Max Factor's Beauty Empire Began in Ryazan

Did you know that Max Factor, the creator of the popular cosmetics brand, was from Ryazan? Or that he invented the world«s first film makeup? And was he really named Max? All this and more was shared with journalist YA62.RU by Ksenia Panacheva, founder of the historical salon »Scent of Time« and a Ryazan guide.

«He Invented Modern Foundation»

The idea to create her own historical salon didn«t come to Ksenia Panacheva right away. She began studying Max Factor»s history through tours she has been leading since 2015.

Delving into the brand creator«s life, Ksenia found out that Max Factor became famous not for decorative cosmetics, but for creating the world»s first film makeup. Before him, only theatrical makeup was used in movies, which was very noticeable on camera. Film makeup worked like «modern foundation» — it concealed all imperfections but had a subtle coverage. Later, Max Factor also created body makeup.

«I started looking for additional information and came across a box of theatrical makeup from the early 20th century. A year later, it turned out that Max Factor, upon arriving in America, initially traded the same makeup until he invented his own. His achievement, for which he also received a star on the »Walk of Fame,« is that he created new makeup suitable for film,» added the salon founder.

It all started with buying theatrical makeup. Later, as Ksenia shared, she began acquiring Max Factor«s first cosmetics, which turned into collecting. At the same time, she started gathering perfumery and cosmetic products from the time of the Russian Empire.

«When I had such a collection, I thought maybe I could find a corner where it could be displayed. Otherwise, why am I buying it, after all. I was offered to come here [to the building on Koltsova], and the process of developing the exhibition began. And so at the end of 2019, this space [»Scent of Time«] opened for us,» Ksenia Panacheva says about creating her salon.

«Not for Profit, but for the Soul»

Over five years of operation, the number of people wanting to visit the historical salon is growing more and more. But, as Ksenia told me, the number of visitors heavily depends on the season:

«We count on tourists. Local residents also come, but much fewer. And what do tourists do in December? They prepare for the New Year to then travel somewhere during the holidays. For example, to us. Locals do the same thing; no one has time for museums right now.»

Regarding the profitability of such a business, Ksenia Panacheva says that the salon pays for itself. But that«s if you don»t count the purchase of exhibits, and only consider fixed expenses: rent, utilities, employee salaries, souvenir purchases, and so on.

«These [exhibits] are my collection. I buy them for the soul. For example, not long ago I bought a powder. I bought it because I wanted to bring it here and show it to people.»

«He Was Nicholas II»s Makeup Artist«

Now, quite a few people know that Max Factor lived in Ryazan. But, according to the salon founder, there are still many fakes about his life story. Some of them, as it turned out, Max Factor himself made up about himself.

«Max Factor really made up a lot about himself. That he was Nicholas II»s makeup artist, that he didn«t want to let him go. He had to flee, and therefore he hid abroad. He simply rode the hype wave. And who in America would even check if he served Nicholas II or not? And so he said it, and everyone believed,» Ksenia shared interesting details.

Before fame in business circles, Max Factor was an ordinary Jewish boy, born in Poland around 1875 (the exact year is unknown. — Ed.).

According to Ksenia, he claimed to have worked as a pharmacist«s assistant and a posticheur (people who make wigs and hairpieces. — Ed.).

After serving in the Polish army, Max Factor came to Kasimov, where he opened a barbershop. There he met his first wife, and together they moved to Ryazan:

«His wife»s brothers worked here [in Ryazan], trading flour goods. They were in the «Trading Rows.» Possibly in this building, or maybe in this very room. This is recorded in documents. Perhaps it was the brothers who invited them to Ryazan.«

From the same archive, Ksenia Panacheva learned that, upon arriving in Ryazan, Max Factor bought a barbershop in a building on Sobornaya. There he started working as Mikhail Abramovich Factor:

«Another lie from him is that he was Maximilian. Generally, Jews didn»t name their children that way. He was Moisha, and upon coming to Russia, he became Mikhail. This is recorded in archival sources that he was Mikhail Abramovich. And the surname — possibly he was originally Factorovich, but already in Ryazan he shortened it to Factor.«

After Ryazan, in early 1904, Mikhail left with his «Kasimov wife» and three children for America to his cousin and uncle. Ksenia says that first Max Factor opened a store there where he traded wigs.

When his fourth child was born, his wife died, after that Max Factor married two more times and with his third wife moved to Hollywood.

«In Hollywood, film production began to develop, and more and more movies were being made. Max Factor first tried to place his wigs, and in the early 1920s he presented the first film makeup. And then everything worked out for him, he became very rich and famous. He bought a building where he placed his studio, there were makeup rooms and a shop,» added the salon founder.

Mikhail«s fourth child continued his father»s business after his death, but, according to Ksenia Panacheva, the grandchildren eventually sold the brand «Max Factor».

And another employee of the «Scent of Time» salon, Alla Katorova, shared with me several stories about Max Factor«s descendants.

The great-grandchildren of the beauty empire creator started their own cosmetic brand — Smashbox. This is something you can buy in cosmetics stores today. And another great-grandson of Factor is American serial rapist Andrew Luster.

Andrew Luster invited women home, drugged them, raped them, and recorded what happened on tapes. He was accused of three episodes and detained in 2000. In early 2003, Factor«s great-grandson fled to Mexico, but he was quickly found by »bounty hunter« Duane Chapman, and Luster returned to the USA.

Andrew Luster was sentenced to 124 years in prison. However, in 2013 the term was reduced to 50 years. According to rumors, in 2024 the rapist requested early release, but was denied.

And another young man, his great-great-grandson, lives in Israel and is included in Forbes« »30 Under 30« list.