It’s strange how well-known female cosmetics powerhouses like Estée Lauder, Elizabeth Arden and so on are but Helena Rubinstein is not, especially when she practically is the “inventor” of beauty. You know that saying “there’s no ugly women, only lazy ones“? That was quoted by Helena Rubinstein. She revolutionised the way women looked after their skin with her famous jars of beauty cream.
Madame Rubinstein left Poland for Melbourne in 1902 and began selling her famous Crème Valaze (no longer in production) in Melbourne. Her very first shop was at the fashionable Collins Street. She grew her name and brand in Melbourne so greatly that she decided to also open a store in London. Yet the funny thing is, even though Madame Rubinstein started her empire in Melbourne, it’s not sold in Australia now. I have absolutely no idea why.
Helena Rubinstein is widely available in Japan though and I thought it’s high time I try out some of her products. I wasn’t sure which skincare product to try out and as they were expensive, I didn’t want to simply buy something that may not work for me. So, in the end, I decided on makeup instead and I picked up what the sales assistant considered to be their fanciest foundation, and that’s the Prodigy Powercell Foundation.
Description:
The first foundation by Helena Rubinstein as concentrated as native vegetal cells as the Prodigy Powercell Serum for a smooth, even complexion with a fresh, youthful glow. This serum foundation prodigiously unites makeup expertise and skincare effectiveness. In just a few preciously dosed drops, it instantly creates a flawless complexion with an incredible bare skin sensation.
In terms of packaging, oh boy, it’s fancy all right. Chanel, Dior, Tom Ford and so on can’t compare to how luxurious the bottle for the HR foundation is. It comes with a dropper that dispenses just the right amount of product needed for the face with just one pump.
The Prodigy Powercell is a very lightweight, oil-free foundation. The coverage is not heavy; in fact, at most it’s a medium. It leaves a satin finish on the skin and lasts all day with little fading by the end of the day. The shade I bought was #03, which has strong yellow undertones.
It’s a beautiful foundation all right. The satin finish looks even better when the hours have passed. It’s described as an anti-aging foundation for dry skin but it’s not thick nor heavy like a lot of “anti-aging” foundations are. With a light sweeping of my Guerlain Meteorites as a finishing powder, my skin looks radiant, glowing and oh-so-gorgeous.
Mind you, it’s not a cheap foundation. At 10,000 yen (approximately AU$105), it’s even more expensive than Chanel, Dior and Giorgio Armani foundations. But it’s a beautiful foundation to try and it certainly does the Helena Rubinstein name justice.
So, where can you buy Helena Rubinstein’s beauty products? Unfortunately they’re not available for purchase on their official website but an Australian online store, Cosmetics Now, stocks some of the products. You can also purchase their products on SASA, Amazon and Strawberrynet.
At the moment, Helena Rubinstein is only available in a couple of countries in South America and a few countries in Asia and Europe. It’s a real pity they’re not more available worldwide because there are so many more I’d love to try from such a formidable name that is Helena Rubinstein. I’m still baffled; for a brand that began in Australia, why isn’t it still sold in Australia?
What I like about it: Lovely natural and satin finish on the skin. Beautiful packaging too.
What I do not like about it: It’s not widely available. It’s also very expensive for a foundation.
Have you tried anything from Helena Rubinstein? Any idea why it’s not sold in Australia?
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Oh, how interesting, Tine! I’ve seen a couple of documentaries on HR and on her rivalry with Eliz Arden, and I’ve read quite a bit about her. But all the sources must have been America-centric (as usual, right?) because I always thought she came from Poland directly to the U.S./NYC. I guess that was wrong! When I was little, my mother wore Helena Rubenstein nail polish, and it was sold in the U.S. I can’t remember who/what bought the brand name but whoever it was, they have all but buried the brand. Such a shame. You are certainly right that she was a powerhouse! On to the product, when I saw the swatch on your arm, I thought it would be too yellow, but on your face, it is a perfect match and not the least bit yellow. Gorgeous! And thanks for the education 🙂
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I’ve not watched any documentaries on HR but I’m going to search and see if I could watch at least one. Her story is very interesting, epsecially her relationship with her ex-husband. I’ve always thought that she left her home country to either London or Paris. I had absolutely no idea that she actually went to Melbourne! I Googled-mapped her the address of her first boutique in the prestigious Colloins St and realised that I’ve walked past that area so many times and hadn’t even a clue. I’m guessing hardly anyone knows either. I wonder why her brand isn’t more widely available like the rest. Elizabeth Arden’s still around.
I thought I would never say this but: Helena Rubinstein is sold in Mexico and not in Australia! (In fact it’s sold in my city which sometimes it’s something not so common).
As it’s really expensive I haven’t looked the products but I want to, when I started reading beauty blog its magic concealer was highly raved by Spanish women.
So yes I remember the brand and the lady behind, it’s a legend.
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I know! I was checking the stockists and found that HR is available in Mexico! Yeah, it’s expensive all right. It’s departmental store level in Japan and is even more expensive than the likes of Estée Lauder, etc.
I’d say the prices are more compared with Chanel or YSL, the next time I hit the mall I’ll look the products; in fact if you want something to try tell me and I can ship it to you.
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One of my very first ‘grown up’ make up/skincare memories are of HR! I went to London for the day, shopping, and went to Selfridges (I think) to look at all the grown up make up counters, and I got an incredibly posh moisturiser sample from the HR counter just for asking, it was in a tiny little bottle with a fancy stopper and made me feel like I was the queen or something – very grown up indeed!
Unfortunately it was a bit too grown up for my young silly skin, but I will always always remember that customer service, and therefore its on my ‘list of brands to buy’ as I age and have more need for their items – which is a shame you can’t get it here in Australia.
Maybe as more brands come here with Sephora and other brands opening/selling here they will come back? I imagine the low population is one of the issues, which means they can’t cover costs of set up etc (or rather, its just not *enough* profit for them 🙁 ). Who knows what the future brings – is the brand/label still owned by HR, or is it one of the big 4 or something now?
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It’s a shame, isn’t it? It would be so lovely to have it sold here in Australia. Madame Rubinstein started here in Melbourne and made her first $100,000 here too (with inflation, it’s probably close to a million now). Helena Rubinstein is currently owned by the big one. L’Oreal.
Thanks for a bit of history. I didn’t know HR started in Melbourne!
I remember seeing HR counters in Myer or DJ in late 80s and early 90s. I remember it because someone recommended mom to use something from this line (Mom couldn’t speak English and I was her translator) but she didn’t buy because it’s so expensive here but later bought it from HK. Perhaps it was pulled out of Aust market because it’s not profitable?
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Could be. Which is such a shame. I reckon if they bring it back now, market it better (it’s owned by L’Oreal now after all), it will do just as well as the other brands. I remembered first seeing it in Japan many, many years ago but I couldn’t read the name from afar, only the letters HR. Silly me didn’t bother finding out more back then because I thought anything that has the same first letters as Human Resources couldn’t be good. DUH. 😛
I remember my mom had a tube of Helena Rubinstein lipstick that she used on Sundays. I always admired how amazing the look of that lipstick was on her. It wasn’t like any other lipstick she had. The quality really showed on her lips. I thought the line had gone out of business but I see it has gone out of Canada. She was very thrifty so I imagine she must have found a good sale on this. I just checked online to see why it went out of business, and I see it is alive and thriving. I wonder if their lipsticks are still as good.
http://www.themerrywidow.org