Born Max Faktor in Lodz, Poland during the 1870s, Max Factor is often called the father of modern makeup.
Max Factor - Early Years
With 10 children, the Faktor parents could not afford formal education for their children, so at the age of eight Max was placed in an apprenticeship to a pharmacist. Years of mixing potions for the pharmacy instilled in Max a fascination with cosmetics.
Max Factor's First Shop
Eventually, Max Factor opened his own shop in a suburb of Moscow, selling hand-made rouges, creams, fragrances, and wigs. A traveling theatrical troupe bought and wore Factor's make-up while performing for Russian nobility, and a new door to fame and fortune opened wide for Max. The Russian nobility appointed Factor the official cosmetic expert for the royal family and the Imperial Russian Grand Opera.
1904 World's Fair
In 1904, Max Factor and his family moved to the United States. He had an opportunity in St. Louis at the 1904 World's Fair, to sell his rouges and creams. Max Faktor was now Max Factor, the name given to him at Ellis Island by immigration officials.
Star-struck and Star-crossed
Life in America, had Max Factor dreaming of movie actors and actresses using his makeup and wigs. He moved his family to Los Angeles in 1908. In 1914, Max Factor created a makeup specifically for movie-actors that, unlike theatrical makeup, would not crack or cake.
Soon movie stars were filing through Max Factor's makeup studio, eager to sample the "flexible greasepaint" while producers sought Factor's human hair wigs. He allowed the wigs to be rented to the producers of old westerns on the condition that his sons were given parts as extras. His sons would keep an eye on the expensive wigs.
Max Factor Makeup
Max Factor introduced a line of cosmetics to the public in the 1920s. The advertising campaign claimed that every girl could look like a movie star by using Max Factor makeup.
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Lip gloss was invented by Max Factor in 1930. His reason for this was to make lips glossy or shiny for films. Max Factor inventions include lipstick and the mascara wand. All of these inventions became common items in purses throughout the world as makeup became a mass market phenomenon.
To millions of women in all parts of the world today, the name Max Factor goes hand in hand with beauty and fashion Today, Max Factor & Co. is a division of Procter & Gamble in Hunt Valley, Maryland. Procter & Gamble (also known as P&G) brands are responsible for touching the lives of people around the world two billion times a day.
Since its official founding on January 2, 1909, Max Factor has developed countless makeup innovations. Even the word "makeup" was invented by Max Factor! Some of his innovations were the first motion picture makeup in 1914, Lip Gloss in 1930, Pan-Cake Makeup, forerunner of all modern cake makeups in 1937, Pan-Stik Makeup in 1948, Erace, the original cover-up cosmetic in 1954, and the first "waterproof" makeup in 1971.
Max Factor & Co. was founded by Max Factor, Sr., who started as a make-up man for the Royal Ballet in Czarist Russia. As a young man in 1904, he emigrated from his native country to New York. Later that same year, he moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where he opened a small perfume, makeup and hair goods concession at the St. Louis World's Fair. Four years later, the family moved to Los Angeles, California and this is where Max Factor opened his first store in the center of the city's theatrical district. Here he not only sold his own creations, but also served as the west coast distributor for both Leichner and Miner, manufacturers of two famous brands of stick greasepaint and other theatrical items.
As motion picture companies arrived and settled in California, film players naturally turned to the specialized Factor shop with their makeup problems. The company was influential in assisting the motion picture industry, and in later years, the television industry.
In years earlier than the twenties, greasepaint in stick form was the accepted makeup for the theatrical industry but could not be applied thinly enough nor were the colors suitable to work sufficiently on the screen. And so, in 1914, Max Factor perfected the first makeup specifically created for motion picture use, a thinner greasepaint in cream form, packaged in a jar and created in 12 accurate graduated shades. It was worn for the first time by actor, Henry B. Walthall, who served as the model for screen tests. With this major accomplishment to his reputation, Max Factor became legendary in makeup history.
The first retractable lip gloss was invented by Angie Parlionas in 2004. Utility patents were issued in March 2007. YOYO Lip Gloss is a fashionable retractable lip gloss that sits at the hip for easy access. The string extends up to 3 1/2 feet long and retracts back to the hip after use. The YOYO Lip Gloss Tubes and Fun Interchangeable Reels are available in 5 colors and yummy high sparkle flavors.
Makeup History
Between the years of 1910-1920 the Factor creation set two major milestones in makeup history:
First, Max Factor improved upon his original greasepaint in a jar and introduced the world's first "sanitary" makeup-greasepaint packaged in a collapsible tube-and quickly became the most popular motion picture makeup of this time.
Secondly, he invented the most important single development ever to be created for the new art of makeup, "Color Harmony," this principle was established for the first time. Certain combinations of a woman's complexion, hair and eye coloring were most effectively complemented by specific makeup shades prescribed in "Color Harmony."
Max Factor didn't forget about the men! In later years, Max Factor's invention of a self measure and chart procedure allowed bald men to order a custom made hairpiece by mail with the guarantee of a perfect fit and complete satisfaction. Also, the creation of "Flatter Wigs" allowed all women to enjoy the fashion image and flair of the Max Factor wig stylists and their realistic hairpieces.
As did everything in the twenties, makeup changed in a big way. Here are some other interesting facts in makeup history:
This was the decade of the flapper (a young woman in the 1920s who flaunted her unconventional conduct and dress) and one of her most prized possessions, the twist up lipstick and it was perfectly fine to apply it in public.
Lip gloss has been around a lot longer than you probably imagined. It was worn by actress Lillian Gish in 1928.
Metal tubes for lipstick were also introduced during this decade and of course, the popular color red and often scented with cherry. Dark burgundies and maroons were added to the shade family during these years, they were soap based and very drying.
Who really invented the first lip color? No one really knows for sure, but sources have found that both Paul Baudecroux and Hazel Bishop were credited. Baudecroux added wheat powder to a lipstick pencil and named it Rouge Baiser (red kiss). Hazel Bishop has also been credited for inventing the memerable lipstick, but it was during the 1950s.
The cost of a tube during the twenties was ten cents.
The first eyelash curler hit the market, and was extremely popular. The Kurlash was very expensive and difficult to use.
Mascara in cake and cream form was a big hit with women. Finally, women could have the lashes they always wanted.
To make the history of Max Factor & Co. complete came with the introduction of "color" motion picture and another one of his famous inventions "Pan-Cake" Makeup. In black and white films, actors' faces tended to appear green or fiery red-or any other color-on the screen. After six months of research Factor created the Pan-Cake Makeup, -"pan"-because of its small, flat, pan-like container, and "cake" because of the form in which it was made.
It was used for the first time on all members of the cast in Walter Wanger's "Vogues of 1938," starring Warner Baxter and Joan Bennett, it worked miracles. Critics singled out the makeup and raved about it in their reviews and became the standard makeup for all color motion pictures. Pan-Cake Makeup became, almost overnight, one of the fastest-growing, largest-selling, single makeup items in the history of cosmetics. Today, it is still one of the most popular cake makeup products available.
