I leave work by 6:30 P.M. so I can spend some time with the children. Inevitably, we'll end up watching basketball or football. I live in a house of boys, and they're all sports mad, so I don't stand a chance.
— Aerin Lauder
Estee Lauder was my grandmother. She was an iconic and powerful woman, but to us, she was just Estee. She was the first person to teach me how important it is to be passionate and proud of what you do, and always talked about 'balance.'
I have always loved beauty and fashion. Some of my earliest memories are of being surrounded by fragrances and lipstick samples.
I love laugh lines. It means you've had a good life. The most beautiful women - Audrey Hepburn, Lauren Hutton, Ali MacGraw - all embraced the aging process.
We have a house near East Hampton, and of all the beaches I've been to, I think there is something so beautiful about Long Island beaches. I love them in the fall and winter.
I'm the only person who's uninspired by the Starbucks mocha peppermint whatever-it-is.
People always associated me with 'Vogue,' 'Vogue Living,' or 'Elle Decor.'
I'm very detail-oriented, which is good and bad. Because I will wake up in the middle of the night thinking about something or seeing a mistake, thinking about it, and I immediately send an email - I'm very focused on details.
I discovered I was passionate about the creative process, the product development, creating a concept around a fragrance or lipstick.
As a girl, my favorite toy was my dollhouse; if I could still play with it now, I would!
I stick with what I know, makeup-wise.
When my boys were little, I'd throw so many toys at them, but they didn't want to play with any. Then I'd give them a truck, and they would play for hours. I believe the same thing applies to a consumer - edit their choices, and they will be more intrigued.
I'm a very visual person, and I love opening beautiful books on art or design and looking through them.
Sunday is about relaxing and wearing anything comfortable. I love wearing a J. Crew shirt and jeans, which is a treat because I never wear these kinds of clothes during the week.
The trends that last and the trends that are relevant are the ones that make you look pretty.
My grandmother had a lilac bush at her home in Long Island. I always associate the scent of it with her and try to have lilacs in my home.
I'm never without my personalised Anya Hindmarch diary - I keep my schedule online, too, but my diary is always in my bag. It's crammed Post-its.
My inspiration for new products comes from moments in my life or what's happening around me.
I have a lot of staples in my wardrobe. I love to pair a silk or lace blouse with a fitted black pant. This combination feels effortless yet put together.
My day typically starts with an early-morning walk through Central Park. It's a nice moment of calm before my routine starts.
The biggest beauty myth is that everyone looks better without makeup. That's not true. Makeup is important.
A travel-size dry shampoo is the answer to many problems.
It's important to always mix the past with the present. I think that makes it feel more authentic and real.
Even though beauty is very much my heritage, my real passion is accessories and home.
When we moved to Europe when I was a teenager, I really did not want to go. I was happy in my school, with my friends, but looking back on it, it was the best experience I've ever had. We traveled every weekend. I experienced incredible new cultures, museums, cities, and it really opened up my eyes.
I've always loved the beauty world. Ever since I was a child, I looked at magazines and wore fragrances and tried out samples and sets.
If you feel comfortable in what you're wearing, you'll look your best, and I think that's a really important idea. Sometimes, whether it's fashion or beauty, things are on-trend, and they look beautiful on the runway, but when I apply them to myself, it doesn't look the way it should.
Everyone always asks, 'Did you ever rebel? Did you dye your hair blue? Did you wear black nail polish?' I mean, of course, there have been episodes when you wear weird-colored lipstick... But generally, I think I was pretty much the way I am now.
Rose is the most beautiful flower - it and tuberose are my favourites.
I love going to museums, especially the Met, because there's always room for discovery, or the Neue Galerie. It's a great jewel box.
You could say that I am the Estee Lauder woman. I'm a working mother; time is valuable to me. I want a good product; I want quality.
I think every woman should be using a foundation, whether it's liquid or compact.
Growing up in New York, I loved watching my grandmother Estee put on her make-up - I always admired her sense of style.
I like to entertain at home, to live beautifully but comfortably.
I have a dual role as founder of AERIN and Image and Style Director of Estee Lauder. So work is a bit of a juggling act.
I usually keep my personal style simple and streamlined. I like classic colors like black, white, and beige. White and black is my favorite color combination, and I like to finish up my look with an accent of gold jewelry.
Do I believe in plastic surgery? Yes, if something is wrong and you can modify it. For certain people, it's right.
I never wear too much jewelry. I never wear a ton of pattern. Sometimes I'll go big, but it never feels right.
If you're on a night flight or are incredibly tired from jet lag, somehow a tiny bit of bronzer and self-tanner on your face, legs, and arms just makes you feel rejuvenated and refreshed.
I came from a very corporate environment, but my own style is quite approachable, warm, and very detail oriented.
I think it is very important to learn to say 'No.' I think it is sometimes important for brands or the creative director to learn to say, 'This might be on trend, but it is not right for us.'
I'm definitely living my dream.
I used to love a well-arranged room: the furniture, the fabric, the lighting.
Just because something is on trend doesn't mean you have to embrace it. You can look at it and admire it, but that doesn't mean you have to wear black nail polish or red lipstick.
I've always loved flowers, as a little girl I'd collect flower objects and little flower books. Now I love flowers on my night table and on my desk.
I am such a bath girl: we've gone to some of the beautiful hotels in the world, and if there's a shower, I'm so disappointed.
I love cereals. We must have 10 to 15 boxes. But if I'm being honest, I have Fruit Loops and Lucky Charms hidden behind the healthier ones.
You can't be a major company today without paying attention to celebrities. They are the leaders in beauty and fashion.
I've always liked simple. Growing up, I wore corduroys and Lacoste shirts, Maraolo flats, and maybe one gold bracelet.
I inherited my love of gold jewellery from my grandmother.
