MY FACE IS MY FORTUNE

Ladies' Mirror, Volume 4, Issue 6, 1 December 1925, Page 63

MY FACE IS MY FORTUNE

PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE AND EVER SO MUCH EASIER TO ACHIEVE

PREVENTION, as we know, is better than cure —and where the care of the complexion is concerned, is ever so much easier, too. This is particularly true in connection with the harm which accrues from actual burning of the skin. If we only take sensible precautions in time, we shall be able to face the fiercest rays of the sun undismayed, and both add to the freedom of our enjoyment and increase the healthfulness of our being in the process. The first thing to remember is the danger of water. Nationally we love “washing,” and there is no doubt as to the refreshment of plunging face and arms into cold water in hot weather. It is, however, the surest way in which the mischievous rays of the sun can be attracted, and if we want to get as brown as the proverbial berry and have the pecu-

liar pigmentation which renders this possible, the best thing we can do is to wipe the face over with a wet, cold sponge just before we go out, and after we come in. If, on the other hand, we want to prevent the burning which is always harmful and generally ugly, this is precisely what we must avoid doing—and even if we arc bent on getting brown, in view of Scottish tweeds and the moors, the process must only be very occasionally indulged in, so that mere tinting, and not burning, may only result. It calls, I know, for some self control to resist the refreshing, cold douche on coming in sometimes. From the point of view of cleanliness, however, the comfortable practice is negligible. Water alone will not cleanse the skin, as we may often remind ourselves with advantage. ' I 'HERE are one or two processes ■*- open to us. If the skin has not been much heated, one of the soothing, milky emulsions may be applied with all the good in the world; but if we have been really scorched it is better to leave all liquid alone for several hours, applying a “comforting” powder—a talc powder, for example—thickly, leaving this on for ten minutes, and then removing it thoroughly with cotton wool. If

we like to use our usual very good face powder for the purpose, we can leave just sufficient on for appearance’s sake; but it needs a good bit to cool and clease the skin, and so expense may have to be considered. One of the recognised talc powders are inexpensive and excellent. Roughness of the surface, so slight perhaps as to escape notice in the ordinary way, is one of the signs to note; so is any inclination to swelling around the edges and sides of the lips and mouth, in particular. General discoloration of the skin will again be obvious if it has taken place in any untoward fashion, and so will the summer freckles which are usually better removed at once. TN these directions cure may be called for, and this will mean securing the special lotion or prepara-

tion needed. Freckles, for example, yield to treatment easily enough, provided it is properly directed, which means that not only must the right preparation be employedone or two of outstanding virtue are available — that it must be carefully used according to the directions. Tan or other severe discoloration follows in the same category, though it may be worth noting, in case one is away from ready help, that a really good eau-de-Cologne, applied by dabbing freely through the medium of cotton wool, with a liberal application of face cream afterwards, does admirable emergency service here. For the roughtening, amounting to actual peeling of the skin, which results from exposure to sun and wind when careful precautions have been omitted, again remedial measures are needed promptly. Premonitary warnings of what is happening are seen in the careful scrutiny advised, when powdering of the surface is noticed even though actual roughness is not yet visible. XTOW this means a great deal more than the surface injury, ugly though this may be; for the damage done forcibly extracts the natural nutriment of the skin, and

unless preventive measures are taken, early lines and wrinkles will result, to say nothing of the coarsened, weather beaten appearance with which we are only too familiar in these sport-loving days. It is no good lightly dabbing a face in such condition with lotion or cream, no matter how good in themselves. What is wanted is regular treatment, and one repeated on successive days if possible, and if the mischief is considerable. r I 'HIS will mean at least half an hour’s seclusion, the bulk of that time spent lying back quietly in an easy chair, with a thick layer of cream over the face quite a thick one, and of a cream possessed of soothing, healing properties, not one which either feeds or cleanses the skin necessarily. After this has been in place for as long as can be allowed, and has been gently removed, pieces of lint should be taken, cut roughly to the shape needed, soaked in a soothing, milky emulsion, and placed in position, where they will stick on account of their moisture. As they dry they should be re-soak-ed, and if the process can be repeated several times, so much the better. An oblong piece will cover the forehead if this has suffered, a square shape be laid easily over the nose, and a circle cover the chin, while

for the cheeks heart-shaped pieces are best, but with the pointed ends inclining to one side so that they come down by the nose and side of the mouth, the other side curving from below the temple round the jaw bone. As I say, the longer that can be devoted to this duel process the better. If it can be only the half-hour, nearly twenty minutes should be given to the cream (which must, of course, be carefully removed with soft muslin and cotton wool before the soaked lint is called into service), the remainder to the lotion, and, roughly, this is the proportion into which the time available should be divided. At its conclusion, the face should be gently dried by dabbing with cotton wool—you will remember what I have so often stated, that one cannot treat skin which has been sunburned with too great gentleness—and finally dabbed again with some spirituous lotion, or failing that, with good eau-de-Cologne, which, evaporating, leaves it delightfully cool and fresh, as well as T ‘toned up” after the experience through which it has passed. Meticulously clean, too, so that, when dressing time comes, all that is needed is the usual application of powder, touch of colour or what not, for a perfect effect. —X.Y.Z., in Eve.