Danielle Lauder is inspired by an array of female role models; you may know a few of them. One of her most important muses is her great grandmother, Estée Lauder, who once had dreams of gracing the silver screen before starting her global beauty business. Her grandmother, Evelyn, also was an inspiration.
 
Growing up in New York City, the 25-year-old moved to Los Angeles to pursue her acting career, shortly after graduating from Northwestern University, where she studied film and theater. After playing the lead in her first film, The Charnel House, a psychological thriller, Danielle went on to star in the dramatic thriller The Stanford Prison Experiment and the comedy short I Love Lucy. Despite the allure of Hollywood, she couldn’t stray too far from the family beauty business.
 
This month, Estée Lauder will release Act IV, a limited-edition makeup collection created with Estée Lauder’s great granddaughter. Like Estée before her, Danielle finds inspiration in the beauty of old Hollywood. Act IV, a cinematic reference to Danielle as a fourth-generation Lauder family member, combines Danielle’s beauty legacy with her passion for acting and love of Hollywood glamour, according to the company.
 
“Act IV provides the finishing touches that allow every woman to add that extra bit of glamour to her everyday life,” said Danielle Lauder.
 
As an actress, Danielle has had to master the art of makeup for different lighting as she goes from audition to in front of the camera. Act IV is inspired by the concept of looking beautiful in any light, with glow-enhancing skin perfectors, dreamy pastels and statement lipsticks that enable every woman to feel like a star.
 
“Act IV combines my two greatest passions, acting and beauty, to allow every woman to feel like the star of her own life,” she added.
 
The products channel classic cosmetic glamour in its packaging but with a modern sensibility. The Cinemattic Complexion Liquid is a unique ultra-light, translucent foundation with a matte finish; the Party Puff Starlucent Filtered Powder covers imperfections to enhance skin tone with a natural radiance and an instant brightening effect. The sheer coral hue diffuses seamlessly over skin for a healthy, rosy radiance and a smooth porcelain finish. The Lip Duet Tint & Balm is a double-sided product—one side holds a nourishing balm to instantly soften and revive dry lips, while the other side has a soft, tinted lip blush to give lips a healthy touch of color, held together with a magnetic case.
 
And, the Best Picture Multi-Look Palette features four high-impact, ultra-blendable colors for eyes and face in matte and shimmer finishes. Be the dramatic femme fatale or the romantic girl-next-door with modern shades of coral, ivory, lavender and charcoal designed to warm cheeks, illuminate high points and define lids. This SKU’s casing has a custom portrait of Danielle Lauder by leading fashion illustrator David Downton.
 
This is the first beauty collection for Danielle with more to come from the actress/cosmetic innovator.
 
It’s been an active season for The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. In December 2019, it acquired Have & Be Co. Ltd., the Seoul-based, global skin care company behind Dr. Jart+ and men’s grooming brand Do The Right Thing. It was Lauder’s first acquisition of an Asia-based beauty brand. 
 
The company also recently announced some sustainability goals. By 2020, ELC’s programs and grants focused on health, education and environmental programs will impact the well-being of 10 million individuals around the world. By 2025, 75-100% of ELC’s packaging will be recyclable, refillable, reusable, recycled or recoverable.  And, ELC will develop a glossary of key ingredients that includes descriptions of the ingredients’ purposes and will make this information available online by 2025, to name a few initiatives.