Whether her remark did the trick or not, the Lauder companies began advertising in Essence magazine soon afterward.

Most of the Lauder companies are prepared to deal with the changes that are transforming the cosmetics industry.

Recently, the Lauder company started creeping toward a more show-business look.

Different, perhaps, but no more so than other differences in the Lauder company and the Lauder family of late.

The conversion of the dingy building off Wenceslaus Square here into an exterior confection of pink and white cost the Lauder company just $1 million.

It uses no animal-derived materials and, like the other Lauder companies, has a policy of not testing on animals.

William Lauder previously was Eastern field sales manager of Prescriptives, another Lauder company.

Perhaps the real future of the Lauder companies rests not with Clinique but with the two youngest members of its corporate family: Prescriptives and Origins.

Because the Lauder company aimed its products at upper-income women, at expensive prices, the ads had to project luxury.

In the 13 years since, the Lauder companies have given out 50 million pink ribbons at cosmetics counters worldwide.