COMPLEXION TREATMENT

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 32, 6 August 1936, Page 19

COMPLEXION TREATMENT

STEAMING THE SKIN

So many women look at their faces in a mirror, gaze forlornly at the roughness of their skin, sigh, and decide that they were born that way and that nothing can be done about it. A's a matter of fact, they came into the world with beautiful skins, more often than not, and it is only neglect which has spoiled the texture of it (states a writer in the "Sydney Morning Herald").

There is no doubt that any treatment must be of value which rids the fine pores of dust and waste matter, and leaves them perfectly clean. Steaming certainly does this, but the trouble is that many girls will steam their faces and do nothing afterwards to close and tone the pores which the heat has opened and relaxed. If a proper toning treatment is given after the steaming the whole thing has a wonderful effect on even the coarsest and muddiest skin, and should be a regular part of every girl's complexion treatments.

You have only to look at the faces of people who have lived for years in

tne tropics. What a smooth, ivory-like grain their skin has. This is due to the gentle and continuous action of moist heat on the minute glands and capillaries. A steaming done regularly will give something of: this fine ivory look to the skin. Once a fortnight is often enough, night-time is, of course, the best time, and this is the way to do -it:— ■•.■ ■•-. ■-: :.- ...,• ■• - ;::■ Wash the face thoroughly. ■" Then have ready a jug of boiling water, into which you have put a teaspoonful of simple tincture of benzoin. Put a towel over the head so as to keep in the heat, lean over, the jug, and let your face absorb the fragrant moisture. After about five minutes your skin will be glowing pink, and be wet with steam and its own natural exudations. NoW\ dry it quickly, and massage briskly into the face, a little warmed oil. Rub this oft almost at once with a piece of rough towelling. The idea is to remove all the waste matter and dust which the moist heat has caused the pores to throw out. Rub the face perfectly clean, dry well,'and-repeat the steaming again, refilling the jug with boiling water. This steaming and oil massage should be repeated several times. It is not only cleansing, but thel effect of hot steam will be found very soothing and restful to the nerves. ROSE-LEAF TEXTURE. ; When' this part of the treatment is concluded, ending with tHe steaming, the face should be dried and a mild astringent of some kind must be put on. An astringent will instantly make the pores, now cleansed of all dust and grime, thoroughly contract, and this will work wonders in giving the skin that fine, rose-leaf texture which we all wish for. . The treatment must always "end with a liberal application of skin food, and that is one reason why it is best to do it before going to bed. Steaming, while it removes dust and waste matter from the pores, also removes a certain amount of the natural oil, and unless a good nourishing skin food is patted in afterwards, the treatment might be slightly drying for certain delicate, and not over-oily skins. Use a skin food which has a basis of animal fat, such as lanoline or lard, for these are best

for replacing the natural oils of the skin. Leave a little on over night.