We are calling for a global boycott of The Estée Lauder Companies and all entities linked to Ronald Lauder. We refuse to let beauty profits fund a billionaire’s private attempt to reshape global borders and exploit sovereign resources.
While Estée Lauder markets itself as a brand of luxury and empowerment, its heir and major shareholder, Ronald Lauder, is actively leveraging his 60-year friendship with President Donald Trump to reshape global borders. Reports indicate that Lauder was the primary architect of the "Greenland Initiative"—a plan to purchase the sovereign territory of Greenland from Denmark for its strategic minerals and Arctic shipping routes.
Lauder has funneled millions into political campaigns, including a $5 million donation to the MAGA Inc. super PAC in early 2025, effectively using cosmetic-derived profits to fund an administration that supports his private Arctic ambitions.
Ronald Lauder has reportedly served as an "unofficial advisor" to the White House, using his position to push for the acquisition of Greenland—a move that has caused a significant diplomatic rift with Denmark and ignored the sovereignty of the Greenlandic people. His advocacy for U.S. control of Greenland directly aligns with his personal investments in the region, including the Greenland Water Bank (luxury bottled water) and the Greenland Investment Group, which seeks to control hydroelectric projects for industrial smelting.
The Estée Lauder Companies have been linked to systemic issues including securities fraud, child labor in supply chains, and discriminatory practices within corporate leadership. Furthermore, a 2011 New York Times investigation detailed Lauder’s use of accounting loopholes to avoid billions in tax obligations.
Corporate accountability is no longer just about business—it's about stopping the "privatization" of global foreign policy. When we buy a lipstick or a serum from a Lauder brand, our money directly powers a network that views sovereign territories as "frontiers" for extraction. We are choosing to withhold our support to prove a simple point: global resources and national sovereignty are not for sale to the highest donor. By acting together, we turn our consumer choices into a demand for a more ethical and transparent world. We believe that no billionaire should be allowed to use a cosmetic empire to treat a sovereign nation like a private real estate deal.
Companies & Entities to Boycott:
Aerin
Aramis
Aveda
Balmain Beauty
Bobbi Brown
Bumble & Bumble
Clinique
Darphin
DECIEM
Dr. Jart
Editions de Parfums
Frederic Malle Glamglow
Jo Malone
Kilian Paris
Lab Series
La Mer
Le Labo
MAC
NIOD
Origins
Smash box
The Ordinary
Tom Ford Beauty
Too Faced
We know that skincare and makeup are personal, and finding products that work for you is a process. However, choosing independent, ethically-aligned brands ensures your daily routine doesn't inadvertently fund private political interests.
To make the transition easier, here are several ethically-aligned brands and alternatives to consider:
The Inkey List - (good alternative to The Ordinary)
Prequel - (good alternative to Dr. Jart)
Clarins - (good alternative to Origins)
Tata Harper - (good alternative to La Mer)
Our silence is their permission; our collective action is our power.