Keep the Face Fair.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 976, 14 November 1890, Page 4

Keep the Face Fair.

Ladies are well aware that by wearing veils when out in the summer’s sun they do much to protect themselves from tan and freckles. Probably they do not all know that bine and green veils are the most efficacious for the purpose; but these colours, if bright, are trying for the eyes of the wearer, and scarcely becoming to any one. Light tints should be chosen, and very likely those which are nearly neutral, but approach these colours, will do as well as the deeper shades. The peculiar dark tint appearing on the skin when one is much out of doors in summer is due to the increase, under the influence of the strong Bunlight, of the colouring matter in certain glands of the skin, and to the chemical decomposition of the iron in this matter. Fortunately the most of ladies do not now look upon tan and freckles as disfigurements, if the latter are merely dependent upon the hot seaHon, and it would seem that many invited them as positive evidences of a summer’s out* ing. Those who feel otherwise and would protect themselves from these effects of tho sun would do well, besides wearing veils, to use powdered starch or tale on tho face before venturing out. Lemon juice has long been highly esteemed as a preventive against tan and freckles. Two tablespoonfuls of the juice to a pint of water is about the corect proportion. It will be more efficient if an ounce of alum is added to this quantity of the acid solution. Where summer freokles have formed, a different application will be needed, Among the recipes held to be of value, the following is recommended by a lady physician: Chloride of ammonium, one drachm ; distilled water, one pint; lavender water or cologne water, two drachms. The freckled skin should be gently dabbed with this lotion two or three times a day. If one becomes tanned, without freckles, and desires to clear up the complexion quickly she will find the following efficacious ; Lemon juice, rose water and alcohol in equal parts. After these are mixed together let the solution stand for a day and settle. Then pour the clear fluid off for use. If necessary, strain. This lotion may be used two or three times a day. After it has been applied the face should be wiped with a soft towel. The following cure for chilblains is said to seldom fail: —Make a poultice of bran and vinegar with a little lard to prevent it sticking. Then place each foot in a large piece of muslin and apply the poultice where there _ are chilblains, as hot as possible ; tie them up in flannel, and put the feet to a hot.water bottle, especially the affected parts. The pain will gradually get worse; it is rather bad to bear; but 15 or 20 minutes will do much good if the feet are kept to the heat, as that prevents the poultice getting cold, and allow ß the vinegar to remove all inflammation. I“*® application will not do for broken chilblains. The following, however, is good for them: Equal parts of spermaceti, white wax, an » olive oil simmered together and applied, low is also good for chopped hands or any woundsIt is a very valuable ointment.