Every cosmetic product in a compact or jar needs a disc, dust cover, or insert. Madeline Blondman, the founder of Madeline Blondman & Company, developed a luxury alternative 41 years ago—disrupting the male-dominated cosmetic packaging industry with an innovation that has become an integral part of beauty packaging for every major beauty brand.

Today, Blondman is 94 years old—and Cosmetic Industry Buyers and Suppliers (CIBS) celebrated her career at its annual Rutgers Scholarship Luncheon at Rosie O'Grady's in Manhattan on April 12th. Christina Neuner, CIBS Scholarship Chairperson, and Allyson Tobin, CIBS president (and sales executive at Oliver Packaging), presented Blondman with an honorary membership certificate. Other than its annual "Ladies' Day" event, women weren't allowed to attend CIBS meetings or join the networking organization until sometime in the 1980s.

"It was lovely to have Madeline Blondman here talking about her experiences—she has such great energy. Now it feels like we've come full circle since we're presenting a scholarship to a woman and a complimentary membership," says Tobin. "Just look at the age gap between those two, and how nice it is to see how much things have changed in that amount of time," Tobin says.

CIBS awarded Jasreet Kaur with a $2,500 scholarship to Rutgers University. Kaur is in Rutgers' packaging engineering program and will have the full support of CIBS members during her job search when she graduates. Unlike Kaur, Blondman was on her own when she was building her business in the male-dominated cosmetic packaging industry in 1972. "It was a time when most women didn't even work," says Tobin.

When Blondman Met Mary Kay, Estee Lauder, & Others

Blondman broke through barriers to work with thermoformers to elevate the disc insert and bring her idea to market. She pitched her idea to the largest beauty companies, and it wasn't long before her customized luxe inserts and discs were an integral part of millions of beauty and pharma packages.

"As a woman in manufacturing, she was ahead of her time—and hearing about her experiences resonated with us all," says Tobin. "We had the opportunity to hear about when she met Mary Kay—and her parrot," Tobin says, laughing. "And she met Estee Lauder. And when she met the head of packaging at another major beauty company, he was taken aback because she wasn't wearing a dress. He said to her, 'Why are you wearing pants?' She was competing with men trying to sell their products  at a time when women weren't taken seriously in business," Tobin says.

Before building her company, Blondman sold Avon door-to-door. Next, she worked for a company that made disposable packaging components for hospitals. Some cosmetic brands were using its die-cut cap inserts—but Blondman knew she could create a better-fitting, more elegant component for beauty packaging. She worked with packaging engineers to develop the "disc"—and the rest is history. "Soon, the biggest beauty brands knew that their jars could not go without that disc," says Tobin.

Today, Blondman's daughter-in-law, Randi Barron, and grandson Evan Blondman run the company, continuing her legacy. Madeline Blondman & Company manufactures its components in the US on its custom-built machinery. Discs for every size jar are embossed and debossed, and there are two solutions for compacts—custom vacuum-form or die-cut dust cover inserts that can be printed or hot-stamped. 

CIBS has several upcoming events including the Golf Outing on June 12th, Summer Luncheon on July 27th, and FIT Scholarship Luncheon on October 11th.