Max Factor Leads the Golden Age Of Hollywood

“Flaws almost invisible to the ordinary eye become glaring distortions when thrown upon the screen in highly magnified images… the device, remotely resembling a baseball mask, fits over the head and face with flexible metal strips which conform closely to the various features. The strips are held in placed by set screws, allowing for 325 possible adjustments. If, for instance, the subjects nose is slightly crooked – so slightly, in fact, that it escapes ordinary observation – the flaw is promptly detected by the instrument and corrective makeup is applied by an experienced makeup artist.”
- Max Factor Cosmetics Co., 1932

There is no doubt that Maksymilian Kaktorowicz, otherwise known as Max Factor, was a visionary and a pioneer in the worlds of film and beauty. In 1909 Max Factor & Company was founded and provided makeup and beauty services for films during the golden age of Hollywood. Developments of ingenious cosmetic products were quickly debuting, and of course the demand for off screen use of these luxury products was rising! With starlets like Jean Harlow, Marilyn Monroe, Ava Gardner, Marlene Dietrich and so many more gracing the screens with such a dramatic and perfected beauty appearance, I’d say that the pressure was on for women in the general public to be just as glamorous.

Over the years, the immortal beauty looks of Hollywood starlets have been recreated and imitated all over the world. With that said, I’m pretty sure that this will happen until the end of days. What made these looks so timeless and special? Was it the starlets who the looks were tailored for? Was it the makeup? Or was it the magic that Max Factor created that was wildly driven by his obsession to perfect the silver screen visage?

Between 1914 and the time that Maksymilian passed away in 1938, he continued to develop and release cosmetics that would lead the way for the entire industry. Products like: “Pan - Cake”, “Pan – Stick”, “Tru – Color” – The first smudge proof lipstick, “Erace” – The original concealer, nail enamels, nail tints, Powders, grease paints and so many more are still used as the blueprint for cosmetic packaging and formulations today. Where would we even be without Lip gloss?! Lip gloss was invented in 1930 by Max Factor, to cheat the lips on screen, and has been a nostalgic staple in every girls cosmetic arsenal ever since.

Out of everything that was developed and released by Max Factor the most fascinating invention was the “beauty Calibrator”. This machine, which resembles something to the sort of a torture mask, is made of a malleable metal and was designed using a combination of Phrenology, which is the detailed study of the shape and size of the cranium as a supposed indication of character and mental abilities. And “ a pseudo – scientific analysis of a woman’s physical flaws.” As an average woman, the thought of both are terrifying! Who would want someone to point out every single flaw in detail? (on a side note, I cant help but wonder if this device was created specifically during a noted time when psychology was used to bait and mentally abuse women.) But as an artist, learning and developing ways to cheat lighting, facial features and complexion, using science, mathematics and creativity to devise legendary movie makeup, and set a cosmetic standard across the board is madly inspiring, insanely obsessive and simply genius!

With visions of seeing his “beauty Calibrator” in salons across the world, Max Factor continued to show case his unconventional beauty contraption. Does anyone else feel a little claustrophobic when they look at that thing? I’d love to put it to the test on someone else, but I’d really hate to wear it. I’m pretty sure that the rest of the world felt this way as well, because good ole Maksy’s vision unfortunately, did not materialize. Had it been successful, the beauty calibrator machine would arguably be the most intimidating and obsessive household appliance in history.

• -Mila Grass