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1940s Beauty and the War
1940s · the signature moments

Beauty and the War

Lipstick as morale. Under rationing and blackout, a painted mouth becomes a symbol of resolve, and beauty advertising learns to speak to the working woman.

Signature moments
War, Women and Lipstick
1941

War, Women and Lipstick

Tangee's campaign frames a painted mouth as morale and patriotic duty, and women keep their color on through rationing.

The impactBeauty becomes a symbol of resolve, and a permitted luxury in an age of restraint.

Tangee ›
The hands that do war work
1940s

The hands that do war work

Jergens Lotion speaks to the woman on the line, and Maidenform's foundations shape the silhouette of the decade.

The impactBeauty advertising learns to address the working woman directly.

Jergens ›

What the record shows

The houses that owned the 1940s page, by quality-weighted share of voice, measured from the magazines.

YearHouseOutletWhat appeared
1940Pond'sPhotoplayPOND'S Cold Cream, POND'S Tissues, POND'S Vanishing
1941Max FactorPhotoplayMax Factor Hollywood
1942LuxPhotoplayLux Soap ACTIVE-LATHER FACIAL, Lux Toilet Soap, Lux
1943Max FactorPhotoplayMAX FACTOR HOLLYWOOD COLOR HARMONY MAKE-UP
1944TangeePhotoplayTANGEE Lipsticks with the new Satin-Finish TANGEE Fa
1945RevlonScreenlandRevlon's new color "Bachelor's Carnation"
1946Pond'sScreenlandPond's Cold Cream, Pond's Blush-Cleansing, POND'S
1947JergensPhotoplayJergens Lotion
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