Including cosmetics (make-up, perfume), hair (shampoo, styling products, colouring), toiletries (teeth, skin care, feminine hygiene) and medicinal (first aid, pain relief, fitness). Below are the brands and products in this category.
“Looks even better on a girl.” These ads for 17 Cosmetics by Boots are from 1985.
“Real girls wear 17 Cosmetics.” These ads for 17 Cosmetics by Boots are from 1986.
“Wantu Wazuri (Beautiful People)” These ads for Afro Sheen hair care products date from 1968-73. Many of the ads used Swahili headlines.
“Space age results!” These ads for All Ways “911” emergency hair care products are from 1992-93. Because outer space can play havoc with your hair-do.
“How to let your hair down. Apex style.” These ads for Apex hair products date from 1960-69.
“Loveable. Collectable. That’s Avon’s Small World!” Christmas of 1970, Avon began to produce an adorable line of cosmetics and bath items for girls called “Small World”. It was based on Disney’s “It’s A Small World” ride, with characters designed by Mary Blair.
“The one anti-perspirant that’s right for every woman”
These Body Mist deodorant adverts are from 1970-75.
“Stop morning-after before it starts.”These ads for Bromo-Seltzer antacid date from 1937 and were aimed at men who had partied too hard the night before!
“The champ of headache remedies.”These ads for Bromo-Seltzer antacid date from 1940, endorsed by various headache riddled celebrities of the time.
“Where others fail Bromo-Seltzer works.”These split-head ads for Bromo-Seltzer antacid date from 1950, with a change of design into 1951.
“Be daring. Be bold.” These ads for Care Free Curl hair products by Soft Sheen date from 1981-89.
“Individual beauty, made to order!” These ads for Charles of the Ritz cosmetics date from 1956-59, many of which were photographed through textured glass.
“It’s the fashion to wear made-to-order face powder!” These ads for Charles of the Ritz cosmetics date from 1959-66.
“It cleans your breath while it cleans your teeth!” These comic strip ads for Colgate toothpaste are from 1948.
“Her smile won him… but her breath lost him.”These ad’s for Colgate toothpaste date from 1937. The comic strip style used continued for many years.
“Go ‘way! You’ve got bad breath!” These ad’s for Colgate toothpaste date from 1938. The comic strip style used continued for several years.
“Nobody makes a pass at me!” These ad’s for Colgate toothpaste date from 1939. The comic strip style used continued for several years.
“She looks like a million… but she hasn’t much sense!” These ad’s for Colgate toothpaste date from 1940. This comic strip style continued for several years.
“Husbands don’t TALK about it!” These ad’s for Colgate toothpaste date from 1941. This style continued for several years.
“If it’s kissing you’re missing, check up on your breath!” These ad’s for Colgate toothpaste date from 1942. This style continued for several years.
“I’m the lonesomest gob in town!” These ad’s for Colgate toothpaste date from 1943. This style continued for several years.
“I don’t know how he does it” These black and white photo story ad’s for Colgate toothpaste date from 1944, a style which was used for several years. All the ads featured unlucky-in-love soldiers and sailors with various dental hygiene issues.
“There’s beauty in the air!” These ads for Coty cosmetics date from 1942-47. They were illustrated by Carl Erickson.
“Electric Youth – The electric fragrance!” These ads for Debbie Gibson’s “Electric Youth” perfume are from 1989-90. It was produced by Revlon and distributed by Natural Wonder Cosmetics, which Debbie Gibson advertised between 1988-90.
“Pretty was never so pure.” These ads for Natural Wonder Cosmetics by Revlon are from 1988-90, during which time Debbie Gibson was spokeswoman.
“Package of smiles!” These graphic style ads for Dr West’s “Miracle Tuft” toothbrushes date from 1947-52, with photography by Bauman-Greene.
“Package of smiles!” These illustrated ads for Dr West’s toothpaste date from 1947-48.
“Lovely hair deserves fine care.” These ads for Du Pont combs date from 1946-47. Each ad featured a model with lovely long, combed hair.
“Brushing puts a gleam in your hair.” These ads for Du Pont hair brushes date from 1946-48 and featured lovely ladies brushing their luxurious locks.
“As radiant as a precious jewel.” These ads for DuBarry beauty preparations date from 1945-46.
“With lovely new clothes and completion, Margaret Ryan plans a Cabana honeymoon.” These honeymoon themed ads for DuBarry beauty preparations date from 1945.
“Who is she?” This black & white ad campaign for DuBarry beauty preparations ran from 1947 until at least 1951.
“Sisters are different from brothers.”These ads for men’s hair styling product “Duke” and their women’s range “Raveen” are from 1964 to 1972. Both made by Supreme Beauty Products, they mainly advertised separately but there were a few mixed line ads too.
“Women love that Duke look!” These ads for mens hair styling product “Duke” date from 1960 to 1973.
“Duke…It’s bold! It’s natural!”These ads for men’s hair styling product “Duke” ran each week between April and July 1972 in Jet magazine.
“Should a Marine kiss a girl with his hat on?”These ads for Etiquet antiseptic deodorant cream date from 1943.
“It’s a girls best friend!” These four ads for Eunece perfume by Fashion Fair are from 1986-87. These two chaps were fighting over the same lady for a long time!
“I’m just a soul singer from Detroit.” These ads for Fashion Fair cosmetics date from 1975-78 and feature a variety of notable black women of the time.
“For beauty so irresistible it’s flirtatious.”These colourful double page spread adverts for Fashion Fair Cosmetics date from 1980-89.
“Is your new hat more important than your laxative?”These ads for Feen-A-Mint laxatives date from 1961-62.
“Drink it… to your health!” These ads for Fleischmann’s Yeast date from 1939-40. It was advertised as a cure-all for just about everything!
“You’ll like yeast this new way!” These ads for Fleischmann’s Yeast date from 1941.
“I’m not a bad girl! You’re a bad mommy!” These adverts for Fletcher’s Castoria date from 1939-1941 and feature a lot of finger pointing, angry parents, threats of spanking, and constipated children.
“Be lovely to love.”
These ads for Fresh deodorant are from 1946-51. The design changed very little over the years, always featuring a kissing couple wearing glamorous evening attire.
“Avoid 5 O-Clock Shadow” These busty illustrated ads for Gem razors and blades are from 1944-45 and featured artwork by Peter Arno.
“A fitness programme for today’s young girl.” During the mid to late 1980’s, Hasbro produced a line of fitness sets aimed at young girls.
“For the Gay Top you game me Helene Curtis, I love you!” These three adverts for Helene Curtis “Gay Top” are from 1958, 1959 & 1961.
“You need never know Hearbreak-Age!” These two ads for Inecto-With-Lustrium date from 1940.
“Now I’ll be the mama!” These slightly terrifying ads featuring giant babies and tiny mothers are for Johnson’s Baby Oil & Baby Powder. They date from 1944-48.
“Samson was a sissy!” These ads for Knox Gelatine health drink are all from 1940.
“Come claim a private new world all for you. The Gentle Sex.” This lovely illustrated ad campaign for Kotex Kotique feminine hygiene products date from 1969-71.
“Sailor beware of holiday hair!”These ads for Kreml hair tonic date from 1939 to 1944.
“Spreads unbelievable youthful disguise over tired, drab skin!” These ads for Louis Philippe face powder and rouge date from 1942-45.
“Magnetise your lips!” These ads for Louis Philippe lipstick date from 1942-46.
“For the song in your heart…” These ads for Louis Philippe’s “Sunbird” lipstick date from 1946.
“Tired of huffing and puffing, jiggling and jogging?” This article on low-impact aerobics is from Working Mother magazine, Nov 1986. It goes without saying, my favourite move has to be the funky chicken, although anything performed in these glaring lycra outfits would be pretty funky.
“”Once her hair was her despair, now she’s a Lustre-Creme Dream Girl.”” These Lustre Creme shampoo ads from 1948 all had a very similar theme: shiny hair does a husband find.
“Made just for girls!” These yummy pink ads for Lustre Creme shampoo date from 1967-68. They feature some very sixties geometrics!
“She’ll flip with your cool magic.” These ads for Magic Shaving Powder and Magic After Shave Cream by Carson date between 1964-81.
“Let’s get it together!” These ads for Magnificent hair care products date from 1968-71.
“Mommy protects me with baby powder.” These ads for Mennen baby powder are from 1944.
“For men in service – for men at home.” This black, white and green ad campaign for Mennen shaving cream dates from 1942-44.
“I like smooth men!” These illustrated pin-up girl ads are for Mennen shaving cream and after shave (called “Skin Bracer”). They’re from 1946-47 and feature artwork by Norman Mingo.
“Rub and relax with Mifflin!”These ads for rubbing alcohol Mifflin date from 1940-44.
“Don’t rob yourself of comfort in action!” These ads for Modess sanitary napkins date from 1940-46.
“Five days of new freedom.” These fun ads for Meds tampons by Modess are from 1954.
“It isn’t your necklace they’ll notice, pet!”
These illustrated Mum deodorant adverts are from 1945-46.
“Now more than ever, keep that schoolgirl complexion!” These ads for Palmolive soap are from 1941-42, and contained such sentences as “for his sake, guard your loveliness”.
“Doctors prove 2 out of 3 women can have more beautiful skin in 14 days!” These ads for Palmolive soap are from 1943-44, and offered women scientific proof of a more beautiful skin for those whose complexion had “lost that lovely look”.
“Lovelier skin in 14 days!” These ads for Palmolive soap are from 1945-48 and continued the “doctors prove” campaign from the previous year.
“Uncover the natural brilliance of your smile!” These ad’s for Pepsodent toothpaste date from 1946-47
“I’m a girl who can’t say no!”These ads for indigestion remedy Pepto-Bismol date from 1940-47.
“Prelude to loveliness!”These ads for Playtex Makeup Capes date from 1939.
“Now! You can change your skin tone to look lovely in any fashion colour.”Pond’s “Angel Face” adverts from 1960-61 featured striking double head shots of models wearing contrasting colours.
“She’s busy… yet she’s beautiful… she uses Pond’s.”These ads for Pond’s “Cold Cream” are from 1958-61 and feature famous actresses/models of the day, who were also busy mothers and wives.
“The amazing new radiant creme shampoo!” These ads for Prell dandruff shampoo date from 1947-49.
“A lovelier brush for lovelier hair!” These ads for Pro-phy-lac-tic “Jewelite” hair brushes date from 1945-49.
“There you go being beautiful again!”These ads for womens hair styling products “Raveen” date from 1960 to 1974.
“Teasing as a butterfly kiss!” These ads for various Revlon makeup products date from 1943-48.
“Revlon’s most tempting colour since Eve winked at Adam.” These ads for “Fatal Apple” lipstick and nail polish by Revlon date from 1945.
“Greatest catch of the season!” These ads for “Bachelor’s Carnation” lipstick and nail polish by Revlon date from 1946.
“Texture of velvet!” These ads for “Pink Lightning” lipstick and nail polish by Revlon date from 1944-45.
“Colours Grey Hair Black” These small black and white ads for Slick Black by Valmor were used between 1969-80. Personally, I like the half-white/half-black hair look.
“Girls. You look ugly when you cough.” These simple yet eye catching ads for Smith Bros Cough Drops date from 1938-42.
“Keep your mouth shut!” These ads for Smith Bros Cough Drops date from 1943-45.
“There’s gaiety in the taste of it…” These ad’s for Squibb toothpaste date from 1939-40.
“You can taste and feel the difference.” These ad’s for Squibb toothpaste date from 1939.
“Feel fresh as a wind-whipped white cap!” These ad’s for Squibb toothpaste date from 1940.
“One poof is all the proof you need!” These ads for Stopette deodorant are from 1950-56.
“Should husbands help around the house?” These two ads for Swan soap date from 1946.
“Something to believe in… tcb” In 1984, Star Wars actor Billy Dee Williams appeared in a series of adverts for TCB hair products.
“We make you look good!” These three illustrated TCB ads are from April, May and June of 1987.
“No other toothbrush has all these features!” These two ads for Tek toothbrushes are from 1947. They were illustrated by Robert George Harris.
Hirsute Englishmen have made a London Saloon the shrine to gentlemen who sport “smashers”. I came across this article from 1947 about The Handlebar Club quite by chance and thought it too good not to share!
“No more poodle-tight perms, monstrous commitments or not-so-funny between-perm droops.” I love this set of adverts for Toni’s “Epic-Waves” try-on perms from 1989, featuring porcelain clown, poodle and Bride of Frankenstein faces, and big 80’s hair!
“Soft as whispers… your hands thrill him as they touch his face.”These ads for Trushay hand lotion are from 1944-46.
“Double check your charm every day.”
These Veto deodorant ads are all from 1957.
“What your hair does for you, depends on what you do for your hair.” These ads for Vidal Sassoon hair care products date from c.1985.
“Send out Shockwaves.” These hair product ads for Shockwaves by Wella are from 1986.
“Want a Morning Glory complexion? Take a Woodbury Beauty Nightcap tonight.”These ads for Woodbury Cold Cream are all from 1941. Each one featured a different famous actress of the time, plus a mention of the film they were currently starring in.
“Unlimited stylage!” These ads for World Of Curls hair care products date from 1982-86.
“Keep your best face forward!” These ads for Yardley’s “Bond Street” perfume and beauty preparations date from 1942-46.
“Be young… be bright… be lovely.” These ads for Yardley’s “English Lavender” perfume date from 1942-48.
“The perfume of lovely women everywhere.” These ads for Yardley’s “Bond Street” perfume date from 1947-48. They feature illustrated backgrounds by W K Plummer and Bernard Lamotte.
“Makes you feel so fresh and feminine.” These five Yardley ads for are from 1956-57. The dolls in the images were designed by Madame Alexander, a company which has been making dolls since 1923.
