BEAUTY NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 204, 28 August 1926, Page 26

BEAUTY NOTES.

(BY A PABIS BEAUTY SPECIALIST.) A painfully homely man was once asked if his looks did not prove an embarrassment at times, or, at least, cause him frequent annoyance. "Oh, no," he replied, indifferently. "You know, I can't see myself—l'm behind my face; I seldom look into the mirror." Even a casual observer at an evening dress affair cannot help but conclude that the number of unsightly shoulderblades present is due to a similar indifference on the part of the otherwise fair owners. Now, wings are all right in their place, but they need plumage. Even a chicken's wing may be a thing of beauty before it is picked: but what is uglier or less appetising than a bare chicken wing, either on the bird or the platter? We may cherish a belief that hereafter we will sprout wings, sit on pink Mouds, and play a golden harp; but we should not confuse that distant time with the present by substituting sharp, unadorned wings, between folds of pink silk, while we play bridge. Standing naturally before a triple mirror, we can search for wings from the side view. The shoulder blades, in repose, should rest flat against the back. Assuming that they do not, a glance at the hands hanging at the sides will invariably find the backs of the hands turned forward. Twist the hand outward, until the palm is forward. Then note the result on the shoulder blade This is a very simple but effective exercise. It sends the shoulders back in their proper place at once.

A stronger and more definitely corrective exercise starts with the arms stretched straight overhead, palms facing. Bend the elbows, pulling down as if against a considerable weight, until the closed hands are on the point of the shoulder, and tuck the elbowe into imaginary hip pockete. This exercise is guaranteed, by the way, to remove that lumpy flat look some women have on the back of their necks After a certain age.

If the shoulders feel stiff and inflexible, limber them up at first. Place the tips of the fingers on the shoulders, and describe as large a circle as possible with the elbows. Start this circle forward, then proceed upwards, backward, and downward, It is absolutely essential, when taking these exercises, to stand erect, though not rigid, and put vigorous effort into each movement. Repeat each exercise about ten times, twice a day. Assuredly, the thin woman should not resign herself to sitting in her bones, but should put the skeletons into the closet, where they belong. Should a Woman Hake Up? Should a woman make up? And why not? Why shouldn't a woman have the right to correct that step-mother, Nature? When a woman is over 30, it is necessary to make up—it is a politeness towards oneself and others. For very little, I'd advise the men to start doing it. Now, let's get down to the question. In the theatre, for instance, make up is part of the job. Nowadays, lots of young women go on the stage without making up their faces. That's wrong of them. They are betraying the author. For, under the strong light of the stage, they offer to the audience an uncoloured. imprecise face, on which, at a distance, the play of emotions is never expressed. For the actress, then, not to make up on the stage is folly. But, you may ask mc, should an ordinary woman about town use make-up? Of course, I would answer, but with discretion. First of all, though, women ought to banish for ever from their skins, during day-time, the paint* and powders that are too yellow. They don't harmonipe with the colours of life. The make-ups which have a basis of red or violet are alone bearable in the daylight. The orange make-up may be nice before the electric-lighted mirror, but an hour afterwards, if one is walking jn the open air, it has become impossible. As one walks in the Paris streets, and along the boulevards, one has the impression of meeting a host of unhappy women suffering from stomach and liver troubles. And in these days of the high cost of living, the strangers within our gates must imagine that there is an epidemic of something or other. Save the yellow powder for artificial light,