The Power of Advertising
Here we have a selection of hair and beauty adverts from the 1940s. They illustrate the fashionable hairstyles and makeup colours of the decade, giving us an insight into what was popular.
There were many cosmetic brands available, including Helena Rubinstein, Coty, Max Factor, and Yardley. Ultimately, Max Factor was one of the biggest names of the decade. Its hugely successful products included Pan-Cake and Pan-Stik (first released to the public in 1948).
Film stars often lent their face and name to advertisements. However, not only were they promoting the product, but a cheeky promo for their latest film was often slipped in! Women worldwide loved to copy their favourite star’s style, so a famous face in an advert was likely to boast sales.
1940s Print Adverts
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- Anna Neagle for Max Factor (1940)
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- Tangee lipsticks with Patricia Knight (c.1940s)
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- Barbara Stanwyck for Max Factor (1941)
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- DuBarry lipstick (1941)
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- Ivory soap from Woman’s Home Companion (1942)
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- Max Factor gift sets (1943)
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- Rosalind Russell for Max Factor (Feb 1943)
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- Dorothy Gray (Good Housekeeping, Nov 1943)
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- Ella Raines for Max Factor (c.1945)
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- June Allyson for Max Factor (1946)
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- Coty (1946)
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- Coty (1946)
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- Coty’s “Sub Tint” Cream powder (1946)
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- Marilyn Maxwell for Max Factor Pan-Cake (1946)
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- Helena Rubinstein (1947)
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- Chen Yu nail polish (c.1940s)
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- Tattoo advert (1947)
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- Coty’s spring colours (1947)
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- Yardley (1947)
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- Rita Hayworth for Max Factor’s Pan-Stik (c.1948-9)
