Estee Lauder

Every October since 1993, Estée Lauder has painted the world pink while raising money for the Breast Cancer Research Fund; this year, more than 200 global landmarks will be lighted pink to raise awareness of the need for a cure. "Sometimes when we’re approaching BCA month, I think, 'Gosh, I hope the TV shows are going to have us on this year,'" Estée Lauder model Elizabeth Hurley recently said when asked what's changed since she began campaigning for breast cancer awareness. "I think that, but what never changes is that more and more people want to talk about it — because sadly, women are still being diagnosed with breast cancer." To find out what Elizabeth Hurley and the BCA campaign are doing to make 2011 different, just keep reading.

Sometimes a beauty product comes along that is so innovative and pretty, you can't help but dream of owning two: one to use, the other to keep pristine. Such is the case with Estée Lauder's Pure Color Illuminating Powder Gelée ($40), an embossed and rippled powder that goes on with a smooth, nearly gel-like consistency. Used as a highlighter, the rose gold color looks great on fair skin, dark skin, and complexions in between. Applied wet with a brush, it makes eyes look simultaneously larger and more awake. And we've even had luck dabbing a bit on bare lips for a subtle shimmer. Unfortunately, though you might want backups of this compact, you'll be challenged to track down a single one. The limited-edition product is sold out online, so you'll have to charm your way into tracking one down in the real world (or fighting bidders on eBay, who've pushed the price up to more than $72). Conversely, hang tight until January, when a bronzer version will likely create a whole new frenzy.

>> While Aerin Lauder is working on her upcoming "luxury lifestyle brand" Aerin — which is expected to encompass beauty and fragrance, accessories like sunglasses, and home accessories — she will remain a global ambassador and creative consultant for Estee Lauder, in a deal that will net her $700,000 annually.

The agreement runs through June 2016, with the $700,000 retainer fee increasing 4 percent at the end of each fiscal year until its expiration. Lauder is also required to put in at least 35 days of personal appearances worldwide for the Estee Lauder brand; for each day past the 35-day requirement, she will be paid $20,000 a day, with the daily stipend increasing $1,000 with each contract year.

Estee Lauder, meanwhile, has the exclusive licensee rights to "core beauty products" produced by the Aerin label — cosmetics, fragrances, toiletries, skin and hair care, and beauty accessories — while licenses like eyewear are being arranged with other companies.

Lauder described the positioning of Aerin as luxurious, but "easy" luxury: "It’s not fashion in the sense of clothing.” Instead, she says, Aerin will be targeting a luxury customer who “want things made simple.”

Merchandise is expected to begin hitting stores next Spring, with the Aerin lifestyle brand preceding the Aerin cosmetics collection.

>> Aerin Lauder, granddaughter of Estee Lauder and the SVP, creative director, and third largest shareholder in the cosmetics brand, is reportedly prepping the launch of a fashion and lifestyle brand. "Aerin wants to be the next Tory Burch," a source told Page Six.

The forthcoming collection launch, on which Anna Wintour is reportedly advising and former president and CEO of NBC Universal Jeff Zucker is consulting, is said to include accessories, housewares, china, and jewelry. Some of the latter will reportedly be based on pieces from Lauder's grandmother's private collection.

Word is Lauder has already acquired office space in the same building as Tom Ford and hired White House deputy social secretary Ebs Burnough, who left his post on Friday, telling friends his next position was in New York.

A Estee Lauder spokeswoman seems to confirm that Lauder is working on something: "Aerin Lauder is a vital part of the Estee Lauder Companies and the Estee Lauder brand. She will continue to have a senior creative role with the brand and will continue as a member of the board of directors of the company. An announcement is forthcoming about her future business plans."

Today's beauty landscape is dominated by big names: L'Oréal, Chanel, Estée Lauder, Clairol, et al. But for every one of these brands, there are discoveries, innovations, and business savvy that have brought them into the modern era. And the history of the cosmetics biz is a fascinating and cutthroat one. Curious about who's responsible for the beauty world we have now? See 11 names every beauty buff should know (and why you should know them) when you keep reading.

>> Joan Smalls joined the Estee Lauder stable — which also currently includes models Constance Jablonski, Liu Wen, Carolyn Murphy, and Hilary Rhoda — late last year. Although Smalls filmed a Lauder TV commercial right around the time of her contract's announcement back in December, her first ad just launched for the brand's Women in Beauty campaign, depicting Smalls alongside Jablonski and Wen, shot by Craig McDean. Smalls recently spoke to Vogue about suffering from scoliosis — she was diagnosed at fourteen, when it was too late for the spinal curvature to be corrected with a back brace, and is therefore left vulnerable to injury and pain. "I do my best not to think about it," she says. [Modelinia, Models.com, Models.com]

In the business world, mergers and acquisitions are the norm, and this year, some pretty big beauty deals took place. Perhaps the biggest shopping spree, however, was done by none other than Coty, who acquired big-time brands like OPI and Philosophy, along with lesser-known brands Dr. Scheller Cosmetics and TJoy. And while Coty already holds the Calvin Klein fragrance license, the company recently acquired a Calvin Klein color cosmetics license, too.

Other major deals included Estée Lauder's purchase of Smashbox, Shiseido's acquisition of Bare Escentuals, and Unilever's acquirement of Alberto-Culver, the makers of brands such as Nexxus, Tresemmé, VO5, and St. Ives. L'Oréal purchased Essie, and there was even some talk of the beauty juggernaut purchasing Avon. Speaking Avon, they acquired British skincare company Liz Earle earlier this year. With Coty's growth exploding at the seams, it will be interesting to see what they, along with the other big beauty players, have planned for 2011.