Before the Mirror

NZ Truth, Issue 1145, 10 November 1927, Page 3

Before the Mirror

By MIMOSA.

My advice to smart women who demand the very best results, is to leave most toilet preparations alone. When facial applications are necessary, get . only the pure ingredients fust as they come to the chemist himself. I will tell you m this column from time to time just what to get and just how to use it. Do not be persuaded into buying some cheap toilet preparation instead. Any chemist can supply you with genuine original concentrated ingredients, if he will, and I know personally that most • firms' make a speciality of selling original packages of all kinds of pure ingredients neat, both direct and by post. I can point out to you, however, many useful hints, which involve no expense ■ at all " Beauty m Breathing." — Yes, indeed, a great . deal can be done toward brightening the eye 6 and complexion by systematic breathing for ten minutes each . morning and evening,breathe slowly and deeply to the fullest capacity of the lungs. You should stand erect by an open window. Of course, the corsets should not be worn during this exercise. " About Shampooing." — Even the best shampoo is somewhat drying, and if your hair is not naturally oily, 1 suggest that just before .the shampoo you apply olive oil thoroughly to the scalp, rubbing it into the hair roots vigorously. Then use pure stallax for the shampoo. Dissolve a teaspoonful m a cup of hot water. This will leave the hair very clean and glossy. " A Velvety Skin." — It is hard to tell you what kind of powder to use, sking vary so. 1 suggest that m your difficulty you use no powder at all, but apply a little lotion made by dissolving one ounce of clcminitc m four ounces of water. This gives a much better finish than any powder, suits all complexions, and stays upon the face during the most trying conditions, as long as you could wish. It makes the skin look very soft and velvety, and its use cannot be detected. , " Renewing the Complexion." — Yes, the discoloured, faded outer veiling of the complexion must be absolutely removed, and I know of no safe way to do this except to use a little Mercolized Wax, applying it at night like cold ! cream. The active principle m Mercolized j Wax soon absorbs the weakened and devitalised surface which so annoys you, revealing the fresh and beautiful young skin underneath, which is always there only waiting to be freed. The process usually takes about ten days, is quite harmless, and acts so. imperceptibly that no one can tell what you are doing. " Long. Curling Lashes." — Clipping thi» eye iashes is very often unsuccessful! They sometimes do not grow again. Far better to apply a little pure mennalinc with the fingers to the eyebrows and lashes just before . retiring at night. This greatly stimulates the growth, and darkens the colour of the hairs. " How To Make Hair Tonic." — There is no reason why you should buy the high.prifd liair- tonics you mention, when you can make just as good or better yourself at home. Get an ounce of boranium, and mix with a quarterpint of bay rum. Apply {this to the scalp each night, working it m with the finger tips, and m. a short time you should sec a considerable improvement, and find a complete absence of dandruff. " To Reduce Plumpness." — The latest method of reducing obesity certainly is far more, pleasant and convenient than all previous methods. It consists merely m taking clynol berries. The fat person who wants to reduce without the usual rigid diet, exercise, sweating baths, etc., now puts a few of these little brown berries m his or her -pocket and swallows three or four each day. Most chemists stock them. " The Rouge Question." — Complexions of your type never acquire a natural rosy tint, no matter what may be done for them. If you really insist upon a colour, let me dissuade you from your evident inclination to use rouge. A far more refined thing to do is merely to apply a, little ordinary colliandum with the finger tips, thus accomplishing the. desired result by a means which, is not obvious. " Annoying Odours."— 'The annoying _ odour you mention arises from an acid condition m the perspiration. It can easily be nullified by m occasional application of powdered pergol to the affected surfaces. " Removing Hair." — I always recommend caution m the selection of a hair remover, and therefore suggest that you only use powdered pheminol, instead of the depilatories you mention. This powder, applied direct to the superfluous hair, causes it to. wither and d>e m a few moments, when it can be rubbed off, leaving no trace. " About Soap." — I should say that your trouble is caused by the soaps you have been trying. Personally, I always recommend a soap called Pileuta, because I have never known it to fail to give satisfaction. It is an absolutely pure superfatted soap, designed exclusively for use upon delicate skins, and it has the most delightful perfume I have ever found. " Care of the Lips." — I regret to say lips like yours never will have a bright colour. They go with the type. I see no real harm m resorting to an innocent artificial aid, especially when it makes so much difference as m your case. The best thing for the purpose is just a little stick of plain prolactum; applied to the lips it gives a very* pretty natural colour, besides keeping lliem soft and moist.