Life, 1911-03-02 · page 33 of 52
Life — March 2, 1911 — page 33: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is **not a political cartoon** but a commercial advertisement for Woodbury's Facial Soap, circa early 1900s. The page shows fashion evolution (1880-1911) at top to suggest women's enduring beauty needs across decades. The main ad emphasizes that Woodbury's has been "the skin soap" for over thirty years, using pseudo-scientific language about a formula developed by someone (likely a dermatologist, though unnamed) who treated "thousands of cases." The appeal targets women's vanity and beauty anxiety—a common advertising strategy of the era. The price of 25 cents is highlighted as reasonable for such a proven product. Samples are offered for 4-10 cents to encourage trial purchases. This represents early mass-market consumer advertising that positioned branded soap as a scientifically-backed necessity rather than a commodity.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
EVERYWHERE YoU Go, YoU Wut FIND WOMEN WHO HAVE ALWAYS usep Normixc ut Woopaury’s YOR THE SKIN. Think how long Woodbury’s has been the skin soap € ea The number of different kinds of soap show the demand for a soap that will be just what people want. Glycerine, olive oil, tar, vegetable—try them, any and all of them, but we believe that you will find Woodbury's Facial Soap best suited to your skin. Aftera man has treated thousands of cases, he learns some- thing about th nanditsneeds. This is why Woodbury’s formula for soap succeeds where other soaps fail. It is the result of years of study and practice. Thousands are indebted to him for his life's work. Next time you order soap, get a cake of Woodbury’s, pre- jared for the skin. Compare it with the soap you now use. ntroduce it into your family. See how readily each member adopts it. For over a third of a century, it has been the skin soap. It costs 25 cents a cake. their first cake. Write today for samples For 4 cents we will send a sample cake of Woodoury's Facial Soap. For 10 cents a sample of Woodbury's Facial Soap, Woodbury's Facial Cream, Woodbury’ Factal Powder. Write now, THE ANDREW JERGENS CO., 2605, Spring Grove Ave., Cincinnati. No onc hesitates at the price after Woodbury’s Facial Soap For sale by dealers everywhere comicbooks.com