Helena Rubinstein (1872–1965)

Born as Chaja Rubinstein, a Pole of Jewish origin, owner of a cosmetic firm which is known all over the world and believed to be one of the richest women in the history of the world. Born to a Jewish family in Kraków's Kazimierz district (ulica Szeroka 14), she left for Australia in 1902 after a short stay in Switzerland. She took a few jars of cream made by a Hungarian chemist residing in Kraków, Dr Jacob Lykusky, to her new home in the new continent. Rubinstein began to copy the cream and this brought her enough money to open her first beauty salon in Paris just two years later. She gradually developed the business, owing her success mostly to inventions and good ideas. She was the first to create a waterproof mascara and UV filter cream. At her death, Rubinstein's assets were estimated at USD 100 million.



Helena Rubinstein on a postcard, 1940s, phot. from Library of the Congress