It all began in 1931, when cosmetics were heavy, full of fragrance and made with powerful chemicals and were much too harsh for Fanny May Woititz’s sensitive skin. Intrigued by the challenge of developing cosmetics that would work with his wife’s delicate complexion, her husband and chemist, Alfred Woititz, began to experiment with pure and gentle ingredients in makeup. With the help of dermatologist Dr. Marion Sulzberger, they created the first doctor-tested hypoallergenic, fragrance-free cosmetics line. combining their names (al + may), the Almay brand was born.
Today, Almay is committed to helping women look and feel their best by staying true to its heritage of using pure, hypoallergenic ingredients in our products.
Almay was the first hypoallergenic cosmetics brand, the first brand to make 100% fragrance-free products and to disclose all ingredients used, the first brand to perform safety testing for allergy and irritation, the first brand to formulate for contact lens wearers and, the first mass market brand to create cosmetic regimens for specific skin types.