Are You Ashamed of Your Hands?

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23145, 17 September 1938, Page 5 (Supplement)

Are You Ashamed of Your Hands?

'pHERE are many housewives who are just a little ashamed of the condition of their hands. The daily round of household duties —cooking, washing, cleaning and dusting—leaves tho hands looking rough and toil-worn and, although they may bo well shaped, they aro decidedly unattractive when tho skin is rough, red and lined, and the nails are brittle and broken. Kven tho busiest of women, however, should be able to spare a few minutes

] Man-Made Iniquities

j Trevor Allen (statistician): "Most of the World's worst iniquities both in ! peace and War are man-run, to the S rigid exclusion of women." I I

each day to tbo care of her hands, and the little time thus spent will bp amply repaid by their greatly-improved appearance. The most common complaint is rough, red skin, and this is really the easiest fault to cure. Give the hands a warm olive oil bath every night, alloAVing the oil to remain on the skin and wearing an old pair of loose gloves in lied. After applying the oil to the skin, massage it well in, starting at the tips of the lingers and working gently hut firmly toward tho wrist. Massage the knuckles with a circular movement and see that plenty of oil is used. This not only keeps the skin smooth and soft, but also prevents the knuckles from becoming enlarged. When the hands are discoloured, they require a slightly ilillerent treatment. Jf they are very red, this condition often denotes either a had circulation or the wearing of gloves which are too tight. Tho trouble can he considerably improved with a littlo homo treatment. First, it should always he remembered that when you are washing the hands, a final rinse should bo given with .cold water, and they should then he dried and massaged with a little cold cream so that chapping will ho prevented Another excellent plan is to have either a jar of cold cream or a bottlo of olive oil Standing on the kitchen shelf, so that after tho hands havn been in water, washing up or doing vegetables, they can bo treated with a little cream or oil. This is a habit, easv to acquire and takes up only a very

By "FRIEDA"

few minutes each day; yet there will soon bo a decided improvement in both the texture and colour of the skin once the practice is regularly carried out. It is a good plan always to wear an old pair of gloves while doing housework. This not only saves the skin from becoming grimy, but —just as important —it helps to prevent breaking of the nails. Once the skin has become soft and white, it is easy to keep it in good condition by applying a little of the following old-fashioned toilet water. Ask the chemist to add ono drachm of camphor to six ounces of rose-water, and then to the mixture add five drachms of milk of sulphur. Allow the bottle to stand for five days before using, shaking well every now and then. As the ingredients nro insoluble, the mixturo must be well shaken each time before applying. A little of tho lotion can bo dabbed on tho skin two or threo times a week. A weekly manicure, tho application of a littlo nail varnish and the caro of the housewife's hands is complete.