Summer Toilet Hints.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLI, Issue 24, 9 December 1908, Page 39

Summer Toilet Hints.

Just now the war which is being waged against freckles and sunburn is fully occupying the attention of the woman who suffers from these summer scourges in a greater or lesser degree. Stationary freckles are, of course, impossible to eliminate. and should be accepted with due resignation, but in many cases both prevention and cure are well within the power of most people, and quite simple means can be employed. Lemon-juice represents a most valuable toilet asset in this connection, but in some cases it has an irritating effect upon the skin, and cannot therefore be recommended universally, although nothing is better

for the hands than to be rubbed over immediately after washing with a eut lemon. For enlarged pores on the face, the simple method of making a solution of alum and water has been suggested as a

cure, and in lieu of this a good method is to apply a lotion of pure lemon-juice and a little glycerine, provided its application proves harmless to the skin. All women who suffer in this way should be careful not to expose the face to the open

air directly after washing it in hot water, sponging the face in cold water or tepid water being the best method of closing the pores after using the hot water. Luke-warm water is, however, far better for the skin than that which is really

hot, while in cases where soap is used too much care cannot be extended on tin choice of a soap which suits the skin and this should be adhered to on all occa sions. The practice of eating an ice or drink

ing iced beverages immediately after indulging in hot soup or anything of the kind is exceedingly liad for the digestion, and doctors are all in accord in condemn ing it. Another evil which is equally to lie deprecated is that of eating anything after a heavy dinner at night and imine diately before going to bed, an exception being, however, made in the case ot a glass of hot milk. An excellent provision for every washing stand is a perfumed flannel soap bag. which can be hung upon a nail or in a string sponge-bag over the washing appa ratus, and can be used for cleansing the hands, 'lhe bag should be filled with a mixture of a pint of bran, half an ounce of almond meal, half an mince of orrisroot and a little pure white soap shredded down finely and sifted well through the powdered ingredients. This makes a delightful mixture, deliciously perfumed and wonderfully soft for the hands after ex posure to the sun in the hot weather, the bag being tied with a piece of tape when filled, and dipped in the warm water in which the hands are washed, and rubbed over the backs and palms till a soft glow is experienced. Much belief is placed nowadays in the value of a hot bath as a nerve tonic, but the action of the hot water will be found Io be enormously increased if a sufficient quantity of some aromatic substance be added to it. The pine-bath has a value all its own,and as an alleviation in ease of rheumatism and stiffness it has been tried with considerable success, while if taken after severe exercise of any kind, it will be found wonderfully refreshing. In the country nothing is simpler than to prepare a bath of this description—all that is required being pine cones and needles, which are usually easily procured. For a single bath, about a poun I of the needles and cones is required, and tiles should be crushed into small pieces and boiled for about forty minutes in a saucepan ful of water, the liquid after it has been strained, being then added to the bath. Another excellent mixture may be made of tincture of benzoin and tincture of camphor, in the proportion of an ounce of the former to two ounces of the latter, mixed with 4ozs. of can de Cologne.’ Sufficient of the liquid should be added to the bath to make it niilkv.

LADIES HOCKEY IX ENGLAND—MIDDLESEX v. HAMPSHIRE AT KEW Middlesex won by 5 goals to 2.