Helena Rubinstein, 1872-1965

Helena Rubinstein painting by Roberto Montenegro, 1941. Photo was taken at the National Portrait Gallery. Credit - WWP team.

The first self-made woman millionaire, founder of Helena Rubinstein company and brand. An art collector and philanthropist.

Born as Chaya Rubinstein in Krakow, Poland, to a Jewish family, and was the eldest of eight daughters. At the age of 24, with some faulty English, empty pockets, and 12 jars of face cream her mother put in her suitcase, she immigrated to Australia. It is told that her fair skin and stylish clothes drew the attention of the local ladies who took an interest in her beauty routine. Rubinstein had a sharp sense for business and saw her opportunity right there.

She began selling the facial cream jars and searched for a way to produce more until she found it. With her unique business instinct, she opened her first beauty salon in Melbourne, and the place was such a huge success that another one was opened in Sydney. Realizing the importance of advertisement, Rubinstein was the first to sell her products with pseudo-scientific claims, a business move that made her fortune.

Within five years, she earned enough to expand and decided to move to London. There, she established one of the first ever cosmetic companies. Her enterprise was extraordinary since banks didn’t loan money to women at that time, only she didn’t need assistance, she owned her own self-made fortune.

After moving to New York, she opened, in 1915, the first salon there, one of many to be opened in the following years, turning her business into a multi-million dollars’ worth of shares. She was known to have a sharp tongue and speak her mind, and her main rivalry was with Elizabeth Arden, both were powerful personas, successful entrepreneurs and businesswomen.

Rubinstein’s prime exclusive salon was opened in the 5th avenue with a spa, a restaurant, and a gym, luxurious furniture and art, a new concept at the time. She adored fine arts and was acquitted with some of the top artists in that era, such as Salvador Dali from whom she ordered a portrait and design of a powder box.

She shared her fortune and was a philanthropist who founded the Helena Rubinstein Foundation to fund health, medical research, and rehabilitation organizations. She donated to the America Israel Cultural Foundation and established the Helena Rubinstein Pavilion of Contemporary Art in the Tel Aviv Museum.

In 1965, she died of natural causes.

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“There are no ugly women, only lazy ones.”

“There are no ugly women, only lazy ones.”

Fun Facts

  • She was married twice and had two sons from her first husband.
  • Her second husband was Prince Artchil Gourielli-Tchkonia. He was 23 years younger than her and had some connection to Georgian nobility.
  • She used to bring a packed lunch to work and was frugal in many matters.
  • In 1973, her company was sold to Colgate-Palmolive and is now owned by L'Oréal.
  • The L'Oréal-UNESCO Awards for Women in Science are also known as the Helena Rubinstein Women in Science Awards.

Creations By and About Her

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Category: Arts, Business & Entrepreneurship, Fashion & Beauty, and Philanthropy
Tags: Art Collector, Businesswoman, and NYC Women

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