"OFF-COLOUR" DAYS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19221, 9 January 1926, Page 6 (Supplement)

"OFF-COLOUR" DAYS.

Every woman has them —those " off colour" days when the usually glossy hair is lank, when dark rings make a mysterious appearance under the eyes that look dull and heavy, and one's complexion is decidedly not at its best.

A glance in the mirrow is so discouraging—especially when, as mostly happens, some little festivity is duo the same evening. No time to take a course of massage or go on special diet for a week; but something must be done—and done quickly. Hero are some lightning temporary cures, that will tide you over the important evening. Let me warn you right away that they are only temporary, and that if you get " off-colour" days pretty frequently and they can't be accounted for on grounds of health, you'll be well advised to start regular and persevering treatments. But meanwhile, here's how: Before starting particular remedies, give youself a quick general tonic, for it's quite certain that your indifferent looks have a basis iri some fatigue or depression which you may be hardly aware of, but which can soon bo banished for the time being. So extend your dressing time by hook or crook to include a pleasantly warm (not hot) bath, containing half a teacupful of kitchen salt. This is most invigorating if followed by a very brisk rubbing down with a Turkish towel and an all-over dusting with talcum powder.

Follow the bath with rest—from ten to thirty minutes, as time allows. Lie quiet on your bed in a dark room, and also

utilise , the siesta for emergency hair, hand and eyo treatments. You can get them all into that short rest—this way: Give your lank locks a dry shampoo, leaving the powder in the hair to do its work. Wipe over your neglected-looking hands with a soothing and whitening tonic made by 'stirring together one dessertspoonful of glycerine, one of lemon juice and three of water; then slip on loosefitting gloves. For your dull eyes, that seem to havo no sparkle loft, soak two wee pads of cotton-wool in that useful astringent, witch hazel, and keep one on each closed lid while y<?u are resting. If you have a suspicion of headache, which oftens happens on " off" days, dab eau-de-Cologne or toilet vinegar behind each ear and along the hair line on your forehead before starting to r«st. You'll find the headache feeling a thing of the past when time is up. Much refreshed, with eyes that look brighter already and hands doing you credit again, you now administer first aid to your tired skin, in which every tiny line seems to stand out with startling distinctness to-night. Never mind! Here's a quick temporary remedy: Boat up the white of an egg with fivo drops of fresh lemon-juice and ten drops of milk. Spread this mixture over your face with a piece of cotton wool, giving special attention to the " laughter lines" from nose to mouth and any other little wrinkles. Be sure to work across the lines, not a]ong them. Now keep your face quite still for a few minutes till tho mixture has dried. Rinse all tho mask off with lukewarm water, and finish up by vigorous splashing with cold water containing a suspicion of tincture of benzoin. Pat the skin dry with an old silk handkerchief—and admire the results in your mirror! What about your teeth ? Just rub them well with salt, afterwards rinsing tho mouth very well and polishing the teeth with your silk hanky. Salt is a splendid whitener, but only an occasional one, please. By now the dry shampoo has done its work. Brush it out thoroughly, and curl up your side pieces with irons. Finally, pat that mild bleacher, peroxide cream, very gently under the eyes to lighten their dark rings. Wipe it of! after a few minutes, leaving only just enough to serve as basis for an extra good powdering.