Estēe Lauder’s Foundation For A Beautiful Life

*Leonard Lauder and Josephine Esther

Leonard Lauder passed away on June 14th, 2025. His glowing obituaries are a testament to a life well-loved and lived. Vicariously, they also pay tribute to his mom, Josephine Esther Mentzer and the family legacy she established.

Josephine Esther / Estēe Lauter (Lauder)

Josephine Mentzer made a habit of adding gloss to every page of her life-story. She was so successful at blurring lines, eventually the poor little girl born in Queens (around 1908-ish) became Estēe Lauder, the international queen of beauty regimes.

*Estēe

Fascinated by her uncle John’s chemical elixirs the young woman converted his 1920’s style kitchen-made ‘Jars of Hope” into an industry. Armed with his dream-creams she’d frequent up-scale beauty salons and department stores gifting free-samples to women seeking the promise of perpetual youth. She’d tell them “The most beautiful face in the world isn’t Elizabeth Taylor’s, Christie Brinkley’s or Brooke Shield’s -it’s YOUR’S! ”

Estēe’s carefully crafted image of sophistication was noticed around the world. Her name became synonymous with all things beautiful. Success grew from tenacity, name-dropping and socially advantageous elbow-rubbing.

*First Lady Nancy Reagan and Estēe

*Duchess of Windsor, Wallis Simpson

Leonard Lauder listened while his mother cultivated the business of image-making. After his mother stepped aside, he became the Corporation’s CEO. Leonard knew Estēe’s work-ethic was fundamental to establishing her brand but more importantly, the character of their family.  The power of her beautiful intentions was the DNA of their lives. Transforming housewives into divas was and remains the family-biz. It’s also the source of their multigenerational legacy of philanthropy.

It’s the job of the Lauder family to conceal signs of stress, aging, or poor-choices. Their continuing commitment to gloss over human frailties elevates our culture beyond aesthetics into concentric circles of support for the arts, sciences and simple courtesies. Lauder Family Foundations sustain initiatives at the Metropolitan Museum, Breast Cancer campaigns, environmental programs and educational opportunities for women.

Published in 1985, “Estēe A Success Story”  is a bit of a love-letter.  Autobiographical from cover to cover Lauder’s ‘her-story‘ is told in the most refined voice. Alluding to royal ancestry, shameless social-climbing between Euro-castles and sand colored castles in Palm Beach the entrepreneur forgives herself for divorcing and remarrying her husband on a whim. As publicity crazy as any Kardashian, without question, Estēe Lauder hustled her way to the top of an industry while rising a family she loved.

*Christmas in Palm Beach : Joe, William, Ronald, Aerin, JoCarole, Gary, Evelyn, Leonard & Estēe

2024 Lauder Palm Beach Estate

Even though there’s never a shadow in the 223 paged book of self-aggrandizements, it’s still worth reading. Modeling social caché was Estēe’s way to manufacture her goals. The platform is sustainable and the moral of this rags to riches semi-fairytale is timeless for women who’s ambitions include balancing career and family.

Self Titled: “Generational Goodness” Estēe,Jane, Aerin

Estēe’s hybrid equation for success was an elixir powerful enough to transform a humble, hardworking family of immigrants into a multi-generational legacy of philanthropic entrepreneurs. For gals curious about legendary women “Estēe, A Success Story” is inspirational mind-candy and an easy summer read..

*photo credit “Estēe A Success Story”