“When children are little, they really need you in one way. When they’re bigger, they need you as a friend.”

I have always loved books, and as a mother, I wanted to share my passion for reading with my children.

I worked at Prescriptives. My uncle [Leonard Lauder, chairman emeritus of the Estée Lauder Companies] smartly had wanted me to go into a small brand – to figure out what part of the company I loved.

I come from an environment where the men actually say, “Is it OK if I take off my jacket?” in a meeting. Everyone wears suits; it is a very dressed-up world.

AERIN is saturated with the qualities that have surrounded me my entire life, many of which came from my grandmother, Estee: passion, style, hard work, family, and, of course, all things beautiful.

I think to make your home as comfortable as possible is so important.

So the idea of being able to shop cross-category to buy the beach bag, the summer lip gloss, and the pillows for your pool house makes it into very focused, easy life.

I think it’s so much fun to create a space. As the world has gotten more and more hectic – with these horrible catastrophes [happening] – people are going out less, ordering in, [having guests over]. People love to be in their homes.

When I was creative director [at Estée Lauder], I was always being asked about my beauty must-haves. From there I had this fun idea to create a line of what was in my makeup bag. But I also love accessories, and people associate me with home, family, and beauty.

When I took the job as Estée Lauder’s creative director, the first thing I did was go into the archives! I love taking our heritage and making it modern.

In terms of pots and pans, I just use the basics – Im not a snob like that.

One summer I worked at Estée Lauder, and I really enjoyed the whole creative process.

I always loved beauty and accessories, and it’s always something I was passionate about.

Mom used to frame everything we made, and now I’m following her example. It makes children so proud to see their work on display instead of hidden away.

I love laugh lines. It means you’ve had a good life.

I’m natural, but I wear makeup seven days a week.

When you ask women what’s the one thing they wish they had more of, they always say time.

But obviously, the major labels have more money to spend, so if they feel like spending it, they have bigger resources there when you need them.

I actually had less time and the exact same budget on Hairspray, which was few years ago and this is a much bigger movie [then Rock of Ages]. That’s the way studios do it now.

Remember that the act of writing is a tiny part of a bigger something.

We’re in a very competitive industry, and sometimes the bigger

Bigger is always better.

There’s no bigger atheist than me. Well, I take that back. I’m a cancer screening away from going agnostic and a biopsy away from full-fledged Christian.

I saw a commercial for the maxi pads for the bigger gals they’re making now. That was a nice visual while I was eating.

I realized that even big waves start with small ripples