Cosmetics from Max Factor

Cosmetics and perfumery - we use them every day, and do not think about those who created all these opportunities, to make our skin, eyes, lips, hair, hands more beautiful and attractive? How few names have remained not only in our memory, but in history in general. It's a pity…

When did cosmetics appear and perfumery? What's question? Both can be found in excavations of the most ancient times. But the names of those who created them, made the greatest discoveries for the whole world of beauty, remained in oblivion. Maybe everything to reconsider in your mind, and at least those who remained in the memory of a few, do not forget, do not erase from the history of mankind….

For many, history remains history, and cosmetics are cosmetics. But still…
Let's take a look at the last century, or rather, in the 20s. What was the appearance of a woman of these years? A short haircut "like a boy" was complemented by a blush that looked like a round blot on the cheeks, eyebrows plucked out to the point that it was easy to draw them, a brightly painted mouth and eyes outlined with a black line with green or blue eyeshadow for blondes and black or brown from brunettes. Not many items can be found in the beauty bag of the beauties of that era.

But the 20s have passed, and the makeup mask on the faces of beauties is a thing of the past. In the 30s, women tried to emphasize their beauty as natural, so they did not apply blush with spots, but applied it slightly and shaded it so that the skin was transparent and flawless. It was very difficult. How did Hollywood stars do it? Everything turned out to be simple - the compact powder from Max Factor made the skin natural. In 1938, the powder became available to many women in Europe and of course in America. But our grandmothers and great-grandmothers did not use this perfection for a long time. Although ..., of course, such a powder was available for women - as they were then called - the wives of party workers.

Max Factor - it was his cosmetics that became a symbol of beauty and perfection. The images of Hollywood stars Vivien Leigh, Greta Garbo, Clara Bow, Jean Harlow and many others were created by the beauty maestro.

Max Factor (Maximilian Abramovich Faktorovich) was born on August 5, 1877 in Poland, in the city of Lodz, which at that time was on the territory of the Russian Empire. The family of the poor Polish Jew was numerous - 10 children.

And still very little Maximilian had to earn money, because his parents needed help. There could be no question of any education. He was seven years old. Where could you work at this age? He sold sweets in the lobby of the theater, and here for the first time he met the world that had become dear to him throughout his life. A year later, Max became an assistant pharmacist, where he often stopped his curious gaze on jars and bowls, in which something was mixed and frayed. A naturally inquisitive and conscientious boy himself soon began to try to combine different substances, observing what would come of it. He wasted no time and diligently studied what was entrusted to him, using his observations. This is how he acquired his initial knowledge in the field of chemistry, which allowed him, at the age of nine, to get a job as an assistant with a leading cosmetologist and specialist in wigs. And then Max began to make his own creams, blush, and he liked this occupation more and more. His cosmetics and ability to apply it were appreciated, at the age of 14 he moved to Russia and became a make-up artist. When he turned 22, Max Factor opens his own cosmetics store in Ryazan, where he sells creams, lipsticks, perfumes, and wigs of his own making, which he learned to make back in Lodz. Soon, the products of the little Polish Jew were known to many.Max Factor was appointed chief makeup specialist at the Russian Imperial Opera House, and not only. The royal family became interested in his skill. Max becomes a court beautician. He made cosmetic products to order, consulted all the nobility and royal family... But the political events taking place one after the other do not give him rest, not only for himself, but more for his family. And in 1904 he decides to emigrate with his family to America. Max Factor was talented, and he was very much appreciated, and therefore, in order to simply leave Russia, this was out of the question. Then he developed a plan of escape - pretending to be ill, (the complexion of a sick person was not difficult for him to make up every day), he achieves a trip to Carlsbad for treatment. Here Max Factor secretly meets with his family and with great difficulty he manages to move to America, where some of his relatives have already been.

And here the fame of him quickly began to spread, regular customers appeared, among whom were Hollywood actors. And this, as you know, is the best advertisement for any creator, be it clothes, shoes or beauty. The fact that Max Factor ended up in America, and besides in Los Angeles, is more likely not an accident, but long-planned plans. After all, it is not difficult to guess where and who will need his skills and knowledge. Certainly not in Russia, where a revolution and civil war were brewing, which killed many people like Max Factor. Yes, his work was needed primarily by the actors, and it was the actors of Hollywood. Therefore, already in 1908, Max Factor opened a new store with the funds received in a short time. He is engaged in the manufacture of cosmetics and wigs that were indistinguishable from real hair. Each wig had about 100 - 150 thousand hand-sewn hairs. Could a person with perseverance and patience in work not achieve the popularity, those heights that Max Factor reached. He became so popular with the stars of Hollywood, this citadel of cinema, that before filming, the beautiful actresses, nascent stars, resorted to him with a request to put on makeup.

His name became known not only in Hollywood, everyone already knew about him - from the credits of the films, where he made up the actors. In the 20s, makeup, as mentioned above, looked very unnatural. On the screens of films, the actors were also far from perfect. Max Factor worked through the entire makeup technique (it was he who first used this word from the phrase - to make up, which literally means - to draw a face), and became in the first row of the best cosmetologists of the 20s and 30s. His makeup was flawless. He created the image for such stars as Joan Crawford, Greta Garbo, Gloria Swenson. Max Factor created a make-up with which the actors, even when shot in close-up, looked natural. He used false eyelashes, an eyebrow pencil, an mascara brush and a tube-shaped case, lip gloss, has come up with many creams and lipsticks. But the most amazing thing about all cosmetics was the compact powder, which was applied in a thin layer with a brush, and it was completely impossible to determine what makeup was on the face. The factor also invented the cream, which is now called tonal, which makes the skin look fresh, well-groomed and natural. “Makeup cannot be considered successful if it is noticeable; he is only good if an outsider cannot guess that you are wearing make-up. " Make-up was Max Factor's passion. To prevent the actors from sweating under the makeup, he came up with breathable makeup. Max Factor created his new cosmetics, always taking into account the lighting on the set, the quality of the film, the needs of the actors and the requirements of the director.

Back in 1918, Max Factor studied and used in practice the color palette of makeup. And when, in the 30s, he allowed himself to open his own studio or, as we now say, a beauty salon, he decided to use everything he had planned earlier to improve his makeup. Taking into account the peculiarities of the color of hair, skin, eyes of women, that is, the color type, Max Factor created 4 rooms: blue - for blondes, green - for redheads, pink - for brunettes, peach - for dark blond. Then it was all the more important, since color films appeared.

In 1938, Max Factor passed away, he was 61 years old. He was at the pinnacle of fame, and it seemed that there was no limit to his imagination in the field of cosmetology ...

But he did have children. The eldest son Frank took the name Max Factor Jr., headed the Empire of Cosmetology and honorably became the successor of his father's work.

For his general contribution to the development of cinematography, Max Factor received an Oscar.
Max Factor has become the best of the best, his cosmetics are being improved and continue to live among us. “For the stars - and for you” - these words are the basis for the whole principle of the Max Factor company.