Georgette Klinger
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Skin care, Cosmetics |
| Founded | 1941 in New York City, United States |
| Founder | Georgette Klinger |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
Area served | United States |
| Products | Skin care products, Customized skincare programs |
Number of employees | Not specified |
| Parent | Pyle Group (from 1998) |
Georgette Klinger (née Eckstein; February 28, 1915 – January 9, 2004) was a Moravian-born American entrepreneur and expert in cosmetology who established the skin care company Georgette Klinger Inc. in New York City in 1941. Originating from a prosperous family in Brno, Moravia, her interest in beauty treatments emerged after she developed an acne outbreak caused by cosmetic items she received as prizes in a beauty competition. Klinger inaugurated her initial salon in 1938 but was forced to close it the following year to escape abroad during the Nazi Party's invasion of Czechoslovakia.
Starting her enterprise with a $15,000 loan from a bank, she expanded her brand to encompass nine salons by the time she sold it to a financial corporation in 1998. She pioneered targeted skincare regimens for adolescents in 1967 and for men in 1972. In 1979, she co-wrote a book with Barbara Rowes and became a member of The Committee of 200 in 1982. Her salons are acknowledged as early influencers of the multi-billion dollar spa industry, introducing European-style skincare for women to the American market.
Biography
Born on February 28, 1915, in Brno, Moravia, then part of Austria-Hungary (now within the Czech Republic), Klinger was the third child and only daughter of Benno Eckstein, a textile industrialist, and Ilona Eckstein (née Rosenthal), a gardener. Growing up in an affluent household with a summer residence in Brno, she pursued education in cosmetic chemistry across Budapest, Vienna, and Paris. At age eighteen, after winning a beauty pageant, she experienced an adverse reaction to the cosmetics awarded—resulting in a stubborn acne condition.
Her mother sought assistance from a dermatology professor in Vienna, and they embarked on a two-year journey seeking effective treatment. During this time, Klinger gained insight into the commercial aspects of beauty care and ultimately healed her skin condition. In 1938, despite resistance from her husband's family, she launched her first skincare salon in Brno alongside a local physician. To appear more mature to clients, she adopted spectacles and styled her hair back.
Following the Nazi Party's occupation of Czechoslovakia in 1939, Klinger escaped with her family to London using exit permits. There, she initiated a costume jewelry venture but soon discontinued it; concurrently, she covertly contributed to efforts supporting Czechoslovakia's freedom during World War II. In 1941, after intense bombing raids on London, she emigrated to New York City aboard an unoccupied troop transport without financial resources. With help from family and acquaintances, she obtained a $15,000 bank loan based on trust in her skincare techniques.
This funding allowed her to establish Georgette Klinger Inc. at 509 Madison Avenue, Manhattan. Initially, she crafted products at home using fresh herbs and fruits. Klinger was among the pioneers who cautioned against sun exposure as a cause of premature skin aging; advocated for increased water consumption; discouraged soap use for facial cleansing; advised against hairspray; and recommended minimizing the heavy makeup popularized by Hollywood. She connected skin deterioration with air pollution and smoking habits, opposed animal testing for cosmetics, employed staff trained in European methods, and maintained direct oversight of all operations.
In 1959, Klinger's main boutique relocated to 501 Madison Avenue; ten years later, she opened a second location in Beverly Hills. She introduced customized skincare programs tailored for teenagers in 1967 and men in 1972. By 1979, her enterprise included four salons across the United States and she published Georgette Klinger’s Skincare with Barbara Rowes detailing her philosophy.
After trademarking her brand name in 1977, Klinger was honored with the Eye Research Institute's first Woman of Vision Award in 1981 and joined The Committee of 200, an organization comprising female business leaders managing companies with annual revenues exceeding $5 million, in 1982. That same year marked the establishment of a manufacturing facility and laboratory in New Jersey to increase product production capacity.
Entering the early 1990s, Klinger's firm reported annual sales of $20 million including mail order distribution. Having resisted acquisition proposals since the 1970s, she ultimately sold her business to Madison-based investment company Pyle Group in 1998; at that point it operated nine salons nationwide.
Personal life
In 1938, Klinger wed attorney Frank Klinger, with their marriage ending in divorce around 1946. She entered her second marriage in 1949 with Venezuelan entrepreneur Jacobo Eisenberg, which continued until his passing in 1976. This union resulted in a daughter, Kathryn, born in 1951, who joined her mother's enterprise after completing college in 1970. Klinger obtained U.S. citizenship at an unspecified time. She passed away from natural causes linked to deteriorating health at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City on January 9, 2004. A memorial service took place at Frank E. Campbell Funeral Chapel in Manhattan, and she was laid to rest at Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale.
Personality and legacy
The Ottawa Citizen characterized Klinger as "a quietly elegant woman" distinguished by a unique Eastern European accent. She was proficient in seven languages and held a deep appreciation for opera. Renowned for her meticulous attention to detail and exacting standards for employees, she combined candid feedback with encouragement for professional growth. She introduced salon protocols like white attire for facial specialists and the use of "Miss" when addressing clients to create a serene atmosphere. Publicly, she was seldom seen without a hat and was known for wearing shoes that prioritized style over comfort.
Recognized as the "Dean of Skin Care," Klinger's salons were trailblazers in the multi-billion dollar spa sector by bringing European-style female skincare and scientific methodologies to the American market. Douglas Martin of The New York Times noted that her approach of regarding skin "as a tender, living organ" transformed the field of cosmetic skincare.