BEAUTY PROBLEMS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 33, 9 February 1939, Page 16

BEAUTY PROBLEMS.

Difficulties in the Sub-Deb. Age.

Beauty problems are like recurring decimals! Both unending and inescapable. Certain little blemwhes or drawback* that vim may ploss over in your teens will inevitably reappear until you call a halt and say firmly to yourself: "[ will take this little matter in hand!" It seems that beauty experts must belong to a race of complete optimists! For they are continually dtapeneing advice —and warnings—which are rarely heeded until the mischief is done! Then you will hear the waitings of the middle twenties, lamenting the neglect of her adolescent years, mingled with the same cry of despair rising from the mid thirties! That is why we should cast our miftd over these special problem* before it if* too late. Look Well Ahead. Beauty should be as min-li within the reach of every woman, be she l<! or <».">. But at' certain stages in her career a' variety of signposts rear their ugly heads and show us our defects in no uncertain manner. You will one day wake up with a bang at 25 and realise that, you are beginning to show signs of those tell tale lines around the mouth that are so unbecoming. And then at :!"■. . . . Surely vour eves are lookinjr tired, dull and jniffy? * Wlfile at 4~> you suddenly come upon yourself in a revealing light, and you discover that your chin line is not all it should be. . . . and vour hands! Heavens, how mid that youd never noticed all these points before. . . . Although, believe me. they had been busy accumulating for years! So now let us start from the very beginning, so that mother may talk to her young with the- voice of authority —offering up a small prayer at the same time that it will be heeded! From 1.") to 2.") are the years when the skin should be at its best. But so rarely is the schoolgirl's complexion anything like the dazzling thing it is supposed to he! And as at !."• ftie student can use no cosmetics to disguise defects —and certainly not until after 2."» should she use to any degree a heavy make-up — let us first tackle the problems of the adolescent period.. Take Warning In Time. One very large signpost that must never l>c ignored in its early stage is a tendency to acne. This, if allowed to spread aiid become really serious, will so enlarge the pores that the damage will be permanent. The first sign to be watched for is an abnormally greasy skin. This is frequently due in the young to a badly balanced diet that the question of eliminating, as far as is practicable, too many greasy foods and replacing them with fruit and vegetable courses is essential. Then, quite firmly, must the young be induced to drink at least one quart of water per day -and more if possible! It is strange how reluctant wq all are to Hy to nature's remedy for too much acid in the system which is the basic cause of acne, blackheads, or most skin eruptions. Now for the actual complexion itself. . . . As the skin is already greasj — with the oil glands working overtime — this must be corrected by washing night and morning with very hot water and a good brand of sulphur soap. At night time, however, the essential part of the treatment is to first wash the face thoroughly with a complexion brush. Then finally, having removed all traces of grease, to make a lather of soap, and with the finger-tips, or washllaiuiel. smooth this over the face. Leave this on the skin to dry for a few moments and .tl\en dab with a soft towel. The next morning wash as visual, but finish with a cooling bathe of rose water, which will counteract any feeling of harshness. Now for the second stage of our cure. Very eimple! See that the hair is washed at least twice a week. This may seem a rather unusual way of dealing with a complexion trouble—but again it is essential. The grease and acid exude into the hair and this must be got rid of by using the best shampoo available for each individual type of hair. Finish off with frequent rinsings. This is most important in den ling with accumulated acidity. Simple, But Effective. Luckily there is nothing in these simple, but effective remedies to which Mis* Schoolgirl can object. And she will certainly feel less self-conscious when she emerges from her chrysalis stage to the butterfly debutante if she is the possessor of a flawless skin. It is always exciting to read about the beautiful and glamorous cosmetics put on the market for our benefit. But an we cannot always look glamorous and beautiful, let us return to our youthful problems, which invariably include "spots' , ! Or shall we put it more kindly and say, "skin blemishes?" Even the best regulated debutante — as well as her elder sister —is. bound to suffer at times, in this way. How'often from early childhood we have been admonished with "Don't touch that spot, you'll only make it worse!" And how many of us are tempted to disobey that- wise command! Well, here is something with which you may touch that spot! Get your chemist to niake up a paste of p»wdered Epsom salts mixed with glycerine. Use this at night by dabbing on the inflamed surface and it will soon disappear. The Question of Make-up. The next warning signpost on our path should read: "Don't stress your cosmetics till after 25." Use the lightest possible make-up; only just heightening your good points, instead of destroying them with over-aoeentuation. Leave heavy foundations, emphasised colouring and eye-shadow to tlvi (Vfcler woman who can. in an experienced nay. carry it off and make it part of her equipment. If you dramatise yourself in tliis way you will quickly lose your youthful freshness, «o that in the future you v/ill find that not only is your skin the sufferer, but your most charming enemies will delight in adding years to your *ge! {

Luckily the pre-cl«'lnitante is far from tile shy and sheltered young tiling she was in pre-war day*. To-day she is becoming cosmetic conscious from 10 yours upwards. This is whore ii wise guiding iiand ix needed. Show interest in her beauty problems and compare them with your own. Suggest a careful diet, combined with exercining. So much «elf-cons<-iousiiess would' be overcome if parents realised how the young brooded over such things a.s thick ankles, too ample client measurements, mid large hips! Defects that you gloss over in the adolescent—but sometimes these leave a lasting impression on the mind. Then the guiding hand again. Suggest the occasional use of a really {rood skin food —an almost invisible silk-sifted powder, to be used in connection with a baby brush to du«*t off all superfluities—and you will be earning her gratitude at the next stage in our journey . . . twenty-five!