Beauty Hints.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXI, Issue XVI, 17 October 1903, Page 64

Beauty Hints.

Why so many girls who are really clever and we ,, -inforine<l on other subjects will persist in ignoring advice on the care of the skin, until their complexions are irretrievably ruined, has always been a myatery to the average specialist. The leathery, coarse-pored, blowsy skins of the middle-aged women will not be found if the necessity and importance of just ordinary care can only be impressed upon those who are younger. Perhaps the hardest trial to which a sensitive skin is subjected is that of the constant exposure to the sun and water for several hours each day. The athletic maiden is so enamoured of the freedom her bathing suit allows that instead of redressing after her daily swimming exercise, she either paddles about near the shore or Iles on the beach for a rest with a beautiful disregard of the consequences following the exposure of the moist neck and arms to the rays of the sun- By the end o> several days of this pastime there will be a red or blistered skin that demands much attention, and is quite as uncomfortable as it is unattractive The patient specialist is beseeched and cajoled. commanded and entreated by all the arts that ran be employed to immediately repair the havoc wrought by this useless disregard of the simplest laws governing the subject. Of course, with sufficient care, the trouble is soon remedied, but the skin is not improved by the alternations of abuse and attention, and the frequent repetition of the experiment will positively result in a far from attractive condition- it i> to be deprecated, for such occurrences are so utterly unnecessary that one can nardly imagine a well-balanced human being deliberately subjecting herself to the painful consequences of this neglect. The remedy, as in most cases, lies in fully understanding how to prevent the trouble, and this will mean a knowledge respecting the various things that are extremely useful as aids. First of all. as every one knows that oil and water will not mix. it will be well to thoroughly anoint the exposed portions with a good oil or skin food before dressing for the water. This cream or oil must be thoroughly rubbed in to the skin, so thut none of it will by any chance adhere to the bathing suit and then the arms. neck, and face should be thoroughly powdered with this mixture. talcum. 2oz: powdered boric acid, loz: starch. 2oz. and powdered lycopodium. 2oz. It does not make an attractive preparation, as the lycopodium has a tendency to cling to the skin in a manner that makes it decidedly difficult to do much in the way of imparting a very artistic appear-

ance when applying it, but, on the other hand, it is really beneficial, so must be used.

Thus provided with remedies of merit, the fair bather may feel tolerably certain that, none of the former afflictions will overtake her. This belief may be made a certainty if. in addition to the preventive measures, sufficient eare is observed in sponging off the body with a lotion that will not irritate the skin: instead of employing soap and water for this purpose. Even the mildest of soaps must contain some alkali, ana. as in many instances any soap injures the skin, it is wise to avoid the chance in applying any substance of the kind to a surface that has already been subjected to quite a trial. ft 5s therefore better to use a lotion made by adding to one gallon of distilled water (ioz of borax. 4oz of glycerine, loz of benzoin, and a half-pint of alcohol. A silken washcloth may be saturated with the liquid and utilised in place of the sponge. As soon as this refreshing manner of bathing the body has been concluded, creme celeste or any other good creme may be applied, the usual powder dusted on. and my lady is ready for any evening function, with the satisfaction of knowing that face, neck and arms may be subjected to the closest scrutiny without revealing blisters or sunburned spots —a fact that is usually of sufficient power to bring a smile of gratification to the face of most mortals, even though they declare there is nothing of interest to them in the matter of beauty culture- Be that as it may. it is always advisable to add as much to the pleasure of any occasion by appearing to the best possible advantage, and the only women who can accomplish the feat are those who have utilised their brains in an effort to find the most practicable method of beauty culture-