Upon completing his military service in the Russian empire, Maksymilian Faktorowicz, a Polish and Jewish cosmetician and wigmaker opened up a shop in Ryazan selling rouges, creams, fragrances and wigs, which soon earned him a reputation as an expert in this sphere and even led to him working for the imperial family. However in 1904 Maksymilian and his family left Russia due to the rising anti-Semitism in the country. Upon his arrival in New York, he was given the name Max Factor and in America his business, which had its roots in Ryazan, would grow into the massive international cosmetic company it is today. Today, although the building where the shop was located has survived, there is no indication that is was once Max Factor's first ever shop.