1930s Vintage Maybelline Cake Mascara!

I've been wanting a vintage cake mascara for soooo long! When I found this one on E-Bay, for only thirteen dollars, I had to buy it. It's in pretty good condition for being used. All of the other vintage cake mascaras that I've come across have been either way over-priced, or in horrible condition. Some were even over-priced and in horrible condition! I'm so happy that I finally found one in good condition, and for a great price. 

This is the outside packaging. It kind of reminds me of a box of matches, because of the way that it opens. The top easily slides off, revealing the cake inside. 

The Packaging Reads:
Maybelline Mascara 
Harmless, Tear Proof, Will not smart the eyes
Maybelline Co. Distr. Chicago, U.S.A. 

It's a bit hard to see in the photo, but the end of the brush reads Maybelline. You can also see remnants of the word Maybelline on the cake itself. It is more visible in person. I did some research and found that the formula was made of a mixture of sodium stearate soap and pigments, extruded into strips, stamped and dried. The cake was applied with the small brush,  which would have been wet before rubbed into the cake. 

In 1932, Maybelline started using the word "mascara" instead of "eyelash darkener".  I believe that this mascara is probably from 1932-1939.  I noticed that my box here is different than many of the other boxes depicted in many of the Maybelline ads. The ones in the ads were made of metal, and mine is cardboard. In September of 1932, a special 10-cent package of Maybelline cake mascara was sold in drugstores, and described as "purse-sized". I believe that's what I have here, because the 10-cent promotion popularized the cake mascara, and then larger, more elaborate boxes were sold. If only the price was listed on the box, I would know for sure. Nevertheless, it's still a cool piece of makeup history that I'm happy to own. 

Here is an ad that focuses on the cake mascara itself! See how there is a latch at the bottom of the box? That is the 75-cent version that came out after the 10-cent version. There are a few other ads that also feature the mascara in the metal case. 

Maybelline is one of my favorite drugstore brands, and I've always been interested in their history, well makeup history in general! I hope that I'll be adding more pieces like this to my collection. I wish there was some sort of makeup history museum.. anyway, I hope you found this post interesting! 

If you would like to read more about Maybelline history check out the links below:
-Maybelline Timeline
-Maybelline Wiki
-Video on Maybelline History
-How Maybelline Began

Vintage Makeup: Max Factor Grease Paint

What do I mean by vintage makeup?
I went to my local antique shop yesterday, just to browse. I ended up discovering a display case full of different vintage makeup products! Ever since I saw Lisa Eldridge's vintage makeup video I had wanted to start my own collection. It's hard to come across vintage makeup that is at a reasonable price. That's why I was so excited when I snagged this Max factor "Grease Paint" for only $5! 

I just think it's amazing how far makeup has come. I'm sure that the everyday lady didn't use greasepaint. It was far too thick an unpractical for daily use. It was used for theater, I believe. It smells so old!  Yeah, i had to touch it, I promise I won't put it on my face, haha.

The Front States:
"Max Factor's Supreme Grease Paint,  
Max Factor Makeup Studio
Hollywood, California
Made in U.S.A.
Net Contents: 2-3/8 OZS."

The shade is 7A

The Back States:
Max Factor's Grease Paint
Directions
"The use of cold cream before applying is never necessary. Simply dab on sparingly. Then spread greasepaint thinly and evenly until a light 'skin stain' effect is obtained. The purity of this product is backed by more than a quarter of a century of unmatched leadership in serving the makeup needs of the theatrical profession"

I like how they say the product was "backed by more than a century of unmatched leadership". I wish that products nowadays would be that true! I'm not sure what era this particular tube is from, but I'm guessing maybe somewhere in the 1940s?  

What was Greasepaint?
In 1914, Max Factor released a cream greasepaint designed for the motion picture industry, that came in a jar. In the 20s, he marketed  ‘Supreme Greasepaint’.  It originally came in twelve graduated shades but increased to thirty-one shades because of its popularity.  Factor changes the packaging to collapsible tubes, because he considered it to be more convenient and sanitary. Many other brands copied his "greasepaint tube" idea after.

I would love to start collecting more of these. Hopefully I will come across a jarred greasepaint! I think that tube foundation is a good idea. It's strange how most foundations come in bottles, because it's so hard to get that last bit of product out. We need more tube foundations! ;)

I've been dying to try some present-day Max Factor products, but they aren't available in the U.S. I'll have to order some online. I've heard that the 2000 calorie mascara is amazing.