A History of Cosmetics, Part 3
The cosmetics craze continued throughout the centuries into the 1900s and began to see the earliest of the cosmetics industry being formed. Mrs. Henning’s House of Cyclax in London sold many products that you can still buy today from world famous companies like Avon. Another beauty salon owner found herself expanding her products to meet the demands of her upper class clientele from a facial cream that protects women’s skin from the sun to lipstick and face powder. Today, you can find a whole line of cosmetics from Helena Rubenstein.
As the years went on, the popularity of beauty salons continued to increase. In 1909, a salon called Selfridges began to sell cosmetics out in the open over the counter. Women’s attitudes began to change and confidence grew. When the Russian ballet came to London, the influence of high art was apparent on many designers. A man named Paul Poiret was one of the first to come out with a much more vibrant and colorful look. It was also the first time that permanent cosmetics were seen. Women could tattoo their lipstick and eye shadow permanently on their faces.
During the 1930s the fashion of lipstick went to a darker shade with a variety of shades. Around the time of WW II, ingredients for cosmetics were in a severe shortage and women underwent a kind of make-down. This ended right when the war did and demand for cosmetics increased more than ever. Competitors began manufacturing a number of products to meet the demands of the female consumer.
Today’s woman is the benefactor of all these years of trial and error with a virtually unlimited choice of products for any look they want to achieve. There are literally thousands of companies who have products in this now billion dollars yearly industry. Cosmetic products sell year round and even in times of recession.
During the 1930s the fashion of lipstick went to a darker shade with a variety of shades. Around the time of WW II, ingredients for cosmetics were in a severe shortage and women underwent a kind of make-down. This ended right when the war did and demand for cosmetics increased more than ever. Competitors began manufacturing a number of products to meet the demands of the female consumer. more vibrant and colorful look. It was also the first time that permanent cosmetics were seen. Women could tattoo their lipstick and eye shadow permanently on their faces.