Bourjois first appeared on the scene in France way back in 1863 as theatre make up created by Joseph-Albert Ponsin: the first products were coloured greasepaint sticks and the little round pots of powder that we still find in shops today. By 1893, Bourjois was selling a whole host of cosmetics, including the first incarnation of mascara and even a "Hungarian pomade" for men's moustaches.
In the 1920's Bourjois developed its first perfume Soir de Paris, which by the 1950s was helping the brand re-establish their theatrical roots with quirky presentation boxes in the shape of party hats, a music box and, our favourite, an owl. The brand even expressed its support for the women's rights movement on their posters in 1936, when the idea of allowing women to vote was being discussed in the French parliament (years before it was actually passed as a law).
Now in 2012, Bourjois are still creating fun little products combining great quality with innovative and still-quirky packaging which keeps a vestige of their stage origins, with a catalogue of over 400 colours. I usually hold the belief that the more money you spend on a foundation the better, but Bourjois' Healthy Mix Serum Gel foundation - which I first saw backstage at the Paul Costelloe SS12 show during London Fashion Week - packed with vitamins, is one of the best I have ever tried, better then some twice its price (which is £10.99).
Other great products include their So Laque nail varnish (£5.99) which holds a great mix of classic and more trend led shades with good staying power; Effet smoky pencil (£5.49), a nice kohl with a brush on the other end for quick and easy smokey eyes; their new mascara, Volume Glamour Max Definition Mascara the brush of which claims to have 500 bristles (too many for us to count and be sure) plus their ingenious new Smile Enhancing Gloss (£8.99) which contains a coloured or clear gloss on one end, and a tooth-brightening effect gel on the other.