THE WELL-GROOMED WOMAN'S MOTOR TRIP

Ladies' Mirror, Volume 3, Issue 4, 1 October 1924, Page viii (Supplement)

THE WELL-GROOMED WOMAN'S MOTOR TRIP

SUN AND WIND PLAY HAVOC WITH BEAUTY, BUT THE WOMAN OF FORESIGHT IS EQUIPPED FOR* COMBAT

11 JUST arrived by motor” is no sort of an excuse to-day for the well-groomed woman’s appearing at less than her usual best. She should arrive at the end of her journey of several days with her skin fresh and unburned, her hair smooth and shining and well-coifed, her nails just as she’d like to have them. Are there murmurs at these stringent requirements? It is not exactly easy, but it is worth while, surely, to be able to walk into the hotel where you’re breaking the trip, let us say, for a day or two, feeling that you’re doing justice to yourself, that it’s really you at your best. First of all— skin. Here, as nowhere else, must we remember the old, old adage about an ounce of prevention. Cure your skin of windburn, of freckles, of that harsh, dry, blown-to-pieces look, before those ills befall you. Before you start on a motor trip, cleanse the skin with a pure cleansing cream, very, very thoroughly, using the tips of the fingers to explore every nook and cranny of face and throat. , Work this in thoroughly, but gently, then wipe it, just as thoroughly and just as gently, with soft gauze or with the little cleansing squares of Japanese paper called Papiers Poudres. If your skin is inclined to be oily, you may then apply an astringent lotion, before the foundation cream. Before powdering, if you are wise, you will use a foundation cream that is not too heavy. Then powder thoroughly and scientifically, not forgetting a single eyelid or the tip of an ear! Be careful in

your choice of powder. The action of the sunshine on white lead in face powders is one cause of blackheads, which is sufficient reason for caution even if there were no other reason for not using zinc-leaded powder. There is any number of pure, good powders on the market, and a reputable house will tell you frankly which contain zinc, or white lead. Forbear rouge during the ride, which will probably give you plenty of colour anyway, for the action of the constant wind on the tiny particles of powdered rouge is not beneficial to the skin. So much for the preparation. At the end of the day’s journey you will probably want to rush immediately to your bath. You will long for hot water and soap, and plenty of it. But wait! Do not touch water to that sensitive skin of yours until you’ve taken off the dust of travel with a. soothing, emollient cream same cleanser you used before starting. Apply the cream liberally, but do not work in the first appli-

cation. Simply spread it on, and then wipe it off again, as gently as if your face were a baby’s, using the soft squares (with which you’ve supplied yourself plentifully!). After the first coating of grime is off, put on a second application of the cream, which should be worked in and taken off very thoroughly. Then (but not till then), if you are a disciple of hot water and soap, it is safe to bathe the face thoroughly, first with hot, then cold, water, then warm water again. Another excellent cleanser is almond meal. Use it after the cleansing cream. Simply moisten the face with warm water, put the meal on, and as it partly dissolves cleanse the skin as you would with soap. This is a good time to apply your skin food, if you feel that your skin requires it, and most skins will after the drying effect of the wind. For the bath itself, there are bath salts which come in most convenient packages. They are soothing and relaxing, and an especially valuable addition to hard water, making the soap lather more freely. We really should have spoken of the care of the hair before discussing the bath, for it is often a great saving of time to begin certain “beauty duties” to the hair before the bath, and to complete them afterward. As soon as you are free to begin your rites of cleanliness after the dusty ride, loosen the hair, if it is Ions:.

and, whether short or long, brush it thoroughly, preferably with a brush covered with antiseptic gauze. The loose weave of the gauze permits the bristles to penetrate, and an amazing amount of dust can be removed. Use as many fresh pieces of gauze as are necessary to make the last piece “come (approximately) clean.” Before we stray from the subject of hair, a word as to nets. If you never wear one at any other time, don’t neglect

it on the motor trip. Besides keeping the hair tidy, it prevents it from being roughened and broken by the wind, and minimizes the amount of dust accumulated. Of course, you will not buy nets indiscriminately. A really good net has a gloss and life of its own and, particularly in the chestnut and auburn shades, can add quite a bit to the live look of your own hair. See that the edge of the net is well under the hair at the sides, and secure it with the smallest size invisible

hairpins, twisted together to secure them. Your nails and hands are likely to suffer from the general drying out effect of constant wind. The travellers’ little manicure sets are indispensable, and contain supply enough for all but the most extended trips. Always remember that a little trouble taken at the right time, even though you are weary, will save much trouble later, and may prevent irreparable damage.