Back in time

30 Aug 2009 14:05 PM | Posted by Editor

The brand names are forever etched in our brains and symbolise some of the best-known booty in the beauty biz – but how did it all start?

Here we take a stroll down memory lane and provide an in-depth insight into some our most-loved beauty brands. 

 

 

 

1872: on August 5, in Lodz, Russia (now part of Poland), an icon was born.

1904: Max Factor arrives in America with his wife, two daughters and one son on April 2.

1904: on April 11, Factor settled in St Louis, where he opens a perfume, cosmetics and hair concession at the St Louis World's Fair.

1908: after moving to LA, Factor and his family open a theatrical make-up and hair shop. As motion picture companies arrived in California, film players increasingly sought make-up advice at Factor's shop.

1914: Factor creates Flexible Greasepaint, the first make-up ever designed for motion picture use.

1915: Factor coins the phrase ‘Brownette’ to define dark blonde / light brunette locks.

1916: Factor introduces eyeshadow and eyebrow pencil to the general public; both products previously only available in the theatrical make-up field.

1917: Factor introduces the Color Harmony principle of make-up – shades should be coordinated to complement natural complexion, eye, and hair colouring.

1921: Factor creates Face Powder Brush to help create a smooth and perfect complexion for motion picture actors.

1928: Lip Pomade (later called lip gloss) was created by Factor to provide a glamorous, glossy appearance for actresses' lips. (Previously actresses had to continually lick their lips to get the look, which often resulted in a chapped and un-kissable pout.

1935: the iconic Pan-Cake Makeup was developed to meet the unique make-up requirements of Technicolor film.

1938: Factor introduces Pan-Cake Makeup to the general public. Sadly, on August 30, Max Factor dies, aged 66.

1940: Tru-Color Lipstick is developed by Max Factor Jr. (formerly Francis Factor), it maintains its true colour without irritating the skin.

1943: Max Factor fills the first order from the US Marine Corps for several shades of camouflage make-up to disguise the faces of soldiers in combat.

1946: Max Factor establishes in Australia on January 1.

1954: Max Factor introduces a new range of make-up shades to CBS and NBC, after realising that existing make-up was completely inadequate for colour television.

1954: Erase was the first concealer to be introduced to the general public.

1958: Max Factor introduces the Mascara Wand – the first mascara to be applied with a wand from a tube, rather than a picking up the colour with a brush.

1973: the Factor family sell the business to Norton Simon Inc.

 

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Image courtesy of Max Factor