The USA sure knows a thing or two about patriotism. From Katy Perry discussing the unforgettable California Girls to Alicia Keys and Jay-Z hearing it for New York, there’s no shortage of celebrities from the US letting the rest of the world know what they love about home But while they might not be singing it to throngs of screaming fans, there are plenty of beauty brands that are just as chuffed about being born Stateside. With Independence Day being celebrated this week, bd takes a look at the American brands doing their country proud.
It was 1930 and the wife of noted chemist Alfred Woititz was troubled with skin allergies. Fanny May Woititz couldn’t find any make-up or skin products that wouldn’t irritate her sensitive skin. Concerned with his wife’s problems, Woitiz began testing cosmetics to find ingredients that were purer and gentler. He teamed up with dermatologist Dr Marion Sulzberger to develop the first cosmetic brand using hypoallergenic ingredients. The name Almay was a combination of the names Alfred and May. Almay now has products for skincare, face, lips and eyes, with actress Kate Hudson the spokesmodel for the brand.
Founded in 1945, Aveeno was started by American inventor and philanthropist brothers Albert and Sidney Musher, who were driven by a profound curiosity about how things work, how substances interact, and a belief that centuries-old remedies hold the promise for human wellness. Aveeno now has the number-one selling body lotion in the US and is recommended by dermatologists as the most trusted brand for the use of natural ingredients.
After achieving success as models and make-up artists, the Ford twins, Jean and Jane, were inspired to create cosmetics in the 1970s and opened a small neighbourhood boutique in San Francisco. Known for their sister-centric take on beauty, the Benefit co-founders extended their make-up legacy to Jean’s daughters Maggie and Annie Ford Danielson. Famed for whimsical product names and a feel-good philosophy, both world-renowned celebrities and make-up artists have taken a shine to this fast-growing brand.
Bioelements was created in 1991 by the architect of the modern facial and one of the first-ever licensed estheticians in the US, Barbara Salomone. Salomone’s goal was to design a line of skincare products that would transform the way professionals treat the skin. Every product is backed by results, with the brand pushing the boundaries of facial skincare with every product and treatment. The brand is now used by leading estheticians performing professional facials.
In 1984, Maine beekeeper Burt Shavitz and partner Roxanne Quimby teamed up to sell candles made from the beeswax created as a by-product of Burt’s honey business. From initially producing lip balms made from the softening beeswax, in 1991 – Burt’s Bees extended into skincare products. While the brand has had worldwide success, Burt continues to live his life refreshingly similar to what it was before the first lip balm hit the market.
Carmex was founded in Winconsin in 1937 when Alfred Woelbing, a long time sufferer of dry, chapped lips, experimented over a hot plate in the family kitchen to create a therapeutic lip balm that he named Carmex. Carmex lip balm is now one of the most popular in the world and sells over 135 balms every minute across the globe.
Clairol was started in 1931 by Lawrence and Joan Gelb after they discovered hair-colouring preparations while travelling in France. A personal care products division of Procter & Gamble, Clairol is the umbrella brand for Nice’n Easy and Herbal Essences.
Clearasil was invented in the 1950s by Ivan Combe and chemist Kedzie Tellier. It was the first dermatological brand created specifically to help young skin fight acne. Clearasil is now the top-selling brand of skin care and acne medication. It has a wide range of products for both rapid and slow acne treatment.
Founded in 1960 in Maryland by the Noxzema Chemical Company (later called Noxell), the brand advertised its cosmetics line by allowing cover girls” – fashion models who appear on the front cover of women’s magazines – to wear its products. COVERGIRL now has a range of A-list stars helping promote the brand and continues to provide a wide variety of cosmetics available at reasonable prices.
The Dermalogica story began in 1986 when UK-trained skin therapist new to the American esthetician industry Jane Wurwand recognised that continuing skin and body therapy education was practically non-existent in the US. The brand is now the number one choice of skin care professionals worldwide and is sold in over 80 countries. It is prescribed more often than any other product available.
Established in the 1970s after founder Danné Montague-King set out to find his own cure for acne after trying everything the US had to offer in the way of skin care. He began treating his own skin with chemistry that the human body recognises. After achieving incredible results, Danné started researching similar methods for treating other skin conditions. DMK is now a multinational company sold in 30 countries.
Establishing her beauty business in New York in 1946 with just four products, Estée Lauder had a mission to show as many women as I can reach not only how to be beautiful but stay beautiful”. The brand is now sold in over 18,000 doors in more than 135 countries worldwide and is a global leader in skincare, make-up and fragrance.
Founded in 1994, Jane Iredale was the first to supply the beauty industry with a line of make-up that had skincare benefits. Jane was inspired to develop make-up that was good for the skin due to her work in the entertainment industry seeing her witness actresses and models struggling with the ill-effects of make-up. Her goal is to make products that look good, feel good and are good for the skin. The brand is now available in more than 50 countries.
Founded in 1851 by John Kiehl, Kiehl’s began as a homeopathic pharmacy located in the East Village of New York City. For the first 150 years of the company, Kiehl’s ran only one store with its products also selling in high-end department stores. After being bought by L’Oréal in 2000, the company expanded to more than 30 stores. Kiehl’s continues to be distinguished for its simple and straightforward packaging.
In 1976, biochemist Jamey Mazzotta and his two partners Dick Kornfield and Gary Smith founded KMS in Redding, California with a promise of researching, manufacturing and marketing the finest professional haircare products in the world. The brand continues to inspire and revolutionise the haircare industry with constant advances in technology and innovative combinations of natural ingredients.
Mary Kay Ash founded Mary Kay Cosmetics in Dallas, Texas in 1963, with her life savings of $US5,000 and the support of her 20-year-old son, Richard Rogers. Mary Kay is now one of the largest direct sellers of skincare and colour cosmetics in the world with global sales of $3 billion. Mary Kay products are sold in more than 35 counties, and there are more than 2.4 million Mary Kay independent beauty consultants globally.
Max Factor was founded in 1909 by the Polish Jewish cosmetician of the same name who immigrated to the states in 1904. Factor began experimenting with various compounds to develop make-up for films. By 1914, he had perfected the first cosmetic specifically created for motion picture use, a thin, flexible greasepaint” – and became the authority on cosmetics. Not only was Factor the creator of cosmetic products, he developed numerous make-up techniques for both movie special effects and beauty looks and the brands continues to do so today.
It was Chicago 1913, and Mabel Williams needed to win the attention of the man she was in love with. Her chemist brother Thomas formulated a mix of carbon dust and Vaseline to help her attract the love of her life. Thomas went on to found Maybelline (Mabel + Vaseline). Today, Maybelline New York is available in 129 countries and is the number one mass-market cosmetic line worldwide. It offers over 500 products in the eye, lip, face and nail categories.
Mirabella
Professional make-up artist and salon owner Christy Thurston wanted to create a total beauty experience in her salon, but when no existing brands lived up to her expectations she decided to create her own line. Established in 2002, the brand expanded both nationwide and internationally after partnering with John Maly in 2010. It now has over 200 products and tools and is the number one salon brand in the USA - stocked in over 1100 salons.
O.P.I Products Inc. started out as a dental supply company in 1981. CEO and O.P.I Products Inc president George Schaeffer noticed a large portion of his business was in the supply of acrylic dental porcelains to manicurists who used Methyl Methacrylate (MMA) to create artificial nails. Schaeffer decided to commission a chemist to develop a more appropriate range for the nail care industry. O.P.I is now sold in over 100 countries worldwide and is recognised as the world’s leading nail care brand in the professional market.
Founder Jeff Pink began his career in the beauty industry in the early ‘70s when he opened a beauty supply store in Tarzana, California. After discovering nail technicians had few choices in product lines Jeff began working with cosmetic chemists to create tools and techniques that would revolutionise the nail care industry. This led to the launch of Orly International in 1975, named after his wife Orly. Creating the French manicure and developing the award-winning Gripper Cap” are just some of the achievements this staple nail brand has witnessed.
Palmer’s was founded over 170 years ago by E.T. Brown Drug Company Inc., a leader in treatment-oriented skin and hair care products. Palmer’s is the only brand offering a full line of cocoa butter items to look after all skin care needs. Palmer’s is available in more than 80 countries and is the number one brand in cocoa butter.
Brothers Charles and Joseph Revson teamed up with chemist Charles Lachman in the midst of the Great Depression in 1932 where they launched a single product – a new type of nail enamel. Pooling their resources, the three founders developed a unique manufacturing process using pigments instead of dyes to create a variety of new shades of opaque nail enamel. By 1940, Revlon offered an entire manicure line and added lipstick to the collection. The company is now a multi-national company distributing hundreds of products including cosmetics, skincare and fragrance, with many more launched each year.
Founded in Dallas in 1994 by Alden Pinnell and Russell Moon, SkinCeuticals was based on research by Dr Pinnell that demonstrated certain combinations of antioxidants in specific concentrations could protect human skin from damage caused by sunlight and pollution. The antioxidants were found to have an anti-inflammatory effect on skin. This basic science was developed into a cosmetic formula that could be applied topically. The brand’s innovation has earned it numerous federal and state grants to help further develop technologies to improve skin health. It is distributed in more than 35 countries.
Developed in 2005 for use on Hollywood film sets, Skindinavia became the first brand to release a consumer setting spray on to the market. It went on to become popular with both celebrities and women worldwide and has featured in top fashion publications and on hit television shows including Project Runway and Dancing With the Stars.
In April 2005, exactly a year after his dramatic departure from Gucci Group, fashion designer Tom Ford announced the creation of the Tom Ford brand and his alliance with Estée Lauder to create the Tom Ford beauty brand. In 2011, Ford launched his first full colour collection with an ad campaign starring himself and model Lara Stone. His fragrances have also received various accolades including receiving Women’s Best Luxury Fragrance for Violet Blonde at this year’s FiFi awards.
Xtreme Lashes
After nearly a decade as a registered nurse in the Pediatric ICU of Texas Children’s Hospital, Xtreme Lashes founder Jo Mousselli developed the safe Extreme Lashes Eyelash Extensions. The brand has since expanded from her home to spread across the globe into 24 countries. With over 15,000 certified stylist’s worldwide, Xtreme Lashes is the industry leader for eyelash extensions.