How did Helena Rubinstein start the beauty industry?
In fact, Helena Rubinstein’s beauty industry began with jars of Modjeska cream, named after her mother’s friend, actor Helena Modjeska. The actor had introduced Mama to the chemist who created the cream, Dr. Jacob Lykusky, a Hungarian chemist living in Crakow.
How did Helena Rubinstein change the world?
Rubinstein opened salons in London and Paris, and when World War I began she moved to America. Her beauty business grew into a worldwide cosmetics empire, and she eventually created the Helena Rubinstein Foundation in 1953 to fund organizations for children's health. Rubinstein was born in Krakow, Poland, on December 25, 1870.
Who is Helena Rubinstein?
Helena Rubinstein (born Chaja Rubinstein; December 25, 1872 – April 1, 1965) was a Polish-American businesswoman, art collector, and philanthropist. A cosmetics entrepreneur, she was the founder and eponym of Helena Rubinstein Incorporated cosmetics company, which made her one of the world's richest women.
What is the name of the museum that honors Helena Rubinstein?
The Manhattan Jewish Museum hosted the exhibition "Helena Rubinstein: Beauty Is Power", the first museum show devoted to Rubinstein, from October 31, 2014, until March 22, 2015.
See more

What is Helena Rubinstein known for?
Helena Rubinstein (born Chaja Rubinstein; December 25, 1870 – April 1, 1965) was a Polish and American businesswoman, art collector, and philanthropist. A cosmetics entrepreneur, she was the founder and eponym of Helena Rubinstein Incorporated cosmetics company, which made her one of the world's richest women.
Who invented cosmetology?
Cosmetology in the Early 20th Century Maksymilian Faktorowicz, better known to the world as Max Factor, moved to Los Angeles in 1904, and provided theatrical makeup to the nascent film industry. In 1909, Max Factor & Company was founded, and helped lay the foundation for modern-day makeup and cosmetics.
Why is Helena Rubinstein not sold in the US?
“Helena Rubinstein was available in fewer than 10 doors in the US,” a L'Oréal spokeswoman told The Moodie Report. “The decision is all about re-focusing our resources elsewhere, on other brands. Rubinstein is doing extremely well in other markets.”
How much was Helena Rubinstein worth?
With a personal fortune estimated at $100 million, Rubinstein was prominent in international society and maintained homes in cities around the world.
Who first wore makeup?
EgyptThe earliest historical record of makeup comes from the 1st Dynasty of Egypt (c. 3100-2907 BC). Tombs from this era have revealed unguent jars, which in later periods were scented. Unguent was a substance extensively used by men and women to keep their skin hydrated and supple and to avoid wrinkles from the dry heat.
Which country wears the least makeup?
Certainly, one thing you'll notice after spending some time in the Netherlands is that people (well, Dutch women to be precise) wear way less makeup than what you're used to. That doesn't mean they don't take care of themselves — simply that there isn't the same culture surrounding makeup as in many other countries.
Is Helena Rubinstein owned by L Oreal?
Founder of the eponymous company bought by L'Oréal in 1984, Helena Rubinstein defined her era with her desire to unite science and beauty, her understanding of women, and her distinct love of art.
Who bought Helena Rubinstein?
Determination. By the time she died in New York in 1965, the 93-year-old had built up a huge beauty empire. Although the Helena Rubinstein brand was sold to L'Oréal in 1988, it remains anchored in its founder's values: science in the service of beauty, women's liberation, and the audacity to rewrite the rules.
Who painted Helena Rubinstein?
Graham SutherlandIn his portrait, Helena Rubinstein's aphorism on the relationship between resolve, discipline, and glamour is brilliantly evoked. Helena Rubinstein by Graham Sutherland is currently on display in Gallery Two of the National Portrait Gallery.
Where did cosmetologist originate?
Ancient GreeceCosmetology in Ancient Greece and Rome The customs of baths, spas, manicures, and hairdressing as we know them today originated in ancient Greece. As the Roman Empire expanded, they adopted Greek customs including cosmetics.
When was cosmetology invented?
The professionalization of cosmetology didn't begin until the 1930s. With that increased professionalism came formal education. Cosmetologists were trained in small groups, usually at little, privatized shops. Electrical tools made their first appearance in the 1930s.
Where does cosmetology come from?
Cosmetology is a term that comes from the Greek word kosmetikos meaning “skilled in the use of cosmetics.”
Who created the first hair salon?
Ray Kroc is often credited as the “father” of the franchising business model. But 60 years before McDonald's, a woman named Martha Matilda Harper built her own formidable franchise of hair salons — the first of its kind in the US — and trained hundreds of underprivileged women to run their own businesses.
Why did Helena Rubinstein start the Helena Rubinstein Foundation?
Helena Rubinstein established the Helena Rubinstein Foundation to provide money for the arts and to charitable institutions. While she did not support Jewish causes in particular, she did donate five hundred thousand dollars to create the Helena Rubinstein Pavilion at the Tel Aviv Museum.
What did Helena Rubinstein do when she died?
When Helena Rubinstein died at the age of ninety-four, she left behind an international cosmetics business worth millions, and the foundation she established to fund the arts.
How did Helena Rubinstein recover from her loss?
She suffered terribly. A physician friend insisted that she recover from her grief by traveling to Switzerland, where she could recoup and study diet treatment with Dr. Bircher-Benner. She came back to the United States ten pounds lighter and full of energy, with the idea of bringing this treatment to her salons. “A Day of Beauty” at the Helena Rubinstein salons became popular all over the world.
Why did Helena Rubinstein sell her business?
Her husband complained, but she didn’t listen at first. Finally, he told her he was in love with a younger woman. She sold her business to Lehman Brothers in order to win Edward back by showing him how important their marriage was, but it was too late. Meanwhile, the new owners had no luck with the business. Earlier, Rubinstein had developed friendships with store owners during her frequent instructional tours, and these store owners kept in touch with her to report their dismay with Lehman Brothers. Secretly, Helena Rubinstein began to buy stock on the open market. She also wrote to other stockholders, urging them to complain about how the new owners were running the business. Finally, the stock market crash enabled her to buy back her business at a fraction of what Lehman Brothers had paid for it.
Where did Helena Rubinstein teach Theda Bara and Pola Negri?
The next year she opened salons in Boston, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Chicago, and Toronto. In the twenties, Helena Rubinstein went to Hollywood and taught movie stars Theda Bara and Pola Negri how to use mascara, which emphasized their eyes and created their images as “vamps.”.
What did Helena do as a child?
As the oldest daughter, Helena was often put in charge of her siblings. As she recounted the story, since her father had no sons (two boys had died as babies), and since she was good with figures, she helped her father with bookkeeping. She attended her first business meeting at age fifteen, substituting for her ill father. Her mother advised her, “If you want to be really clever, listen well and talk little.”
Who gave away all of Helena Rubinstein's cream?
The Australian women, who suffered from sun-damaged skin, were awed by Helena Rubinstein ’s beautiful skin. Soon Rubinstein had given away almost all of her cream. Her mother kept providing more until Helena decided to open a shop to sell the cream.
Why did Helena Rubinstein start the Helena Rubinstein Foundation?
Her beauty business grew into a worldwide cosmetics empire, and she eventually created the Helena Rubinstein Foundation in 1953 to fund organizations for children's health.
Who Was Helena Rubinstein?
Helena Rubinstein was an entrepreneur and philanthropist. In 1902, she started her business career in Australia distributing a beauty cream that her mother had used. She soon founded a beauty salon and manufactured cosmetics, working hard to expand her business at every turn. Rubinstein opened salons in London and Paris, and when World War I began she moved to America. Her beauty business grew into a worldwide cosmetics empire, and she eventually created the Helena Rubinstein Foundation in 1953 to fund organizations for children's health.
What is Rubinstein's mother's beauty cream made of?
She brought along a dozen bottles of her mother’s beauty cream, made from combinations of herbs, almonds and Carpathian fir tree extract. The creams were a hit with regional women and Rubinstein gave the products away until her mother had to send more.
How many sisters did Helen Rubinstein have?
Keeping her business operations in the family, Helen Rubinstein had many of her seven sisters run her beauty shops around the world.
When did Helena Rubinstein start her salon?
In 1908, Rubinstein headed to London with £100,000 to invest in her business, and in less than a year she had opened Helena Rubinstein's Salon de Beauté Valaze. She soon bought a Paris salon and installed her sister Pauline to run it. The only thing that slowed Rubinstein down was when she was pregnant and gave birth to two sons in 1909 and 1912. Rubinstein then opened a New York salon in 1916. Salons in San Francisco, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago and Toronto followed, as did sales of her products in department stores.
When did Rubinstein divorce Titus?
Rubinstein and Titus divorced in 1937, and the following summer she married Russian prince Artchil Gourielli-Tchkonia, who was 20 years younger. A lifelong advocate for healthy living and self-care, Rubinstein died in New York City on April 1, 1965, at age 94. A year later, her autobiography, My Life for Beauty, was published.
Who gave Rubinstein's mother her cream formulas?
When she returned, she started bringing over her sisters to help with the business and also brought to Australia Dr. Jacob Lykusky , the man who gave Rubinstein’s mother her cream formulas, to help create more beauty products.
Where was Helena Rubinstein born?
Helena Rubinstein was born in Krakow, Poland. Her family fostered both her intellectual development and her sense of style and elegance. She left medical school after two years and rejected a marriage her parents arranged, and moved to Australia.
How many sons did Helena have?
In 1909 and 1912, Helena had two sons who would later join her business -- and in the same time period opened up a Paris salon.
Who is Helena Rubinstein?
She founded Helena Rubinstein, Inc., a leading manufacturer and distributor of women’s cosmetics. Rubinstein was one of eight daughters of a middle-class Jewish family in Poland. She studied medicine briefly in Switzerland before journeying in the late 1890s to visit relatives in Australia.
When did Rubinstein start her business?
In 1917 Rubinstein began the wholesale distribution of her products, an enterprise that, together with manufacturing, was eventually to become the predominant activity of her business. The chemists and researchers whom she employed developed hundreds of new and improved beauty aids, among which were the first line of medicated skin-care products. In the years that followed World War II she established manufacturing facilities on five continents.
How much did Helena Rubinstein make?
With a personal fortune estimated at $100 million, Rubinstein was prominent in international society and maintained homes in cities around the world. A patron of the arts, she established the Helena Rubinstein Foundation in 1953 to coordinate her philanthropies, including gifts to museums, colleges, and institutions for the needy, particularly women and children.
Special offers and product promotions
Amazon Business: Make the most of your Amazon Business account with exclusive tools and savings. Login now
Get everything you need
Pages with related products. See and discover other items: historical fashion

Who Was Helena Rubinstein?
Early Years
- Rubinstein was born in Krakow, Poland, on December 25, 1870. While her father was strict, her mother took a unique approach with raising her eight daughters: She told them they would wield influence in the world through the powers of beauty and love. To this end, her mother even made her own beauty creams. As the oldest child, Helena helped her father with bookkeeping, and her …
Business Begins in Australia
- Rubinstein’s father disapproved of her choice in a husband, so she packed up and moved from her native Poland to live with her uncle in Australia. She brought along a dozen bottles of her mother’s beauty cream, made from combinations of herbs, almonds and Carpathian fir tree extract. The creams were a hit with regional women and Rubinstein gave the products away until her mother …
Building The Empire
- In 1908, Rubinstein headed to London with £100,000 to invest in her business, and in less than a year she had opened Helena Rubinstein's Salon de Beauté Valaze. She soon bought a Paris salon and installed her sister Pauline to run it. The only thing that slowed Rubinstein down was when she was pregnant and gave birth to two sons in 1909 and 1912. Rubinstein then opened a New Y…