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Max Factor

The Man Who Changed the Faces of the World

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Max Factor

By: Fred E. Basten
Narrated by: Samantha Worthen
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Nice women never wore makeup. Even the word was taboo in polite society—until Max Factor entered the scene. Born in Poland in 1877, Factor worked as a beautician for the Russian royal family, the Romanovs. In 1904, he fled to America, where he opened a cosmetics store in Los Angeles. Creating makeup originally for silent films, then the talkies, and, ultimately, color motion pictures, Factor designed looks for Katharine Hepburn, Rita Hayworth, Bette Davis, and countless other beauties of the day. Soon women everywhere wanted to look like their favorite glamorous stars, and Factor was there to help, bringing his innovative cosmetics to the general public.

He revolutionized the world of beauty by producing many firsts: false eyelashes, lip gloss, foundation, eye shadow, the eyebrow pencil, concealer, wand-applicator mascara, and water-resistant makeup. A true innovator, he also introduced the concept of color harmony and the celebrity-endorsed cosmetics advertising that forms the glamorous backbone of the modern industry. Max Factor was the father of modern makeup. This is his extraordinary story.

©2008, 2011 Fred E. Basten (P)2012 Audible, Inc. Art Beauty, Grooming & Style Business Entertainment & Celebrities Professionals & Academics Celebrity Funny
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Editor reviews

Fred Basten, many of whose books have featured Hollywood and the entertainment industry, explores the biography of the "father of modern makeup". Born in Poland, Max Factor worked on first Russian and then Hollywood royalty. With the friendliness and openness of a favorite cosmetician, Samantha Worthen reads the story of a cosmetics innovator who created the looks of Romanov women as well as stars such as Pola Negri, Katharine Hepburn, Rita Hayworth, and Bette Davis. Additionally, he proved himself a great salesman and only-in-America entrepreneur by bringing that glamour to the women of Main Street.

Critic reviews

“Fascinating . . . you won’t be able to put it down.” (Glamour)
All stars
Most relevant
’if you’re interested in hair and make up and movies, and history, this is for you. Thoroughly absorbing and interesting.

Very interesting story

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Lovely little story to listen to on a cold winter day. Good hearing how the company began

Lovely

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Max Factor had an impressive "rags to riches" life story and Fred Basten wrote it well. However, the reading was really very poor, with the reader mispronouncing so many words and famous names as well as over-emphasising the meaning time and again. I kept flinching as yet another word or name was mangled.

A truly great story, but badly read

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it's incredible to think that behind you day to day make up there is a genius who made it possible in such an easy way!! thank you!

Amazing!

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The story is really interesting how Max Factor escaped ftom russia and started up .
The narration is awful she sounds almost robotic,which did slightly spoil it .

Very interesting story.Terrible narration

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