Estée Lauder Inc. was officially founded on January 1, 1946, in New York.
Estée Lauder Inc. was officially founded on January 1, 1946, in New York, marking the formal start of what would become a beauty empire. Estée and her husband Joseph began with just four products, targeting prestigious salons and specialty shops. Their unique approach to marketing included offering free product samples and revolutionary formulations, like a multi-tasking skin cream that was both a foundation and a night cream. This period marked the origin of the worldwide prestige cosmetics market and established the Lauder brand as a pioneer in skincare and beauty.