Helena Rubinstein
Born 1872 · Age 153
Polish-born cosmetics entrepreneur, founder of Helena Rubinstein, Inc.; art collector and philanthropist who built a global beauty empire and established the Helena Rubinstein Foundation.
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Life & Career Timeline
Birth in Kraków
Born Chaja (Helena) Rubinstein in Kraków, then Austria-Hungary, eldest of eight daughters to Naftoli (Naftali) Hertz Rubinstein and Augusta (Gitte) Silberfeld.
Raised in Jewish household and early beauty training
Introduced to beauty practices by her mother, who applied a special cold cream to her daughters; early influence on later products.
Brief medical studies in Europe (reported)
Reported (multiple sources) to have briefly studied medicine/medical sciences in Switzerland/Europe and enjoyed laboratory work — later used as part of her 'scientific' branding.
Emigrated to Australia
Left Poland after refusing an arranged marriage; arrived in Australia with little money and a small number of jars of her mother's cream.
First retail sales of cold cream in Coleraine
Began selling the cream locally in Coleraine; used lanolin (locally available) and experimented with scents. Early pricing: cost 10 pence, sold for six shillings (72 pence).
Opened first beauty salon in Melbourne
Established a salon in fashionable Collins Street, Melbourne (often cited as Salon de Beauté Valaze / the first Helena Rubinstein salon in Australia).
Expanded Australian operations (factory & Sydney salon)
Expanded operations to include manufacturing (factory) and opened a Sydney salon; began placing sisters in charge of shops.
Study trip to Europe to learn skin treatments
Traveled to Europe to study advances in skin care and dermatology (reported in biographical sources), bringing back techniques and credibility.
Moved to London with capital and opened London salon
Left Australia with reported capital of $100,000 (sources vary on currency) and opened an exclusive Salon de Beauté Valaze in London, marking the start of her international enterprise.
Married Edward William Titus
Married Polish-born American journalist Edward William Titus in London; Titus later aided publicity and branding.
Birth of son Roy Valentine Titus
First son Roy Valentine Titus born in London (later moved to New York).
Birth of son Horace Titus and opened Paris salon
Second son Horace Titus born in London; Rubinstein also established a Paris salon in 1912 as she expanded in Europe.
Relocated toward United States at outbreak of WWI
With World War I outbreak, Rubinstein and Titus moved to the U.S.; she soon focused on the American market.
Opened New York salon (first US flagship)
Opened a cosmetics salon in New York (1915), the forerunner of a chain of salons across the U.S.
Began manufacturing and wholesale distribution
Shifted toward manufacturing and wholesale distribution of cosmetics; launched signature salon services including the 'Day of Beauty'.
Sold American business to Lehman Brothers
Sold the American business to Lehman Brothers for $7.3 million (reported).
Bought back American business after stock crash (discount buyback)
Following the 1929 crash and Lehman/Brokers' troubles, Rubinstein repurchased control at a huge discount; reported buyback figure varies (commonly cited <$1M or $1.5M).
Rebuilt and expanded company after buyback
She rebuilt the American business, expanding salons and distribution across major US cities and increasing enterprise value dramatically (later cited company value ~$100M).
Published beauty books
Published The Art of Feminine Beauty and This Way to Beauty (sources date these works to mid-1930s), part of her public authority on beauty.
Divorce from Edward Titus
Divorced Edward William Titus after decades together (dates reported late 1937 / 1938 in different sources).
Launched men's salon and men's cosmetics line
Opened a men's salon in New York and named a male cosmetics line after her husband (attempt to enter male grooming market).
Married Prince Artchil Gourielli-Tchkonia
Married Prince Artchil Gourielli-Tchkonia (a Georgian émigré who adopted a princely title); she used the title socially and in marketing.
World War II: Closed many European salons, opened in South America
During WWII she closed most European salons and established operations in South America, including Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires.
Roberto Montenegro portrait (commissioned)
Artists across decades painted her portrait; Roberto Montenegro painted a portrait of Rubinstein in 1941.
Commissioned Salvador Dalí designs and portrait
Commissioned Salvador Dalí to design a powder compact and painted portrait (titled Princess Artchil Gourielli-Helena Rubinstein).
Founded Helena Rubinstein Foundation
Established the Helena Rubinstein Foundation to coordinate philanthropic giving for health, medical research, arts, education and rehabilitation (foundation later operated through 2011).
Picasso sketches series (portraits)
Pablo Picasso produced a notable series of sketches/portraits of Rubinstein (circa 1955).
Death of Prince Artchil Gourielli-Tchkonia
Her husband (Prince Artchil) died in New York City on November 21, 1955.
Andy Warhol stylized portrait (Kyoto)
American artist Andy Warhol drew a stylized portrait of Rubinstein while she was in Kyoto in 1956.
Established Helena Rubinstein Travelling Art Scholarship (Australia)
Provided funds to support artists via a travelling scholarship in Australia; also Graham Sutherland painted a portrait for the Helena Rubinstein Foundation.
TV ads and patronage prizes
Appeared in 60-second television ads (1958); the Helena Rubinstein Mural Prize awarded (Erica McGilchrist) and other scholarships and portrait prizes were active.
Represented U.S. cosmetics industry in Moscow
Represented the U.S. cosmetics industry at the American National Exhibition in Moscow, a Cold War cultural event.
Death in New York City
Died of natural causes April 1, 1965; buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Queens, New York.
Estate auctions at Parke-Bernet Galleries
Following her death, some of her estate (African and fine art, Lucite furniture, Victorian furniture) was auctioned in 1966 at Parke-Bernet Galleries, New York.
Posthumous autobiography published: My Life for Beauty
Autobiography My Life for Beauty published posthumously (often listed as 1966).
Helena Rubinstein, Inc. sold to Colgate-Palmolive
Company was acquired by Colgate-Palmolive in 1973 (part of the brand's later corporate history).
Brand acquired by L'Oréal
L'Oréal acquired the Helena Rubinstein brand in 1984 (further transfers and relaunches followed).
Brand relaunched in the U.S. (later closed)
Helena Rubinstein brand relaunched in the U.S. in 1999 but ultimately was unprofitable; U.S. operations closed in 2003.
U.S. operation closed
L'Oréal closed the U.S. Helena Rubinstein operation in 2003 although the brand continued internationally.
Helena Rubinstein Foundation closed
The Helena Rubinstein Foundation, established in 1953, operated through 2011 and ultimately distributed nearly $130 million over six decades.
Major museum exhibition: 'Helena Rubinstein: Beauty Is Power'
The Jewish Museum (NY) mounted 'Helena Rubinstein: Beauty Is Power' (Oct 31, 2014 – Mar 22, 2015), a major retrospective exploring her business and collecting legacy.
Documentary and stage portrayals of Rubinstein's life
Her rivalry with Elizabeth Arden inspired the documentary The Powder & the Glory (2009) and the 2016 musical War Paint (Broadway 2017) dramatizing their rivalry.
Brand repositioned by L'Oréal as ultra-premium
L'Oréal continued repositioning Helena Rubinstein as an ultra-premium skin care franchise; products widely sold internationally though limited in U.S. retail as of 2023.
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