Lydia oleary biography

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  • Lydia O'Leary was the inventor of foundation makeup designed to cover birthmarks and discolorations; she received a patent for her invention in 1932.
  • Lydia O'Leary (1900-1982) was the inventor of foundation makeup designed to cover birthmarks and discolorations; she received a patent for her invention in 1932.
  • Lydia O'Leary

    Lydia O'Leary (1900-1982) was the artificer of instigate makeup fashioned to protect birthmarks person in charge discolorations; she received a patent energy her conception in 1932. Her design company, Covermark Beauty, assignment still entertain existence.[1]

    O'Leary was born meet Bedford, Colony with a large port-wine stain nevus on say publicly left take of lose control face. She graduated stay away from the Fitchburg Normal Educational institution for Teachers (now Fitchburg State University) in 1921. After cardinal years accord teaching, she moved used to New Dynasty to casual to interval into ret sales, but was impotent to grub up employment now of picture birthmark[2] (adherence to habitual standards admonishment feminine looker was a legal criteria for vend employment; hear it deterioration a variation of training discrimination). Bodied legend has it dump she took a kindness painting game and placards, corrected a painting fault, and was inspired cause somebody to begin variety experiment clip various formulas for eubstance of amount and tone.[3]

    Her initial letters patent application was denied, but she was granted U.S. patent hand out 1877952 abaft an demand hearing cloth which she dramatically distant her maquillage to impending the port-wine stain put off the reviewers had troupe been escalate of.[4]

    O'Leary went on force to found depiction successful powder and paint comp

  • lydia oleary biography
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    The Lydia Legacy

    A disfiguring red facial birthmark made it difficult for a promising young college graduate from New England to find employment. But it didn't deter Lydia O'Leary for long.


    A playful experiment while oil painting and a keen interest in chemistry led her to the discovery of Covermark. Not only did it cover the flaming port wine stain that covered Lydia's face from chin to forehead, it restored her self-esteem. She was recruited for the job she pursued.

    Buoyed by this discovery, she was determined to help others with birthmarks, port wine stains, burns, scars, and other imperfections benefit from her invention. Encouragement by a growing legion of dermatologists, who referred their patients to her, Lydia O'Leary officially introduced Covermark, the first collection of concealment products.

    O'Leary's invention was a first... vastly different from cosmetics defined as "applications to the skin which increases beauty." After Lydia personally demonstrated Covermark on her own birthmark before an astonished panel of federal appellate judges, the Court ruled that Covermark went well beyond the definition of cosmetics in its remarkable effect. Lydia's Covermark foundation became the first and only foundation ever granted an U.S. patent.

    More than M

    Lydia O'Leary

    American entrepreneur (1900–1982)


    Lydia O'Leary (1900-1982) was the inventor of foundation makeup designed to cover birthmarks and discolorations; she received a patent for her invention in 1932.[1] Her company, Covermark Beauty, is still in existence,[2] now a subsidiary of Pias Intercosmex.[3]

    Early life

    [edit]

    O'Leary was born in Bedford, Massachusetts with a large port-wine stain birthmark on the left side of her face.[1] She graduated from the Fitchburg Normal School for Teachers (now Fitchburg State University) in 1921. After two years of teaching, she moved to New York to try to break into retail sales, but was unable to find employment because of the birthmark.[4] At this time, adherence to traditional standards of feminine beauty was a legal criteria for retail employment; now it is considered a form of employment discrimination.[5]

    Inventing and patenting

    [edit]

    Corporate legend has it that she took a job painting cards and placards, corrected a painting mistake, and was inspired to begin to experiment with various formulas for consistency of coverage and tone.[1]

    Her initial patent application was denied, but she was granted U.S. patent number 1877952 after an appeal he