EXHIBIT 10.8(a)

                        AMENDMENT TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
                        ---------------------------------

       THIS AMENDMENT ("Amendment"), dated as of July 1, 2002, to the Employment
Agreement, dated as of July 1, 2000 (the "Agreement"), between The Estee Lauder
Companies Inc., a Delaware corporation ("the "Company"), and Leonard A. Lauder,
a resident of New York, New York (the "Executive").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

       WHEREAS, the Executive and the Company are parties to the Agreement; and

       WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive wish to amend the Agreement to
adjust the compensation in fiscal 2003 as set forth herein;

       NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and of the mutual
covenants and obligations hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto, intending
to be legally bound, hereby agree to amend the Agreement as follows:

1.     BASE SALARY.

       For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2003, Base Salary shall be paid to
       the Executive at a rate equal to $1,710,000, which shall be payable in
       accordance with the regular payroll policies of the Company in effect
       from time to time. For Contract Years after June 30, 2003, Base Salary
       shall be paid to the Executive at a rate equal to that set forth in the
       Agreement prior to this Amendment. Each rate shall be "Base Salary" for
       the respective Contract Year.

2.     MISCELLANEOUS.

              a.     Except as provided above, all other terms and conditions of
                     the Agreement shall remain the same.

              b.     Capitalized terms used in this Amendment shall have the
                     meanings ascribed to such terms in the Agreement, except to
                     the extent the term is modified herein.

              c.     This Amendment shall be subject to, and governed by, the
                     laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made
                     and to be performed therein.

              IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this
              Agreement as of the date first written above.

                                         THE ESTEE LAUDER COMPANIES INC.


                                         By: /s/ ANDREW J. CAVANAUGH
                                             ----------------------------------
                                                 Name:  Andrew J. Cavanaugh
                                                 Title: Senior Vice President -
                                                        Global Human Resources

                                         /s/ LEONARD A. LAUDER
                                         --------------------------------------
                                                 Leonard A. Lauder