In 1932…
Max Factor - the one who revolutionized the cosmetics industry with the innovations he introduced, such as lip glosses, sticks, shadows, false eyelashes and waterproof make-up - made the "Beauty Regulator" or " "Micrometer of beauty".
Basically, "Max Factor Beauty Micrometer" was an early form of photoshop. He wore a helmet over the model's head and highlighted every tiny flaw in his face. Thus, the make-up artist could correct the infinitely slightly crooked nose or the slightly dropped eyelid of the star that he had in his hands. The invention seemed like a lifeline for Hollywood divas who wanted to hide their imperfections from the camera lens.
The device had many flexible metal strips that were fixed with screws. There were 325 different settings so that it could be worn by different face shapes. Nevertheless, the invention was considered dangerous, because the make-up artist had the opportunity to tighten the screws more. Many models said that after using the device they suffered from terrible headaches. Maybe that was the reason it was not widely used.
Today, there is only one such device and it is in the Hollywood Entertainment Museum. In a 1935 photo published in the journal Modern Mechanix, Factor applied the micrometer to actress Marjorie Reynolds.
Max Factor was born in 1877 in Lodz, Russia, which is now part of Poland. He began his career in Moscow, making ballerinas for the tsarist ballet. In 1904, at the age of 27 and after many wanderings, he ended up in Los Angeles, where he opened his first store.
His name quickly became known, as he gained the trust of actors and the then fledgling film industry for the solutions he proposes to makeup. Gene Harlow, Betty Davis and all the big Hollywood stars were his clients in the beauty salon he kept near the famous "Hollywood Boulevard".
Many of the big screen stars posed in his full-page ads in the magazines of the time. The Max Factor brand is becoming world famous and defines the view of beauty in the 20th century.
The great make-up artist passed away on August 30, 1938.
The heated face mask…
In 1933, Dr. Joseph Brueck from Vienna, made an electric mask that increased the temperature of the face and blood circulation. This mask promised to eliminate wrinkles and make the face young and strong. But many women, who wanted fast results, raised the temperature of the mask too high, causing burns.
"It simply came to our notice then. "They could breathe with the help of a tube that was placed between the lips and they could see through the notches in the eyes", wrote a publication of the time.