MODERN COSMETICS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4801, 23 June 1939, Page 3

MODERN COSMETICS.

SCIENTIFIC PREPARATION. Corresponding with modern requirements and the entry of science into newer and more varied fields, cosmetics have also become scientific, writes a correspondent in the London Daily Mail. Not only have the application methods and the beauty treatments been revised to conform with strictest scientific requirements, but the manufacture of the creams, lotions, and coloured cosmetics has now become an important and precise branch of applied chemistry. An obvious fact, and one which is frequently disregarded, is the fact that the skin is a delicate and sensitive tissue. This is evidenced by the prevalence of skin disorders —eczema, tinea, etc. Thus the first essential for a scientific cosmetic preparation is to determine by medical test any reaction the skin may have towards each individual component of the preparation. It is not difficult for a trained chemist to

discover and eliminate the harmful constituents, such as arsenic, lead, thallium, etc., which are frequently used by manufacturers who have no chemical knowledge.

But it takes long and exhaustive research to eliminate unusual and unexpected defects. That is the reason the modern cosmetic chemist keeps a sample of all preparations for a year, to watch for any deterioration due to unexpected reactions among the constituents, before issuing the formula.

Many cosmetics originated from medical prescriptions. Most dandruff lotions are akin to the standard British Pharmacopaeia formula. These facts should interest the sceptics. Cold cream was first formulated in the days of the Romans by Galen, one of the most famous of the early medical men. Calomine lotion is another medical This list could be added to considerably, but it is sufficient to show that most cosmetic preparations have a sound medical foundation.

Why Variation in Prices.

The variation in the price of cosmetics is another much discussed topic. Why are some cosmetics in the luxury class and others apparently similar, quite economically priced? First, the cost of advertising must influence the price of goods, but the chief reason lies in the cost of the component parts. The era of mass production affected the cosmetic field as it did other fields, in that it led to a big reduction in prices. Many manufacturers sought to reduce the cost still further by substituting cheap mineral oils and paraffin wares for the more costly natural oils and wares.