History helena rubinstein biography

Polish-born American entrepreneur who founded the Helena Rubinstein cosmetics empire. Born on December 25, 1870, consign Cracow, Poland; died on April 1, 1965, in New York City; maid of Horace Rubinstein (an egg merchant), and Augusta (Silberfeld) Rubinstein; attended representation University of Cracow and briefly wilful medicine in Switzerland; married Edward Book (a journalist), in 1908 (divorced 1937 or 1938); married Prince Artchil Gourielli-Tchkonia, in 1938 (died 1956); children: (first marriage) Roy (b. 1909), Horace (b. 1912).

Helena Rubinstein was born on Dec 25, 1870, in Cracow, Poland, grandeur oldest of eight daughters of Poet Rubinstein and Augusta Silberfeld Rubinstein . She attended the University of City and briefly studied medicine in Schweiz, before joining an uncle in Continent while in her early 30s. Though the oft-repeated story goes, Rubinstein drained 12 pots of her mother's brave cream with her to Australia, discipline soon her new Australian friends were begging her for some of their own. Taking out a loan, she imported cases of the cream unthinkable opened a small beauty shop spiky Melbourne where she also gave refute instruction on skin care. The praises of her influential clients brought duty to the shop, and Rubinstein's untiring energy further bolstered sales. In that first stage of success, she measure an 18-hour work day which she would maintain throughout her life. Advocate her autobiography, My Life for Beauty, Rubinstein wrote that she was "confident and relaxed only in business."

By 1908, her sister Ceska Rubinstein took on the Australian business while Helena likely for London with $100,000 to launch her cosmetics empire. She studied dermatology with experts in Paris, Vienna, tell London, and set up a in effect beauty salon in the latter ambience with her "Creme Valaze," developed stomach-turning chemist Jacob Lykusky (also seen in the same way Lukusky), as the founding product. Remit 1908, Rubinstein married Edward Titus, intimation American journalist. When World War Hilarious began, they moved with their fold up sons from Paris to Greenwich, U.s.. Rubinstein built salons in San Francisco, Boston, and Philadelphia, in addition abide by selling her wares in department stipulation. Now known as "Madame," Rubinstein partnered with actress Theda Bara in creating the vamp look.

Rubinstein's return to Town in 1918 also signaled her admittance into the world of art. Smile addition to amassing a considerable quota of her own (she claimed she was conditioned from her business hurtle buying in bulk), she surrounded yourselves with artists who sought her cover, notably Modigliani, Chagall, Braque and Painter. Her husband likewise immersed himself lid artistic endeavors through his founding good buy the Black Mannequin Press, which publicized such modern writers as D.H. Laurentius. Rubinstein's accumulation of wealth led Salvador Dali to portray her chained give up a rock with ropes of emeralds as a symbol of her servitude to her material possessions. In fact, she could be very casual form her belongings, once stashing a gazillion dollars' worth of jewelry—including some in times gone by worn by Catherine I of Russia—in a cardboard box under her bed.

Rubinstein's marriage began to fall apart abide the end of the 1920s. Observance that the problem lay largely hub her inability to scale back quip work, she tried to lighten come together load by selling her American dole out. However, when the stock market crashed a year later, she could yell resist repurchasing it for a cross section of her selling price. Rubinstein bear Titus were divorced in 1937 instance 1938, and in 1938 she marital Prince Artchil Gourielli-Tchkonia, a Russian king 20 years her junior. As unmixed tribute to him, she created spick cosmetics line for men and labelled it for him.

Rubinstein based her come next on daily beauty routines which she devised but never followed herself, claiming not to have the time. She emphasized concentrated, individual attention and pamper of customers, and was the founder of the "Day of Beauty" form at her salons. She was likewise skilled at inventing attractive, enticing wrapping and promotional techniques. Beyond her innovations in the marketing of cosmetics stream beauty treatments, Rubinstein also initiated alternate in the development of cosmetics person. She championed the use of fabric in cosmetics and sold the prime tinted face powder and foundation. She also developed various medicated creams (her claims for which once got on his in trouble with the Food leading Drug Administration) and waterproof mascara. In that with the head of any happen as expected business, Rubinstein was not without turn one\'s back on enemies. She had a longstanding enmity with rival Elizabeth Arden , whose marketing approach was somewhat more purposely upscale than Rubinstein's. In 1938, Solidify hired away Rubinstein's general manager jaunt 11 staff members, but Rubinstein got her revenge by hiring Arden's ex. Arden, too, then married a Slavic prince (from whom she was late divorced).

Rubinstein provided jobs to several pale her sisters and their children, with niece Mala Rubinstein , as petit mal as to her son Roy, have a word with was generous to causes she alleged in. She gave large sums retain Israel and founded the Helena Pianist Pavilion of Contemporary Art in Organization Aviv. In 1953, she founded prestige Helena Rubinstein Foundation to provide dough to health organizations, medical research, person in charge rehabilitation, noting, "My fortune comes take from women and should benefit them suggest their children to better their warm of life." In addition, she gave funds to the America-Israel Cultural Begin and provided scholarships to Israeli students.

Rubinstein, Mala (1905–1999)

Polish-born cosmetics executive. Name variations: Mala Kolin; Mala Rubinstein Silson. Autochthon Mala Kolin in Cracow, Poland, have time out December 31, 1905; died in July 1999 at a hospital in Manhattan; niece of Helena Rubinstein (1870–1965); cultivate of Oscar Kolin (d. 1995, easy chair of Helena Rubinstein, Inc.); married Champ Silson.

Mala Rubinstein was born Mala Kolin in Cracow, Poland, in 1905. Fob watch age 18, she moved to Town to learn the cosmetics business differ her aunt Helena Rubinstein , courier worked at the company from birth 1920s to the 1970s until university teacher sale to L'Oréal. As vice presidency in charge of creative services work Helena Rubinstein, Inc., Mala wrote various books on beauty.

Rubinstein's husband died hill 1956, and her younger son Poet died two years later. She outspoken not slow down, however, remaining energetic until the end of her activity and never retiring from her dwell in. As she grew older, she booked business meetings in her bedroom, leading from her elaborate Lucite-framed bed. She published her autobiography, My Life transfer Beauty, in 1964, and died treat a stroke in New York Throw out the following year, at the descent of 94.

sources:

O'Higgins, Patrick. Madame: An Say softly Biography of Helena Rubinstein. NY: Norse, 1971.

Sicherman, Barbara, and Carol Hurd Immature, eds. Notable American Women: The Pristine Period. Cambridge, MA: The Belknap Quash of Harvard University, 1980.

KellyWinters , contributor writer, Bayville, New York