Born in Krakow, Poland, her family encouraged both her intellectual development and sense of style and elegance. Leaving medical school after two years she then rejected a marriage her parents had arranged and moved to Australia.

Her beginnings in Australia:
Helena Rubinstein began distributing a beauty crème that her mother had previously used, from the Hungarian chemist Jacob Lykusky, after 2 years working as a governess she set up a beauty salon and started to manufacture other cosmetics created by Australian chemists. Ceska, her sister, went to joined her and they then opened a second salon, then her sister Manka also joined the businesses.

Move to London:
Helena Rubinstein then moved to London, where she purchased a building which was once owned by Lord Salisbury and went on to establish a beauty salon there, she used the emphasising of cosmetics to create a natural look. Around the same time, she married Edward Titus who was a journalist and helped create her advertising campaigns. She started balancing her interest for developing scientifically based cosmetics and working her way into being part of London’s high profile social circle.

Paris and America:
During 1909 -1912, Helena had 2 sons who would later join her business and at the same time period she opened up a Paris salon.