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U.S. cosmetics trade has grown from modest beginnings in the early 20th
Century into a huge multi-billion dollar industry. If there is one
individual most responsible for the creation and popularization of the
American cosmetics industry, it would be Max Factor.
Born of
Jewish descent in Lodz, Poland in 1877, Max Faktor worked as a child
with a dentist and pharmacist. As an apprentice he spent long hours
mixing a variety of potions and became fascinated with the human face.
Later, as a young man in Moscow, Russia, he established his first shop
where he sold perfumes, skin cremes and wigs. A theater group wore some
of his makeup while performing before Russian aristocrats, which led to
his being employed by the Royal Family as its makeup consultant. He was
also engaged by Russia’s national opera.
In 1904 Max, his wife
Lisa and their 3 children left Europe and emigrated to America,
arriving with less than four hundred dollars to his name, the spelling
of which was Americanized into “Max Factor" during his immigration
proceedings. That same year he worked at the St. Louis World’s Fair
selling skin cremes and perfumes and then moved on to the theater
district in Los Angeles four years later, where Max opened the Max
Factor beauty salon, thinking he might have the opportunity to work in
the newly emerging movie industry in Hollywood.
Some six years
later, in 1914, he invented the first of many creations that would come
to be known globally. This initial invention, greasepaint compressed
into a tube, was designed specifically as a makeup for actors, one that
would not crack. It was Max Factor who coined the term ‘makeup’ to
describe his product.
As a result of this product, many of
Hollywood’s top movie stars began visiting his beauty studio and his
reputation was born. During the following two decades, he was
responsible for the glamorous looks of celebrities such as Jean Harlow,
Judy Garland, Rita Hayworth, Bette Davis, Katharine Hepburn and Joan
Crawford, many of whom relied on his services not only for their movie
appearances but in their ‘everyday’ lives.
Then in the 1920’s
Max Factor started selling his cosmetics to consumers, believing that
all women should have the opportunity to look like the stars. In doing
so, Max was largely responsible for the commencement of the cosmetics
industry as we know it today. Many of his Hollywood clients also agreed
to appear in magazine ads to market his cosmetics, and the name Max
Factor soon became known around the globe.
From there Max Factor
was responsible for a number of cosmetic innovations including the
first foundation (known as Pan-cake), which was applied to the face
with a silk sponge. Other ‘firsts’ introduced by Max Factor and the
company of the same name he founded were false eyelashes, lip gloss,
the eyebrow pencil, stick makeup, concealer, the mascara wand, water
resistant makeup and many others.
Max Factor died in Beverly
Hills in 1938, but the company he founded continued to grow under the
direction of his son, Max Jr., becoming synonymous with high fashion
and glamour. In 1991 the brand name “Max Factor" was sold to Procter
& Gamble.
For those who are interested in learning more
about the father of modern makeup, a visit to the Max Factor Museum in
Hollywood is recommended. You will find a restoration of Max Factor’s
original beauty salon containing hundreds of photographs autographed by
the stars he worked with, advertisements from magazines, an Oscar,
displays of his original cosmetics, 4 makeup rooms for the stars with
whom he worked his magic, a collection of wigs, and a small theater.
There is no charge.
---------- The author, Michael Rupkalvis, operates the website www.mineralmakeupshoppe.com. The website presents a new makeup product
called Naked Minerals cosmetics,
which is a pressed all-natural mineral makeup that, unlike other
mineral makeup products, has no messy, loose powders with which to deal.
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
or organization.
