Bourjois Healthy Mix Powder Anti-Fatigue 2 Light Beige, 11g

Product Information

Above: 1951 One of a series of publicity stunts held in New York to promote Bourjois perfumes. This woman handcuffed to a man was handing out card saying, “There’s an easier way to hold a man—use Bourjois perfume.”

As mentioned earlier, the Soir de Paris was joined by other fragrances in the 1930s including Printemps de Paris and Kobako which came out in the same year as their American versions. Much was made of the fact that Poudre Printemps de Paris only cost 8.50 Francs. Finally, for your lips, a tenacious and brilliant red with the famous “Soir de Paris” red with Biocarmine. As the Great Depression deepened in the 1930s, the American Federal government responded to local pressure and tried to protect its local industry through the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act (1930). This raised import duties on a range of products by an average of 20% which encouraged many companies to increase local production. As elsewhere, information on Bourjois powder shades is largely missing. I have a record that Evening in Paris Face Powder came in eleven shades by 1937 but the only shades I know of were: Naturel, Rachel, Medium Rachel, Deep Rachel, Peach, Peach-Tan, and Sun-Tan. War By 1931, Bourjois had made Evening in Paris available across the world and it became the leading Bourjois series by 1934. Its popularity helped insulate the company from the worst economic effects of the Great Depression.Of particular note is the Evening in Paris Powder Cream. I have only found evidence for it in Britain and the Dominions before the war but it seems likely that it was available elsewhere, especially France. Like the earlier Ashes of Roses Powder Cream it came in Natural (Naturelle) and Rachel (Rachelle) shades with Sun Tan (Ocree Soleil) added in 1934. In 1938, the company began selling it in tubes, something it had previously done for Ashes of Roses Cold Cream, and Vanishing Cream in 1930. created a double-sided mascara that creates extra volume in the lashes through a white silicone base; Evening in Paris Peaches and Cream Foundation:“A semi-liquid color veil for the skin that doubles the glamour of your face powder. Hides minor surface flaws; plays down tiny surface lines; beneficial as well as beautifying.” Shades: Light, Medium, and Dark. Above: 1942 Bourjois Evening in Paris Creme Perfume made with a vanishing cream base rather than using alcohol which was needed for the war effort. Bourjois continued to heavily advertise its Fards Pastel in France during the 1930s and added new shades including Rose Thé and Rose Cyclamen (1935). Other shades then in circulation included Cendre de Roses, Rouge Mandarine, Cendra de Santal, Ocre Radjah, Velouté de Peche, Rose Nacarat, Rouge Incarnat, and Rose Corail but this list is not complete.

Evening in Paris Satin Finish Compact:“ [M]ake-up flatters like a powder, clings like a kiss . . . the glow doesn’t go, thanks to a fabulous French beauty ingredient.” Shades: Texas, Miami, Mexico, and Cuba. The Cuba shade was later dropped, presumable due to the Cuban Revolution, and the range became Arizona, Texas, Miami, Florida, and Mexico. By 1962, Bourjois seems to have reverted to descriptive shades such as Rose Beige, Cream Beige, Rachel, Brunette, Fair, and Suntan. Above: Italian Mon Parfum powder box listing a wide range of shades: Blanche, Rose I, Rose II, Pêche, Naturelle, Rachel, Rachel Foncé, Ocrée Chair I, Ocrée Chair II, Ocrée I, Ocrée II, Ocre Foncé, and Ocre Soleil. Colour coordination Since you have delicate skin, now spread a little “Soir de Paris” Cream on your face. Massage gently starting from the chin and the angle of the eye towards the ear. Indispensable base for powder and blushes. Strangely, just after its Croydon factory was bombed in 1940, the British company announced that it was celebrating Bourjois’ Centenary. Publicity material associated with the event claimed that the company had been founded in 1840 when André Bourjois began selling Poudre de Riz de Java from his house. Where they got the date and André Bourjois from is beyond me.

The manufacturer focuses customers' attention on the fact that beauty is a game. It would be best if you took it easy to create a new image and to highlight accents, rather than sacrificing your individuality for fashion. The company's product lines are full of tools that help create that famous French beauty look and accentuate their individuality. New cosmetics added to the Evening in Paris series in the United States during the 1930s included Evening in Paris Eau de Cologne (1931), Bubbling Bath Essence (1938), and Evening in Paris Trio Lotion (1939), the last item being a novel product for Bourjois. The American company made a move in the right direction when it added Evening in Paris Peaches and Cream Foundation in 1949, Bourjois’ first tinted foundation. This was followed by Evening in Paris Satin Finish in 1950, a long overdue compact powder cream.

New perfume series released by Bourjois during the 1930s in the United States included Springtime in Paris (1932), Flamme (1935), Kobako (1936) and Mais Oui (1939). Springtime in Paris and Kobako were released in France in the same year as America but I can find no record of Mais Oui going on sale in France in the 1930s or any of these new fragrances being available in Britain or the Dominions before the Second World War except for Flamme. Additional Evening in Paris lines added in Britain during the 1930s included: Evening in Paris Toilet Soap, and Vanishing Cream (1931); Solid Brilliantine, Shampoo Powder, Hair Cream, Cold Cream, and Toilet Soap (1932); Evening in Paris Powder Cream (1933); Skin Freshener, Complexion Milk, Astringent Lotion, and Cleansing Cream (1934); Wave Setting Lotion (1935); Eau de Cologne (1936); and Rouge (1938). Clearly most of these were similar to lines already developed for Ashes of Roses.

I have no record of the Produits de Babette being extended into make-up but as the range included nail polish, I do not rule it out. However, the life of the range was short. Like Mon Parfum, it did not survive the Second World War.