bella's (branded) anatomy! Aerin Lauder

This month we are loving Estée Lauder, for more reasons than one (If we had to count, it would probably be more like 104 reasons!) And whilst listing them might take all day, there is one reason we have to tell you about. Two words.

Aerin Lauder.

Grandaughter of  Estée herself, the family matriarch and founder of the beauty brand now synonymous with class, Aerin knows more than a thing or two about beauty, but is also a little bit of a pro when it comes to style and balancing an awesome work/home lifestyle too.

For those of you yet to hear of Aerin, give us a minute before you pigeon-hole her as just another heiress. Far from running around the international social circuit as an It-girl, Aerin is all woman, aged 37 and a mum to two boys, who make her feel like she 'inhabits two different worlds'. Her life, she says, revolves around two things: 'there is the feminine world of the work that I do, and then there is my all-boy home life', complete with 'broken windows, mud everywhere, and football jerseys instead of cute clothes!' And whilst her father Ronald Lauder is the Clinique Laboratories' chairman, Aerin has obviously made an effort to carve out a role of her own in the family business - she has been a Lauder board member since 2004, is now its Senior Vice President and is also the Creative Director for the flagship Estée Lauder brand. Something tells us that whilst Aerin enjoys being a front row mainstay at each of the very best NY fashion shows, she also knows how to mix it with the suits when it comes down to business. We like!

But - let's be honest - we are also partial to sharing a fabulous outfit when we see one, and Aerin is one very well-dressed woman. One of Aerin's top looks, in our opinion, was her black and citrus hued combo last year...

The bold shade of top sets off her honey skin tone beautifully, whilst her black skirt and pumps keep the look polished. We also love  the gold accessories that tie the look together. For a similar style on a budget? Try Country Road's black panelled skirt, with Decjuba's summer silk pocket tank, Novo's indulge heels, the glitter hard case clutch from Colette, and Mimco's toughie glam wrist to tie it all together. The finishing touch? A glowing complexion and natural eyes and lips a la Aerin's signature style.

With this beauty look in mind, Aerin recently launched her own makeup collection within the Lauder brand, comprising of her favourite, can't-live-without products. Pretty clever for a lady who must be asked what's in her beauty bag on a daily basis! Think natural tones and shades to suit any skin colour, from fair to dark, with an everyday wearability. For more on the range, plus plenty of Aerin info, check out her World of Aerin blog.

Aerin's famous Grandmother also imparted wise words when it came to beauty, totally befitting her sterling skincare reputation. One piece of Estée's advice in particular has stuck with Aerin (and is also one of our favourites), as told to Into The Gloss' Emily Wiess: 'You only have one face - Take care of it'.

So simple, yet so true! With such philosophies it isn't hard to see how women everywhere related to Estée's beauty philosophies. Which brings us to a few more reasons we love Estée Lauder - their incredible range of skincare products. Here are my top 3...

#1 Estée Lauder Resiliance Lift Instant Action Lift Treatment

This delicate serum not only helps to visibly firm (perfect for around your eyes and forehead), it also helps to increase collagen and elastin levels in the skin over time. The name of this product ('treatment') might indicate you need to set aside some time to use it, but rather, this wonder product can be gently patted onto the skin anywhere, anytime, over or under makeup. Perfect for applying to the fine skin around the outer corners of the eyes mid-afternoon, or after work, before heading out straight from the office. This cream will wake up your face and make you feel re-done in an instant, without having to reapply your entire look to cover up fine lines.

#2 Estée Lauder Perfectionist

One of Aerin's top skincare picks is an anti-aging serum. Not just for mature skin, anti-ageing serums are ideal for use from the mid-twenties onwards - prevention is the name of the game! We love the Perfectionist Wrinkle Lifting/Firming Serum, especially with the limited edition Pink Ribbon Keychain (to help raise money for the National Breast Cancer Foundation, also one of our partners here at bellabox, during the month of October) Their most effective wrinkle fighting serum ever, Perfectionist is also perfect for use alongside Resilience Lift. Winner!

#3 Day Wear Sheer Tint Release

Everyone talks about it but be honest - how religiously do you use sun protection in your skincare routine? An SPF is the number one anti-ageing product you can ever invest in. The easiest way of incorporating this vital element into your beauty bag is alongside another product - if your foundation or moisturiser contains an SPF, you'll be more likely to leave the house with some kind of sun protection on your dial - a step in the right direction! We love the Day Wear Sheer Tint Release moisturiser, not only for its included SPF, but also because it does an amazing job at evening out and enhancing skin tone. Plus, it contains a bevvy of anti-oxidants to help fight free radicals in the skin. Not sure what all this really means? Check out my beauty terms de-mystified article over here.

It was founder Estée Lauder who said 'I want to show as many women as I can reach, not only how to be beautiful, but how to stay beautiful'. With the right skincare routine, this really is a possibility for every woman! Whether you are of Mrs. Estée Lauder's or Aerin Lauder's generation!

Have you tried any of the Estée Lauder range? Which product is your favourite? Do you love Aerin's style? Or maybe you took style advice from your Grandmother too? Let us know! I know I did! - Lauren

(some pictures courtesy of pinterest.com)