Charles of the Ritz

American brand of cosmetics established in 1926. Charles was a young French hairdresser who emigrated to the U.S. in the early 1920s. The Ritz was the New York hotel where he opened his salon. Success was such that he went into the preparation and sale of cosmetics. The business grew and, in 1964, when the ownership was in the hands of Richard Salomon, it merged with Lanvin USA. In 1986 it came under the control of Yves Saint-Laurent Inc., which sold the brand to Revlon.