GREEN WORLD Who was Max Factor?

BORN MAX FAKTOR in Lodz, Poland, in 1877, he began work as an apprentice to a wig-maker and cosmetician when only nine years old. Faktor moved to Moscow when he was 14. He assisted the cosmetician to the Imperial Russian Grand Opera and a few years later, opened his own cosmetics shop. He was introduced to the Russian court and his business prospered but life was stifling under the Tsar’s stern eye. Faktor moved with his family to America, changing his name to ‘Factor’ on the way. He settled in Los Angeles to take advantage of the burgeoning movie industry.

After he had set up a shop making wigs and cosmetics, he noticed that the make-up used by movie stars often cracked and ran. He developed a make-up base that stayed on for longer. This was the famous ‘pancake’ make-up!

A skilful make-up artist, Factor developed new cosmetic aids such as false eyelashes and nail enamel. His shop became the favourite hang-out for the leading ladies of the day including Bette Davis, Judy Garland and Jean Harlow.

When Factor died in 1938, his son Frank took over the Max Factor company that went on to launch the first indelible lipsticks and the first concealer. In the 1970’s, the company was sold to Proctor & Gamble. His great-grandsons Dean and Davis Factor continued the tradition though, wi t h a new c o s met i c s company called Smashbox.

SCIENTISTS of the Norwich Research Park in England have discovered that the tomato plant uses an electric signal to alert its defence system against grazing caterpillars. They have evidence to prove that when a leaf of a tomato seedling is chewed by an insect, the leaf under attack sends out electrical warnings to the rest of the plant. As soon as the undamaged leaves receive the signal, they begin to produce defensive chemicals that drive away the insect.