Feminine Interests

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 544, 22 December 1928, Page 20

Feminine Interests

THIN AT ALL COSTS SENSATIONAL CURES FOR TOO MUCH FLESH SLIM IN TWO WEEKS Americans in Paris liave just gone mad —there is no other word to express it —over the latest sensational cure tor anything approaching obesity. They must be thin at any price, for such is the demand o| Fashion. And it appears that an American doctor in the States has sold for SOO dollars to one of the leaders of society in New 'York an infallible remedy consisting of a twoweeks’ diet. Salads Are Important The fundamental rules are condensed in a few words: No sugar, no milk, no oil, no butter. Lemon for seasoning salads. Fish and meat always grilled, simply by placing them on the grill upon the fire. Americans are passing their spare time thinking out what is called combination-salad, as that takes a prominent place in the diet. Here, however, is the sheet in all its wisdom. Let those who will, follow and profit by it. MONDAY Luncheon.—Two egg's. Tomatoes. Slack coffeu. Dinner. —* Grape-fruit. Combination salad. One piece of dry toast. Black coffee. TUESDAY Luncheon.—Grape-fruit. Two boiled or poached eggs. Black coffee. Dinner. —Steak (grilled). Half a tomato with lettuce, celery, cucumber, olives. Tea or coffee. WEDNESDAY Luncheon. —Two eggs. Spinach. Tomatoes. Coffee. _ , Dinner. —Lamb chop (grilled). Celery. - Cucumber. Tomato. Coffee. THURSDAY Luncheon. —Combination-salad. Grapefruit. Coffee. Dinner. —Eggs. Cottage cheese. One piece of dry toast. Spinach. Coffee. FRIDAY Luncheon. —Two eggs. Spinach. Coffee. Dinner. —Fish (grilled). Combmationsnlad. One piece of toast or RyeVita. Grape-fruit. Coffee. SATURDAY Luncheon.—Fruit salad. Coffee. Dinner. Steak. Celery. Tomato. Cucumber. Tea or coffee. SUNDAY Luncheon. —Chicken. Tomato. Grapefruit. Coffee. Dinner. —Vegetable soup. Chicken. Tomato. Cooked cabbage. Carrots. Celerv. Grape-fruit. Coffee. Every day, except Sunday, for breakfast. —One boiled egg. Grape-fruit. Tea or coffee. On Sunday.—Grape-fruit. Tea or coffee. This treatment seems to the ordinary observer very drastic, but, i£ followed in every detail, will be found most efficacious. After the cure care must be taken to eat in moderation, or the diet will have to be repeated. A Simple Remedy Speaking to a well-known authority on all matters dealing with health, I asked his opinion on the treatment. He smiled, as all smile who have not made the chart, and said* “X have a simpler remedy. With a few piqures (sub-cutaneous injections) your weight is immediately reduced, and you can eat whatever you please.” These injections are, as ji matter of fact, his own discovery. Scientists tell you that it is injurious to lose more than one half-pound a day, and this establishes the value of the fortnight’s diet. The Massage Cure Another specialist recommends massage, and it is amusing to note the number of masseuses that have sprung up in Paris within the last few months. For, be it well understood, it is not only women who submit to thp manipulative treatment. Men nowadays who golf, swim, play tennis and attend gymnasiums with the object of decreasing weight, are now applying to ihe masseuses to smooth the lines from their face. The man who shaves every hair where hair will grow now requires face-massage. There are men who regularly three time's a week seek the beautifying care of a masseuse, and many of the latter are making an excellent living at this trade.

Hall's Sulphur and Sarsaparilla Salts. A great Spring and Summer Tonic, In the -form of an effervesing and delightful drink. Large bottle posted for 3s.—E. W. Hall, 117 Armagh St., Christchurch. 2.

AFTER THE HOLIDAYS SUNBURN AND FRECKLES OUT OF DATE Taking careful stock of her appearance after the all-too-short holiday, the average woman finds that she is sadly in need af a little extra beauty doctoring. It is not only sunburn and freckles, those “sun kisses,” as they have been poetically called, that must be removed hefore she can look her best at the coming dances and other social functions. Tiny wrinkles, that she feels sure were never there a few weeks ago, are noticeable around her eyes, possibly there is a trace of a slight “frowning” wrinkle, caused by eyestrain in the glare of the sun and the sea. and all of these must be promptly treated if they are _ not to develop into permanent lines.

To smooth <iv/ay the lines and soften and refresh the sunhurnt skin, give the face and throat an olive oil bath before massaging with your favourite feeding cream. Cleanse the skin and relax the pores (the most necessary part of massage for removing wrinkles) by applying hot moist towels to the .skin. Wring out a piece of Turkish towelling in very hot water, and apply it to the face for a few seconds. When the skin feels warm and moist, remove the towelling and, dipping the fingers into the olive oil, slightly warmed, go over the entire. face and throat, tapping the oil into the skin with the tips of the fingers. Let the oil soak well into the pores for a few minutes, and apply your feeding cream, massaging it into the face and throat in the usual way.

Recently - formed wrinkles will quickly yield to one or two such treatments, while even those of long standing can be made much less noticeable if massaged in this way. The Question of Your Hair

Even though a rubber cap has been faithfully worn for all sea-batbing, the hair loses much of its natural oil during the very hot weather, especially when the head has been left uncovered when sun-bathing. To restore this natural oil and give the hair a beautiful gloss, get two ounces of castor oil (this can be scented by the chemist if desired) and massage a few drops into the roots at night. In the morning shampoo with the mixture generally employed, dry the hair, and before brushing dip a perfectly clean comb into a mixture of one teaspoonful of castor oil and four of bay rum. Shake these two together in a bottle before pouring into the saucer, and comb through and through the hair. The bay rum “cuts” the oil and so distributes it evenly over the hair, nourishing it and giving a bf.iutiful gloss. Follow with a thorough brushing with a brush with fairly stiff bristles. And Don’t Forget the Hands

Remember that hands age more quickly even than one’s face, and it is useless to have a youthful face and old, wrinkled-looking hands. So when treating your face and throat spare a few minutes for the hands. A spoonful of ordinary cream (no matter if it has turned a little sour) to which three or four drops of simple tincture of benzoin has been added and well stirred together, makes an excellent “cosmetic” for the hands. It softens and bleaches them and prevents redness and wrinkling. Rub it well into the skin until all the cream has been absorbed by the pores.

NEW IDEAS FOR PILLOWS The oblong pillow perched on a bolster which has reigned supreme at the head of our beds for so long is rapidly being supplanted by a couple or more big, square pillows, flat and luxurious-looking, such as the comfortloving Frenchwoman has preferred for some time. The advantage of these pillows is that they give rest and support to the back and‘shoulders, as well as the head. Also they lend themselves to the display of most attractive pillow-slips. In the daytime, of course, in the modern way they are concealed in handsome silk and satin cushion covers, and Diled negligently on the bed. Ensuring Softness A bed pillow should contain real down or the softest feathers, and be well stuffed. A hard, flat pillow is the most uncomfortable thing in the world, and utterly sleep-destroying. It is wise to make pillows at home of down and feathers bought by weight, then the nicest adjustments can be made in the size and stuffing. Feathers will do for under-pillows, but those on which the head actually rests must be of down, or mixed down and specially chosen feathers. An inner case of ticking contains the stuffing, and is covered by an outer one of plain material, linen or satin, over which goes the dainty pillow-slip.

Washing satin and silk are alternatives with fine linen for pillow-slips.

NEW WAYS WITH WALL MIRRORS It is impossible to over-estimate the decorative value of the mirror in furnishing. According to the size and shape, and the style of framing, it will harmonise with any scheme of decoration, period or merely nondescript. Moreover, in the tiny rooms that are all that are allowed us in any ordinary priced house of to-day, we need the aid of the mirror to create an illusion of space. It is equally at home in sitting-room and bedroom, and in those dismal long passages that some of us know so well, it is a boon and a blessing. While frames of gilt, oxidised metal, and polished woods are still in demand, the popular modern way is to use the mirror frame as a means of introducing colour on to the walls. One firm of mirror makers lias specialised in this type of frame, which is lacquered and gilt in most attractive designs with a gilt ornament set in each corner. There are many sizes and shapes available in two shades each of four colours —jade green, crimson, lapis-lazuli blue, and black. Sizes vary from between 20in by Sin to 50in by ISin, all sizes fitted according to desire to hang, to stand upright, or to stand longways. In a dark corner there is nothing so effective as a brightly framed mirror above a side table laden with flowers reflected in the glass above. In a small bedroom where there is insufficient floor space to allow for a swinging cheval mirror, one of the long mirrors may he fixed to the wall, where it serves an equally useful purpose for dressing and is an ornament in addition. Really delightful for the dressing-table is a triple standing mirror. A large swinging centre-glass is fitted on each side with slightly smaller wing mirrors. These are charming in conjunction with dark polished wood, but those who like to Introduce bold colourful effects of their own imagining, particularly into guests’ rooms, will see opportunities in this mirror to enamel a table to match, and so create an attractive dressing-table. Equally up-to-date, of course, is the entirely frameless mirror. This type of looking-glass started life in the bathroom, but now there is a positive craze for it for all purposes. As a slight concession, however, to the more decorative demands of the sitting-room, the more attractive models have just a little ornamental metal work —generally in colour —at the top, from behind which spring the chains on which the mirror is suspended.

SALAD DAYS Cucumber Salad.—Thinly slice the cucumber, commencing at the thick end. Arrange on a plate with three thinly sliced spring onions. Sprinkle with salt, cover, and leave for half an hour. Pour off the juice which has escaped, arrange in. a salad bowl, and pour a dressing ovqr. Potato Salad. —For potato salad new potatoes should be boiled in their skins. Peel and leave till cold. Slice, arrange in a bowl, and pour over some mayonnaise thinned down with a little cream. Sprinkle with chopped parsley and decorate the howl with a frill of lettuce leaves standing upright. Potato and Beetroot Salad.—Cut half a dozen waxy potatoes into slices, and also thinly slice a cooked beetroot. Arrange alternately in a dish. Sprinkle with some finely-chopped parsley and also a little finely-chopped shallot. Pour over the following dressing: Dressing.—Required: 2 tablespoons boiled potatoes rubbed through a sieve, l tablespoon vinegar, 3 tablespoons salad oil, J teaspoon made mustard, sugar, pepper and salt. Sugar, mustard, pepper and salt should be added to taste to the potatoes. Mix well. Then gradually add the oil. stirring continuously. Finally add the vinegar.