It’s been a lousy year, but it is ending on a high note for me with the arrival of Leonard Lauder’s memoir, “The Company I Keep: My Life in Beauty.” The chairman emeritus and former CEO of The Estée Lauder Cos. is one of the most-beloved and respected executives in our industry. Want proof? Attend a Cosmetic Executive Women’s Achiever Award luncheon, where honorees often credit him with launching their careers in beauty.

The Company I Keep is filled with tidbits about his mother, the industry innovator and company founder Estée Lauder. Who knew that she may have created the first beauty food way back in 1946 (p. 61)? The Company I Keep is loaded with Mrs. Estée Lauder’s innovations that were true in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s and are still relevant today. After all, “Telephone. Telegraph. Tell-a-Woman,” was merely the precursor to today’s Beauty Influencer. Lauder proves that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree and he offers sage advice of his own and others, too. He recalls June Leaman, ELC’s director of creative services, often said, “One idea is a great idea. Two ideas are less effective. Three ideas are ineffective. One hundred people will have 100 ideas.” She called such meetings an “Anvil Chorus.”  Lots of noise, not very effective.


Lauder’s best-known advice may be “Never make an important decision without a woman in the room.” In the book, he explains that ELC’s great strength from the beginning came from a woman giving women the products and knowledge to make themselves feel beautiful, as opposed to Revlon Founder Charles Revson telling women that he, as a man, knew what would make women desirable to men.


This issue of Happi may not be as scintillating as Lauder’s memoir, but we do think you may have trouble putting it down. That’s because it’s time for our annual look at the multibillion-dollar shampoo and conditioner market and an update on the latest developments in the skin care category. People may be stuck at home, but they still want to look good on that Zoom call. Of course, cleaning and sanitizing facilities is critical during COVID-19, and you’ll find the last developments regarding the industrial and institutional cleaning markets on Happi.com.

Every cloud has a silver lining—even coronavirus. Bob and Margaret Lochhead review the recent pandemic-related patent literature that may, someday, have implications for the cosmetics industry.

Happy Holidays, stay safe and here’s to a brighter 2021!

Tom Branna
VP/Editorial Director
[email protected]