Women and the Home

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16928, 30 December 1922, Page 4

Women and the Home

CONTRIBUTIONS BY SPECIAL WRITERS

HOW TO PREVfeNT SUNBURN AND FRECKLES.

In every form of beauty culture prevention is always better than cure and never more so than in the case of sun • burn and freckles, for, while both are comparatively easy to prevent, freckles at least are very hard to remove. The finer and clearer the skin the more liable it is to burn and freckle, and while a slight taji is often very attractive. the “red” form of sunburn, from which most fair complexioned women suffer, is not only very unbecoming but generally extremely painful. A GOOD LOTION. The girl who freckles easily should not use soap and water on her face in the morning. Hot water and soap <1 desired) may be used at night, but in the morning the face should be with milk and water (half a pint of milk to a wash basin of warm water). After thoroughly drying the face dab it over with a lotion made by mixing half a pint of double distilled rosewater with the same quantity of elderflower water. Put these two together in a basin, and add. drop by drop, an ounce of simple tincture of benzoin. The mixture should be stirred occasionally while the latter is added, then bottled and corked. After being dabbed over the face and neck the i*»fci in

should be allowed to dry on the skin and a slight dusting of complexion powder given. Tho regular use of fresh buttermilk is another sure means of preventing freckles and sunburn, but. as fresh buttermilk can only be obtained by those who live near a farm, it is a remedy which is not within tho reach of everyone. A simple, inexpensive “foundation” for complexion powder which is of great assistance in preventing sunburn and freckles cap be made at home, but only the quantities given should be made at one time, as the preparation must be fresh to have the desired effect Strain the white of a perfectly fresh egg into a cup and beat it to a light froth. Add the strained juice of half a lemon. Place the cup in a pan of boiling water, and stir continually til the mixture thickens to a smooth paste.. Place in a pomade pot and allow to cool. APPLYING THE PASTE. When required rub a little into the' face and neck, using the tips of the fingers and rubbing very lightly. Allow to dry on the skin, then rub over with a soft towel, and apply a dusting of powder. When first this paste is applied the skin will feel sticky, but as soon as it has dried and the lias Iteen rubbed over the face all trace of stirkness will disappear and the slight coating given to the skin is a sure pre iention of both freckles and sunburn.

SPANISH SHAWLS. HOW TO MAKE THEM AT HOME. Spanish shawls will be more fashion able than ever this season and the woman who would not like to possess one is in the minority. They make ideal wraps for dances and theatres during the summer months while for fane dress they are always acceptable. Put the price, which varies from 15 guineas to 50 guineas, is prohibitive to many. If, however, a girl he clever with her needle, then she can contrive a really smart and effective shawl at home jo: a comparatively trifling sum. FOLD ON THE GROSS. To do this obtain a length of good thick crepe do chine in white, black, or whatever shade preferred, and fold ?t on the cross to form a perfect square. Cut this square off. Crepe de chine is generally about 40in *wide, so the square will measure 40in each way, and as this is hardly large enough for a smart Spanish shawl four lengths of the crepe do chine 12in wide and the width of the crepe must also be cut. C able stitch these four lengths to the four edges of tho square of crepe and arrange the corners in mitre shape, very carefully cable stitching the seams together. Get four large transfer patterns in a bold flora! design and lion one off lightly on ear-h corner of the shawl. placing the pattern so that it will reach from the extreme edge of the added border to six or more inches above the line of cable stitching. The design should Then be worked in embroidery silks to match or tone with the colour of the crepe de chine. When white or black crepe is employed for making the shawl a smarter effect will be obtained by working the embroidery in self-colour than in a contrasting shade, but on coloured shawls coloured embroidery can be introduced with excellent results. The edge of the shawl should .be finished with a deep fringe from Bin to 20in wide, according tj taste, and-the result will be hardly distinguishable from a real Spanish or Chinese shawl at a fraction of the cost of either.

HOW TO WEAR THE SHAWL. When folding a Spanish shawl for wearing fold it on the cross, but not exactly in two. _ ft is best to allow the deptli of the fringe on the upper Bide. When worn as an evening wrap tb9 6hawl should never be drawn up close to the throat, as to do this destroys ail its beauty. It should be allowed to hang gracefully from the shoulders with the deep point in the centre of the back. BEAUTY’S DIET. DURING A HEAT WAVE. During a heat wave the question of a correct diet is of great importance to every woman, but especially to those who wish to possess a beautiful skin. A menu consisting of foods that are too heating will soon make the most perfect complexion red and blotchy, and 1 for this reason, if for no other, fruic and salads should figure/ very largely at every meal. MEAT ONCE A DAY. It is a great mistake to eat meat more than once a day during very hot weather. Stewed fruits, cooked Vegetables, and egg dishes should replace it at all exoept the chief meal of the day. Eor keeping the blood cool, and consequently the complexion clear and fresh, there is nothing to equal a simple salad of lettuce or lettuce and watercress and the would-be beauty will do well to substitute a few drops of lemon juice for vinegar when mixing the dressing. inegar is by no means a friend to a pretty complexion and the lemon juice will be found quit** as satisfactory for blending with the oil. Those who arc inclined to feel “liverish during a hot spell should remember that tomatoes have an excellent effect on tho liver and.should be taken j either raw or cooked as preferred. To I allow your liver to got out of order i means spoiling the beauty of your eyes, j for everyone knows that a sluggish liver means dull, heavy-looking eyes with a yellowish tinge to the whites and dark circles-beneath them. And remember to drink plenty ol pure cold water. The very latest American beauty treatment, and it is a most excellent one, consists in drinking at .least two quarts of cold water daily. The first glassful should he drunk on rising and the last at night, just, before retiring, the other six glasses being distributed during the day Some mav be taken at meals and tho others between meals. If at first the quantity is found to he too groat, start with one quart, or. if the taste of the water palls, a. little fruit syrup may bo added, but it is best to drip It plain water if possible. This treatment is now being followed by two of the mos£ famous actresses in London. A BENEFICIAL EFFECT. The nervy, overstrung woman, who is inclined to indulge too often in a cup of tea. will find that a glass of cold water, drunk slowly, will have a much more beneficial, though perhaps not so stimulating, effect upon her and will certainly he a greater beautifier. FURBELOWS. FASHIONS AND FANCIES. (By Our Fashion Expert.) Summer frocks are a veritable riot of oigandi, and quaint old-fashioned flounces and tucks. Vieing closely with tJ-.ose old-world fantasies are petalled panels, which grace all kinds of robes trom the most elaborate evening creations to the simplest afternoon gowns. Sleeves sometimes threaten to outstep t.he bounds of sanity ; and some dresses wx s., voluminous are the pagoda sleeves which are their ‘feature.’ The other extreme is the sleeveless gewn ; though in between there is variety enough to satisfy every Eve who eter lingered before a mirror. Threequarter length • just-above-tbe-elbow length ; a. couple of inches of lace; you may choose which .you will according to the perfections or limitations of your aims, particularly of wrists and elbows. Obviously there has been an outcry against the ultra high neck wnich characterised some of the early new models, for their successors have an r.ainost exaggerated decolletage. Perhaps the prettiest is the decolletage to the waistline, which permits the beauties of point d’Alencon or delicate silver or gold, brocade to prove how lovely a thing a chemisette can be. THE UNDERSKIRT. Not to be confounded with the petti-coat-in-ordinary, the underskirt is another feature of the new gowns, and is mi elaborately .-designed creation destin-

ed for alliance with a delicate overdress, j scalloped and slashed to draw due attention to the all important jupe beneath. Besides translating the idea to flic rather overworked black shadow loco * tunic over gold or silver, it is being exploited by a big French house in the , most charming way'; to wit, a simple '■ white orgaudi- frock over a pale blue • silk “ undie,” a maidenly girdle of pale iniie ribbon repeating the blue note at 1 the waistline of the organdi. Natural ; tu&'sor© over old gold silk, with a giant ! black velvet rose at the left hip, is j another pretty conceit. BEADED MOUSSELINE. The elaborately' beaded mousscline I that once was familiar in evening scarves now goes to the creation of some of the handsomest afternoon gowns. Tete de negro mousselino witli old gol .1 headed surface is irresistible over rust crepe de chine, witli a girdlcof rust and yellow, and a judicious touch of black. V'hito mousseline with black beading is. equally attractive, as is the big black lace bat with a “ chou ” of .soft merve ribbon that is worn with it. Those arc ‘ safe” schemes; there arc others more riotous that will not appeal to every woman ; vivid purples and magenta., and jades and parrot yellows bestarred with silver beuds. Very arresting, but distinctly reminiscent of the Arabian Nights; ar.d perhaps a Montmartre version of them at that. HAT FANTASIES. To “ wangle ” in one setting as many colours as you possibly can seems to lx* ihe motif of some of the foremost milliners. Their creations show a brim, say of jade green, with a crown of palest primrose yellow, trimmed with roses in their natural colours! It sounds rather fearsome, but the effect is charming. Hats of organdi and liuen to match the summery frocks that are venture, and for these ribbons rosettes and streamers are the favourite trimmings. Straw brims and fabric crowns are very much a la mode, silk or crepe de chine being allied to fine straw very happily, the soft fabric forming also the underlining of the straw brim.