Connie wants to win: Can you please settle a bet? My friend is trying to convince me that the Max Factor cosmetic line is really named after a guy named Max Factor. Sounds like an urban legend to me. I’m guessing it’s really a marketing name like “Maximum Coverage Factor” or something like that. Please answer quickly, I can win an Itunes gift card!
The Left Brain resolves the bet:
You can also LOSE an iTunes gift card, Connie. I’m afraid your friend is right: Max Factor Cosmetics is actually named after the chemist who created it: Max Faktor.
Max is actually quite famous among us cosmetic chemists as one of the early pioneers of modern makeup. Here are few fun historical facts:
Faktor to Factor
Born in Poland in 1877, by the age of 20 Max was selling handmade rouges, fragrances and wigs. He came to the US in 1902 where he changed his name from “Faktor” to “Factor” and by 1904 he was selling lotions and hair care products at the St. Louis World’s Fair.
Shoot for the stars
In 1914 he created the first line of grease paint products designed for motion picture stars. In just a few short decades, Jean Harlow, Claudette Colbert, Bette Davis, and virtually all of the major movie actresses were regular customers of the Max Factor beauty salon, located near Hollywood Boulevard.
He made up make up
In the 1920s he developed a new line of color cosmetics for use in the new field of color motion pictures. In fact, he is credited with coining the word “makeup.”
Max and Oscar
In 1928 he was awarded a special technology Oscar from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for his make up inventions. (Imagine that – a cosmetic chemist winning an Academy Award!)
Selling like hotcakes
In the 1930’s he developed the first powder makeup in solid form, also known as Pancake Makeup, for film stars. When he made it available to the general public, Pancake Makeup became of the biggest selling products in the history of the cosmetic industry.
Read more about the history of Max Faktor or learn about modern day Max Factor cosmetics, like Lipfinity. Sorry about the iTunes card!
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yea! i started googling him when my sister told me that she met the max factor heiress! i couldn’t believe her luck so i went to learn about the brand..
their mascara? heavenly.. almost as heavenly as the prestige lash matrix..
I am amazed at the way Max Factor make-up continues to push forward with great new products, year after year. I love their Lipfinity lipstick line for its staying power and their mascaras never disappoint. Old Max would be proud!
I watched a biography show about him years ago. My now husband and I had just startd living together. We were both fascinated. And I was slightly surprised he sat down and watched it. Oh I wish I had that iTunes bet! I would have won hands down!
Lucielle Ball was also a big fan of his products, and In Japan, Max Factor is sold at department stores, because that’s how reputable the product line is in Asia.
P&G/Max Factor are also responsible for all the SK-II skin care products.
Sorry, I should clarify SK-II wasn’t invented by Max Factor personally, it was in fact, brought to us by P&G /Max Factor Line.
sorry!
you’ve missed the most interesting part of his life, the fact that he moved to Russia and managed to become so great in what he does that the Royal family let him touch their faces, so did the ballerinas at the Opera and Ballet House. He moved to US just because the stupid revolution happened