By Cate Jensen
Aerin Lauder needs no introduction. A beauty mogul all on her own, the fact that she is the granddaughter of Estée Lauder seems to be only one small part of this businesswoman’s identity, who has launched an entire brand with her namesake and personality. With the release of her new makeup line, ESSENTIALS, the effortlessness continues with simple and sumptuous makeup for the beauty-hungry yet busy modern woman, which includes Lauder herself. Northern Virginia Magazine got to catch up with her at Nordstrom’s Fall Beauty Trend Event this past weekend for tips on how to keep looking your makeup looking fresh on-the-go, the one item to never leave home without and the perfect winter scent.
How do you think your ESSENTIALS makeup line reflects the modern woman?
It is all about effortless style, the whole brand. The beauty, home, accessories – it is really about edit and focus, and style made simple. ESSENTIALS is a weekend palette, a weekday palette, a lip conditioner, the bronzer and the compact foundation – items that you can’t live without. If you notice that even with the lip colors, we do two lipsticks, two lip glosses so it really becomes very focused in beauty, while still feeling special but a bit more simplified.
There was this wonderful time I walked to school with my slippers on and I didn’t even realize. I was trying to get the dogs, the kids, breakfast and everything organized. I think women now are busy than ever. Working, they have children, families, careers, travel—they are doing so much.
What is the one thing you would never leave the house without, in terms of makeup?
Probably lip conditioner. The Rose Lip Conditioner is one our best selling products. I put it on all day long, before I go to bed at night, in the morning. It really is the essential product.
Which is great considering how cold out it is getting.
Our skin and body cream is great for this time of year too. It is a rose-scented cream so for this time of year when it is so cold and dry – just putting that on will hydrate, but also smell pretty.
Your whole line seems to have a lot of floral influences to it.
There is a lot of feminine sensibility to the whole line. Whether it is the furniture, the fabric, the lighting, the beauty. The fragrances were inspired by nature, flowers, gold.
Is that coming from your own personal preference?
It has always been something I have loved. The fragrances in the makeup products are [a] flower infusion, so there is a metawood, peony, rose scent that just feels super feminine and special.
How often would you say a woman should refresh her makeup bag?
I think 2 or 3 times a year. I think it is great in the fall, the spring, summer. Sometimes in the holidays I think it is fun to update a fragrance – where something more spicy and wintry.
What is your pick for the holidays?
I think Amber Musk is a great fragrance for the holidays. Amber, coconut and warmth for the holidays – like you are sitting by the fire.
