HANDKERCHIEF MASSAGE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8309, 6 May 1905, Page 3

HANDKERCHIEF MASSAGE.

How to Obtain Fair Complexions ' "Without any Cost. A new form of facial treatment, which is said to have a good effect, is called handkerchief massage, and a great- point jn its favour is that it does not require the services of a trained assistant. Every woman may be her own masseuse, and all the paraphernalia required is a soft linen handkerchief, folded diagonally into a. space -about two inches wide. Knot the ends lightly, in order to keep the kerchief from unfolding, and also as a convenient means of using it, in the way here explained. A good massage cream .is essential, and it should be rubbed- into the skin well, with the finger tips after the face has been- thoroughly cleansed with warm water. Take the handkerchief, holding the ends lightly between the .thumb and first finger, and draw it quickly and firmly, twenty times to and fro across the forehead, first one way and then the other. . This is for the purpose of eradicating the. disfiguring vertical lines between the brows. Women who have tried this new facial treatment .say that there is something very soothing about the passage of the soft linen across the face, -and that, in a very few ininutes the creafn will be found to have been completely absorbed into the skin; leaving the surface soft and smooth. Hollow cheeks are the bane of so many women, and no facial defect usually responds lhore slowly to treatment than, this, unless it Jts due to a lack of teeth, a trouble the dentist can remove. But after handkerchief massage beneficial results are noticeable in a very short time. It ndust always be remembered that the most marked manipulations of the muscles of the face should always be upwards; consequently, with, the handkerchief held as before, between the thumb and fingers diagonally across the cheek,' the upward movement should be firm, the downward one very gentle. It is the province pf the firm upward movement •to improve the con. our of the face, while the downward one bestows upon it a gentle friction. Those ugly horizontal lines that appear between tbe eyebrows or just across the bridge of the nose, and that are supposed to indicate great clever-' ness, may be treated by a different movement — an up and down one, rather than one across. A double chin to most women is a very great disfigurement, but . let every woman take hope,, for the handkerchief massage will • cure or prevent it. Draw the handkerchief to and fro briskly twenty or thirty times twice or three times a day, always doing it first up one side and .then' up the other. Exert as much .pressure as possible 'and keep the chin well covered with cold cream in the meantime. The neck shows signs of wear and tear even more quickly than the face, but there also the handkerchief will be an aid. In order to tighten up the skin, tone the muscles, preserve and induce rotinded contours, what are known as tapping movements are invaluable. These should complete the beautifying process. Knot the ends of the handkerchief, hold it between the fingers, and gently flick the forehead, face, and neck all over. While doing the cheek smile broadly, in order to make the muscles hard. Conclude the treatment by gently wiping every trace of grease off the face, giving it a slight dust over with powder, and finally polishing it with a piece of chamois leather to remove all traces of gloss. '