TO TAN OR NOT TO TAN?

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20930, 8 January 1938, Page 14

TO TAN OR NOT TO TAN?

COMMON-SENSE METHODS Sun and salt water are rated as the finest beauty tonics—if taken in com- , mon-sense doses. But over-exposure to the sun’s rays on a hot. blazing day can only result in agonising blisters, red and inflamed eyes, and, definitely, 1 spoilt looks ... So be warned, you sun-lovers, who are looking forward so eagerly to days on the beach during this the festive season. Your best plan is to make a start on this sunbathing now—before the holidays arrive. And here is the way to tone up nerves and brain, increase the life-giving red corpuscles in your I blood, and get that bronzy-look going. Select a sunny, sheltered spot, slip into your bathers and expose your legs and arms for ten minutes only—and after smearing olive oil over them — to this vitalising morning sunshine. In three days’ time oil your back as well as your arms and legs, and bask for ten minutes each day. In six days’ time, smear olive oil on face, neck and chest (as w’ell as back, arms and legs), and sun yourself for ten minutes. Gradually increase to an hour or so. Then when you go down to the sea you will not come home flaunting a | raw, reddened, and soon a blistering skin and peeling nose. I have men- 1 tioned here the use of olive oil in preference to coconut oil. which is so generally used. The use of the latter turns the skin a deeper brown than the olive oil—not as becoming. You perhaps are wondering why oil is at all used. I'll tell you .. . The natural oils of the body must be rein- ; forced by oils put on from the outside if vou wish to sunbake, otherwise the i skin dries up. becomes leathery and wrinkles. Oil not only eliminates the possibility of a violent sun scorching of the skin, but keeps it supple the while it acquires its coat of tan. If. on the other hand, you do not wish to acquire this coveted tan or lobster-red when you go to the beach, your best plan is to take a bottle of calomine lotion and dab it on generously, especially on the nose, since this feature usually manages to catch more of the sun—and with disastrous consequences. Calomine lotion looks like a heavy powder on the skin, and many object to its use on this account. Before you go into the surf, however, you can save your skin much by rubbing into your face a protecting cream —any cold cream or reliable emollient will serve. A simple and very good home-made recipe which will keep your skin soft and pliant can be made as follows: Slice half a cucumber (don't peel it) into a small saucepan and add a small cup of milk, and simmer for an hour. When cool, press out the juice, strain, and to this add an equal quantity of almond oil and glycerine and rosewater. You can buy glycerine and rose-water ready mixed. Bottle, and shake well before using. And here is a tip in the interests of hair beauty. If you should get it wet, wash it at the first opportunity. . for salt water bleaches and makes it ! sticky, harsh and brittle.