BEAUTY CULTURE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 292, 4 August 1932, Page 3

BEAUTY CULTURE

R. M.

Blomfield.)

HOW TO KEEP BLOOM AND SOFTNESS IN THE SKIN. RATIONAL CARE.

(Specially written for the "Morning

Post" by

The importance of the skin as a protecting agent for tbe body is not realised to the extent it should be. The fact that rational care of the skin is neeessary to general health is now more and more recognised among a constantly widening circle of farseeing people. To retain its natural texture and beauty, the skin must be tended carefully and in a hygienic manner. If it is neglected it may easily hecome the carrier and distributor of disease germs of all kinds. Spots. A frequent source of spotted skin is a dirty, diseased^ ]or unwashed scalp. Many people, clean in other respects, do not wash their heads as often as they should — afraid they will catch cold, perliaps, or helieve that frequent washing is bad for the hair, or it may be that newly washed hair is "so hard to do anything with." The scalp needs frequent washing. The skin which bears the hair is very active and constantly puts out a greasy substanee called "sebrim." All skin sheds its dead scales, and from most parts of the body the scales get washed away, but those shed by the scalp beeome entangled in the grease and hair. This grease and scale mixture collect dust and make a most suitable place for microbes. Even persons with a normally healthy scalp find that the face tends to become "spotty" if the clealiness of the hair and scalp be neglected. There are various causes for spots on the face, but without a doubt one of them is a dirty scalp. Frequent shampooing as a remedy is obvious. Massage. All the physiological functions of the skin are stimulated by massage, and the greasy matter, loose scales and seurf are thus removed. When the dead layers of epidermis are removed, the skin becomes smooth, soft and elastic, and the power of secreting by means of the pores and sebaceous glands is thererby improved At the same time, the mechanical influence has a soothing and strengthening effect on the nervous system, and the nourishing and secreting processes of the whole system are increased and therefore a certain amount of work is taken away from various secreting organs. Complexion. We can readly see how important it is that the whol'e skin should be given care and attention if the complexion, as we usually call the skin of the face and neck, is to be restored to its natural freshness and clarity. Hourly the face is exposed to fioating dust, smoke and motor fumes which fill the air and adhere to the exposed delicate skin, already moistened by the slight water vapour which the poi-es are constantly giving off. Cleansing. It is not exaggerated care to remove dust, and the skin's own secretions from the face frequently during the day. In fact, one can scarcely cleanse the complexion too often, providing one uses the correct materials and methods. At Night. Especially important is the cleansing of the face before retiring at night. The face and neck should be cleaned in the first place with a good, reliable cleansing cream, the choice of which in each individual case is of the utmost importance. The cleansing cream should never be rubbed into the skin; it should be spread lightly and generously over the whole surface of the face and neck and then wiped off with a soft, clean cloth. Again cover the whole surface with cream and then gently massage for a few minutes. In the case of a dry skin, wipe the surplus cream very gently off with a soft cloth. The cream remaining will be absorbed during the night. But if the skin be oily, it should be thoroughly washed with r soft water and fine soap and given a final rinse in clear water to which has been added a few drops of eau de Cologne. Dry gently with a soft towel. A little astringent lotion should be dabbed all over the face and neck with a piece of cotton wool immediately after washing and drying. Morning Treatment. In the morning a cold water rinse will he sufficient, followed hy a light application of a reliable vfanishing cream, before powdering. With a dry skin, it is advisabla to massage the face with cold cream and wipe as clean as possible with cotton wool or a soft cloth, before applying the vanishing cream. Necessity of Exercise. It is very neeessary for the health to promote the normal action of the skin by clealiness, correct clothing and exercise. There is no better means of preserving ths elasticity and bloom of the skin than daily exercise in the open air. If this is wanti.ig, cosmetics, steaming, electricity and all other treatments can be of only more or less temporary value.