Maxfactor cosmetics; The Max Factor Story.

In a previous seminar with Sharon she discussed the history of ads and product placement in ads. I found this seminar extremely informative and helpful in regards of learning about beauty ads and its development. Sharon had mentioned the cosmetic brand Max-factor and I decided to research some of the history behind the brand and its founder, as Max-Factor's early cosmetic ads were very popular and informative. 

The below information is taken partly from the official cosmetic website of Max Factor cosmetics; https://maxfactor.co.uk/heritage/the-max-factor-story. This website features historical information of the early years till now, on the creation of Max Factor cosmetics. They also have timeline which describes each historical change within the company through time which was interesting to follow. 

"You are not born Glamorous. Glamour is created."

-Mr Max factor 

The Max Factor company is a popular cosmetic line, founded by the Procter and Gamble company. "The Max Factor & Company" was passed down several generations of the family  making it become a international company. Mr Max Factor first began his journey into the beauty industry by moving himself and his family to Los Angeles in order to pursue an opportunity in create Made to order wigs and theatrical make-up. Alongside Mr Max Factor creating his own cosmetic products, after time he became the distributer of the popular brands 'Leichner' and 'Minor' which were two leading theatrical make-up companies. 

Beginning his career Mr Max Factor began working with celebrities and movie stars on sets of films and tv as a make-up artist and cosmetic creator. After gaining more success Mr Max Factor expanded his cosmetic range and by 1916, he began to sell eye shadow and eyebrow pencils. Mr Max Factor was not only the first person to create a line of cosmetics such as eye shadow and eye pencils outside of movie industry but also created the term 'Make-up'. 

Mr Max Factor's incredible products and techniques created for the movie industry and his glamorous Hollywood clients earned him an Oscar, which I find really inspirational. 

-In 1872 Mr Max Factor opened his first hair and beauty goods store in Razan, Russia. 

- Soon after this in 1914 Mr Max Factor, creates the first 'flexible greasepaint' for actors in the film industry. 

-In 1918 Max Factor invented a make-up chart still used today, this was called the 'Colour Harmony Principle of make-up'. The make-up shades in this chart were 'coordinated to complement a woman's natural complexion, eye and hair colouring'.

-The 1920's brought the invention of the word 'Make-up' created by Mr Max Factor himself and also a introduction to 'Society Make-up', 'allowing women to emulate the looks of their favourite movie stars'. 

-'Lip Pomade' later changed to 'Lip Gloss' was created in 1928 by Mr Max Factor made to 'Provide a glamorous, glossy appearance to a movie actresses' lips on film'.

-In 1928 the "platinum blonde bombshell" Jean Harlow became every woman's beauty and hair Icon, influencing many women to buy Max Factors cosmetics as she was associated with the brand. Mr Max factor used his 'Colour Harmony chart' to fix Jean Harlows hair issues and then in response also created a range of new make-up shades. 

-In 1932 Mr Max Factor built a 'Beauty Calibrator' in order to measure 'the dimensions of a person's facial structure to within 1/100th of an inch. This helps him determine how to use the shading to create 'The Perfect Face'."

-In 1935 'Pan Cake, Make-up' was invented by Mr Max Factor and ' Developed to meet the unique make-up requirements of Technicolor film, as without the corrective make-up to provide a natural complexion; actors faces appeared brick red or blue'. Apparently his clients began taking large amounts of his Pan- cake make-up home for personal use and because of this he realised the product looked great on the skin on and off camera, inspiring him to make it a retail trade product also. 

1940's Maxfactor Ad.
Google Sourced Image.
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/4f/c0/a7/4fc0a79a2c4ade1074c970409b3469db.jpg

The above image is a old Maxfactor Beauty ad from the 1940's, you can tell it is from the 1940's because of the woman's hairstyle and fashion in the image. The hairstyle the woman is wearing seems to be victory rolls, which were popular in the 1940's as women used victory rolls to protect and style their hair whilst working during the world war.
Something that stood out to me from this ad straight away was the use of the colour red in the background behind the model, on the shades of lipsticks and also on the models lips. This could be the ad's way of introducing the new shades they have invented and what beautiful stars and models are wearing so that women can achieve the same look. The ad is very informative and holds a lot of imagery of their new product being worn and also in its packaging. The use of the same colour in the models clothing and on the lipstick containers, makes everything seem more complimentary and ties the different colours together. Even the mention of 'Hollywood' twice in the ad creates a glamorous theme, making women aspire to be that 'Hollywood icon or star', and you can do so by purchasing their brand new lipstick.