Maybelline Logo

Maybelline LogoMaybelline Logo PNG

Maybelline is a well-known cosmetic brand established in 1915. It was founded by 20-year-old entrepreneur Thomas Lyle Williams, who invented the original mascara recipe. In 1967, the brand changed hands until it was acquired by the French company L’Oréal.

Maybelline: Brand overview

Maybelline is a famous cosmetics brand that appeared in 1915. It was founded by 20-year-old businessman Thomas Lyle Williams, who invented the original recipe for mascara. In 1967, the brand changed hands until it was bought out by the French company L’Oréal.

Meaning and History

Maybelline Logo History

The recognizable Maybelline logo with strict black letters once looked completely different. Company owners frequently updated it to align with fashion trends.

The brand’s first graphic sign appeared in a commercial advertising Lash-Brow-Ine. It was the inscription “Maybell Labs,” done in an old-fashioned font. The company’s name is derived from Mabel, Thomas Lyle Williams’ younger sister.

In 1930, the company’s owner introduced a new emblem with the word “Maybelline” in red. It was handwritten in a neat calligraphic script. The capital ‘M’ was separated from the lowercase letters. The font remained script-like, but the size and shape of the characters changed: now slightly tilted to the right, with the lower ends of the ‘M’ elegantly curved. Overall, the words became more legible and harmonious.

In the 1960s, another version of the logo appeared, with the brand name handwritten. The style changed slightly: it no longer looked as strict as before. The color remained red. The letters became straight, without the usual tilt.

The next redesign coincided with the launch of the first series of lip cosmetics. The brand’s products were adorned with the strict inscription “Maybelline,” executed in a typographic font with small serifs. The spacing between the characters was very narrow – the printed signs touched and even overlapped each other. Another update reflected in the palette: the traditional red color receded into the past, giving way to dark blue.

What is Maybelline?

Maybelline is a brand of Maybelline, New York, offering a wide range of makeup products, including eyeliners, blush, eyeshadows, mascaras, foundations, and much more. The brand was founded in 1914 and first entered the market with the product Lash-Brow-Ine. It is now owned by the French cosmetic company L’Oreal and continues to evolve according to the latest beauty industry trends.

1920 – 1956

Maybelline Logo 1920-1956

Italics characterized the debut logo of the cosmetic brand. Yet, it had its own specifics – double letters. The left half of each character was colored black, and the right was dark green. This design made the emblem unique and quickly recognizable. The text was handwritten and expressive, with neatly drawn symbols. The style belonged to semi-cursive, as the first letter was separated from the rest. The ‘M’ was framed with calligraphic flourishes and had an additional deviation to the right – its tips were slightly curved.

1956 – 1979

Maybelline Logo 1956-1979

The emblem of these years was the complete opposite of the first logo. It was thin, not bold, slanted left, not right, and the ‘M’ was turned away from the rest of the part, not towards it. The carved signs looked as if they were hastily written on a piece of paper – they reminded one of something to remember. In this case, it is the name of the cosmetic brand Maybelline. Black letters were on a white background.

1979 – 1992

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In 1979, the company adopted a new logo with the same name. No icon appeared in it. The cosmetics manufacturer decided to focus on simplicity. Moreover, labeling products regardless of shape and volume is much more convenient. The letters were printed large, with miniature protrusions at the ends, reminiscent of small serifs. The main feature of the text was the very tight placement of the characters. They stood so close that they merged with each other. Only the letters ‘l’ and ‘i’ were isolated.

1992 – 1996

Maybelline Logo 1992-1996

In 1990, the brand was acquired by Wasserstein Perella, a New York investment company. Soon after, Maybelline had a new logo – with wide sans serif print characters and a narrow underline. It was used in a video commercial featuring Marcus van der Loo and Christy Nicole Turlington.

1996 – 2002

Maybelline Logo 1996-2002

In 1996, the brand became part of the French conglomerate L’Oréal. Designers changed the style of the logo, making the font smaller and the letters bolder. And to the word “Maybelline,” they added the name of the city of New York, where the headquarters were moved.

2002 – 2019

Maybelline Logo 2002-2019

At the beginning of the third millennium, the developers returned to the 1990s logo. They modernized the old version, removing the long horizontal line and placing the phrase “New York” in the lower right corner under the inscription “Maybelline.”

2019 – today

Maybelline Logo 2019-present
After several experiments with the font, the spacing between the letters, and the size of the sign, the designers came to the optimal ratio. Now, the size of the characters is quite comparable to the distance between the letters and the width of the feet. The name of the city from which the brand originates is in the lower right corner. The word “New York” is written in small capital letters and occupies a place under the “LINE” sign.

Maybelline: Interesting Facts

Maybelline is a makeup brand known worldwide. It started in 1915 with a young guy named Thomas Lyle Williams. He got the idea to make makeup when he saw his sister Mabel using a mix of Vaseline and coal dust on her eyelashes to make them look thicker. Here’s a simple rundown of Maybelline’s story:

  1. How It Began: Thomas created Maybelline because of his sister’s homemade eyelash trick. He named the brand by combining her name, Mabel, with Vaseline.
  2. First Ever Product: Maybelline’s first product was “Lash-Brow-Ine,” which darkened lashes and brows like the first step toward mascara.
  3. Creating Mascara: In 1917, Maybelline brought out the first mascara for everyone to buy, changing how women made up their eyelashes.
  4. More Than Mascara: Over time, Maybelline didn’t just make mascara. They started making all sorts of makeup, like eyeshadow, lipstick, and foundation.
  5. Famous Slogan: In 1991, Maybelline invented the catchy phrase “Maybe she’s born with it. Maybe it’s Maybelline,” which many people still remember.
  6. Worldwide Love: Now called Maybelline New York, its products are available in over 120 countries, making it a top makeup brand in the U.S. and beyond.
  7. Always Innovating: Maybelline is known for coming up with new makeup ideas, like the Great Lash mascara in 1971, which is still super popular.
  8. Joining L’Oréal: In 1996, the big French beauty company L’Oréal bought Maybelline, helping it reach even more people worldwide.
  9. Famous Faces: Many celebrities and models have worked with Maybelline, making the brand seem even cooler and more modern.

From its simple start to becoming a must-have in makeup collections everywhere, Maybelline’s journey is about new ideas, quality makeup, and making beauty something everyone can play with.

Font and Colors

Maybelline Emblem

Since 1915, the American cosmetic brand’s logo experimented with the inscription style. Its evolution was uneven – with spurts when thick letters alternated with thin ones. Here’s how the epochs and design changed: the debut version has the widest characters, and the 2002-2019 version – is narrower. Currently, a bold version is used. It is characterized by clarity, optimal font, and good legibility.

The developers settled on the font Sanzettica 3 Regular Expended. It fits perfectly into the concept the company’s leadership wanted to emphasize. Thus, the emblem is easily perceived, looks presentable, and is easy to read. As for the color, the brand adheres to the classic canon – black and white. Accordingly, its logos always use dark letters on a light background.

Maybelline color codes

BlackHex color:#000000
RGB:0 0 0
CMYK:0 0 0 100
Pantone:PMS Process Black C

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