Nina Jobst
Research expert covering South Korea
Estée Lauder Companies Inc. - statistics & facts
One of the most renowned names in the beauty industry, Estée Lauder is part of the few multinationals that dominate this market. Since being founded by Estée Lauder and her husband Joseph in New York City in 1946, Estée Lauder Companies Inc. has risen to prominence and became one of the most important players, especially in the prestige cosmetics and fragrances sector.
In 2023, Estée Lauder was listed among the leading global beauty manufacturers, with revenues of over 15 billion U.S. dollars and alongside companies like Procter & Gamble and Unilever.
Lately, Estée Lauder made headlines due to a decline in sales, as shown by quarterly figures. In fact, during both the first and second quarter of fiscal year 2025, sales decreased by around five percent. This decline was due to several factors, including the beauty industry slowdown in China and challenges in travel retail. As a consequence, the company recently announced a new vision, as well as job cuts.
Despite challenging results and strong competition, the vast popularity of its brands show that Estée Lauder’s products are still among consumers’ favorites.
Estée Lauder's financials
Sales figures for Estée Lauder have fluctuated over the years: in 2024, the company generated 15.6 billion U.S. dollars in sales, up from about 10.8 billion in 2015, but slightly down compared to a year before. Most of the company's sales were made in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, and its most profitable product categories were skincare and makeup, while the fragrance and hair care categories combined counted for around 20 percent of net sales.Lately, Estée Lauder made headlines due to a decline in sales, as shown by quarterly figures. In fact, during both the first and second quarter of fiscal year 2025, sales decreased by around five percent. This decline was due to several factors, including the beauty industry slowdown in China and challenges in travel retail. As a consequence, the company recently announced a new vision, as well as job cuts.
Leading brands
The company’s popularity is no secret, given its vast brand portfolio. Some of its best-known brands are MAC Cosmetics, Origins, Too Faced, La Mer, and Clinique, with the latter appearing in a list of the leading personal care brands worldwide, based on brand value. The brand Clinique also appeared in a ranking of the best-selling beauty and personal care brands on Amazon.com as of 2023, alongside Estée Lauder. The company also owns The Ordinary, and completed its acquisition in 2024.Despite challenging results and strong competition, the vast popularity of its brands show that Estée Lauder’s products are still among consumers’ favorites.
