Elizabeth Arden

Elizabeth Arden is one to the most well known cosmetic companies in the world. Since its foundation in around 1910, the company has had a fantastic reputation and even today, it is a highly regarded company. They produce a fantastic range of cosmetics that are sold throughout the world.

A Brief History of Elizabeth Arden

The company began as a beauty salon called Red Door on Fifth Avenue in 1910. The salon was founded by Florence Nightingale Graham. She had worked, at one time, with a woman called Elizabeth Hubbard. She combined Elizabeth's first name with the name 'Enoch Arden' from Tennyson's poem of that name.

Florence had worked as a bookkeeper for E.R. Squibb Pharmaceuticals Company (now BMS). There she spent time in the lab learning about skincare as well as carrying out her bookkeeping duties. She opened her salon in 1910 and travelled to France in 1912 to study their beauty techniques. This trip inspired her. She quickly came up with her own range of foundation products and soon developed a range of innovative skincare creams as well.

She was definitely ahead of her time. In the early 1900s, only film stars and other entertainers wore makeup. It was frowned upon for other women to wear it.

Arden's were real pioneers. In their salons, they offered the first makeovers. They also pioneered the total look producing matching lip, cheek and finge
ail colours. In addition, they were one of the first companies to develop foundations that were designed to match skin tone. Prior to this, everyone wore the same foundation regardless of their skin tone.

Right from the start, they were an international company. From 1915 onwards, they began opening salons in other parts of the globe. They constantly innovated coming up with makeup solutions for modern women. For example in WWII, they came up with a lipstick to work with a lipstick that worked with their military uniforms.

Modern Elizabeth Arden products are still innovative. Today, it is their skincare products that are in demand. However, they still make a full range of makeup products, which are also popular with women from all age groups.