ability to identify brands with unique positioning and nurture them to accelerate their momentum and realize their full growth potential.”

Clearly, Estée Lauder not only strengthens its image and reputation but it also helps the acquired brands to attract high-end customers ensuring a mutual benefit.

William Lauder, executive chairman of The Estée Lauder Companies, considers growth in the luxury beauty business with its recent acquisition of high-end brands such as Rodin Olio Lusso, Le Labo, Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle, and GlamGLow. Visit this Twitter account to see latest updates on the global luxury beauty market.