Stories from the history and science of cosmetics, skin-care and early Beauty Culture.
Recent Stories
Tho-Radia
The history of Tho-Radia from its beginnings in 1933 to its demise in the late 1960s.
Skin Types
The origin and historical developmental of the idea of skin types during the twentieth century.
Boncilla
Starting out as Crown Chemical selling washing powder, the company changed its name to Boncilla Laboratories in 1920 after it began making and selling cosmetics.
V. Vivaudou
The history of the V. Vivaudou company founded by Victor Vivaudou in New York in 1914.
Tokalon
Tokalon started out as the To-Kalon Manufacturing Company, a business established by E. Virgil Neal in Syracuse, New York State in 1907.
Tokalon (post 1930)
By 1930, E. Virgil Neal had settled in Nice, France and had stopped selling Tokalon in the American market.
F. W. Hampshire
F. W. Hampshire produced a wide variety of products including the Snowfire range of toiletries and cosmetics.
Search
New Booklets
Tho-Radia: Dictionnaire soins de beauté (c.1935)
Cyclax: The Art of Being Lovely (c.1939)
Major Updates
Updated: 27th May 2025
Updated: 12th March 2025
Other great sites
Sources
Books, journals, websites and other sources that I use.
Contact
I am based in Perth, Western Australia. You can contact me by email
I am always happy to hear from others interested in this area. Thanks to everyone who has already been in touch.
