Aerin Lauder had a pretty early start in her chosen career. The senior vice-president and creative director of Estée Lauder learnt the basics of beauty by rummaging her grandmother’s make-up drawers. The grandmother in question was Estée Lauder, pioneer of the multimillion-dollar beauty empire. Lauder interacted with Lounge in an email interview. Edited excerpts:
Do you have any memories of going through your mother or grandmother’s make-up, like most young girls do?
I probably started using beauty products at a younger age than most people. I remember when I was very little and I could barely see over Estée’s make-up table. I
Starting young: Aerin Lauder.
used to put my hands in the drawers and try the lipsticks. She always separated her products — eyeshadows in one drawer, lipsticks in another, and blush in yet another.
What were your first beauty products as a young girl?
When I was a teenager, my first beauty products were Clinique Soap and Estée Lauder opal lip gloss.
What are the products you always have with you?
I love bronzer and mascara. These are my secret weapons to looking pulled together without any real effort.
As a busy professional, can you give women tips on changing make-up from the office to the evening?
During the day, my make-up is fairly simple — foundation, bronzer, mascara and lip gloss. At night, I ramp it up and add shimmery eyeshadow and sometimes, a red lipstick or lip gloss.
What are the trends in make-up for the season?
For the summer, I think looking naturally bronzed with self-tanner and neutral gloss is chic. For the fall, there are rich eyeshadows, lipsticks and lip glosses in chocolate, caramel and berry tones.
What comes to mind when you use your fragrance, Private Collection Tuberose Gardenia?
Some of my earliest memories of Estée are walking into her homes filled with vases of tuberose and gardenia. When I was a girl, she told me that she wanted to create a fragrance with these flowers. I know she would love this fragrance.
What product should every Indian woman have?
Moisturizer. My grandmother used to say, ‘Take care of your face, it is the only one you will have.’ I always wear a moisturizer with an SPF. My favourite is Daywear Plus, especially in the summer.