About Frownies - B&P Company Since 1889

Wrinkle Treatment Products
Margaret Kroesen

Inventor of Frownies Frownies were created in 1889 after Margaret Kroesen discovered that her daughter Alice, a concert pianist, had developed unsightly wrinkles and frown lines. With a desire to maintain her youthful beauty and stage presence, Mrs. Kroesen created Wrinkle Eradicators (as they were first called) by employing the basic principle of fitness to the muscles of the face. At the time, there was no thought of producing them for anyone else but herself and her daughter. But Alice, after using her mother's amazing invention, was a living testimony, and it became clear that women and men everywhere could benefit from these Wrinkle Eradicators.

Several years later, Mrs. Kroesen's husband's death made it necessary for her to enter the business world; she joined B & P Company (Beauty and Personality) as Managing Director. At the time, B & P specialized in barber supplies such as straight razors, razor straps and pomades. With the advent of the safety razor, sales lagged and profits dwindled, making the bankers who owned the company happy to accept Mrs. Kroesen's offer to buy them out.

As owner, she gradually dropped the barber supplies, and offered only her Wrinkle Eradicators and skin treatments. A few small ads were placed to help get the word out about her amazing invention, and these soon paid off in increased sales. During World War II a luxury tax was placed on cosmetic products forcing Mrs. Kroesen to drop all lines except the facial pads.

Wrinkle Treatment ProductsEvery month makeup artist Perc Westmore (founder of The House of Westmore) sent a box of mail from women and men requesting help in eliminating wrinkle and frown lines. Westmore was instrumental in promoting Frowines to the entertainment industry and those influenced by it. Mrs. Kroesen and her granddaughter Margaret personally answered the hundreds of letters they received from all over the world.

Laumers and KroesenEvery month makeup artist Perc Westmore (founder of The House of Westmore) sent a box of mail from women and men requesting help in eliminating wrinkle and frown lines. Westmore was instrumental in promoting Frowines to the entertainment industry and those influenced by it. Mrs. Kroesen and her granddaughter Margaret personally answered the hundreds of letters they received from all over the world.

The November 15, 1937 issue of LIFE Magazine highlighted Frownies being used by Hollywood actresses in the article "Young Starlets Learn to Act at Fox Drama School." The following, an excerpt.