CREAM, SOAP OR WATER?

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 October 1938, Page 8

CREAM, SOAP OR WATER?

A BEAUTY PROBLEM. Many women find it very difficult to decide which cleansing medium is best suited for their skin. Some make fabulous statements regarding the use of cold cream, whilst others are equally as positive that soap and water is best. Both of these media are good. It is a matter of intelligent use and skin study. Our pores cannot breathe when they are clogged, therefore they must be cleansed, and all particles of dirt and grime removed. Soap and water is excellent for this purpose, as there is no other agent which will more quickly gather up the particles of dirt, and seek the grime from the tiny crevices and pores, than soap. It will dissolve and remove natural oil and perspiration, and will kill many kinds of bacteria.

But if you use the wrong soap, or water which is too hard, your skin will be ruined.

Cold cream can also claim very many advantages. The surface of the skin must be lubricated if it is. to retain its suppleness. The dry, sensitive skin must be re-nourished, and soap and water cannot do this. On some types of skin soap has a tendency to make the skin peel. In cases like this cream is then the best. We can see, therefore, that neither method can claim many advantages over its rival. It is purely a matter of skin condition, and ’it is here that your own intelligence is required.

Soap-suds. First let us deal with soap, and see if it will suit your skin.

If your skin is normal you can wash it twice a day with warm water and any pure soap. The lather will remove all the dirt and germs and dissolve the oily film which has caked the skin. As soon as the skin is clean it will then replace its own oil. If your skin is very dry, and chaps easily in winter, or peels in summer, you should then use an oil soap, and after the skin has been dried you should then pat in a good nourishing cream. As we age this dryness will become more marked, and it may then be necessary to forego the use of soap, and to use cold cream only. When you know that you will be going out for the day, and that the skin will be exposed, you should then always use a protective cream prior to applying your make-up. An oily skin can be washed with soap and water several times a day without any ill effect. And, after the bathing, the skin should always receive a final rinse with cold water. This will act as an astringent, and will help to retard the activities of the oil ducts. A greasy skin can always stand plenty of vigorous treatment, and an astringent lotion cqn be applied at least once a day. • Cleansing Essential. Many beauty specialists advocate the use of cream only on the face, and base their claim on the fact that the skin over the face is very thin and fragile. Although this is quite true, it must also be borne in mind that, unless the skin is thoroughly cleansed, blackheads,. open pores, and many other skin blemishes will result. It is practically agreed that soap, although it may be a trifle drying, is the best cleansing agent. As neither cream nor soap can claim a preponderance of advantages over its rival, why not let us combine the two and we will then have a perfect method of cleansing and lubrication. Let us start the day with a good skin cleansing. Use plenty of soap and water, as this will have a stimulating effect and will rid the skin of the fatty and waste matter which it has accumulated during the night. And at night, let us apply our cream, so that its soothing action and nourishing benefits will quietly do their work whilst we sleep. Instead of allowing these two to be rivals, make them combine in the fight for beauty.

Night Tonic. In the morning wash the face in warm water. It must not be too hot, as this will encourage enlarged pores. And finish your washing with plenty of cold water. If the skin is very oily, a little eau de Cologne can be added to the water. If you have that rare type of skin which objects to soap try using toilet oatmeal. Tie a tablespoonful in a small muslin bag, and then dip it in the water, afterwards rubbing it all over the face and rinsing with clear water. After washing apply a little nourishing cream. At night time the tiny cells of the skin breathe and relax. All the skin impurities of the day are cast upwards and outwards, find if the pores are clogged blackheads and pimples will result. It is during these hours that the skin should be renourished and repaired. Therefore, dip your fingers into your cleansing cream and smooth it over your face and neck. Allow it to remain on the skin for a few minutes, and then remove with facial tissues. Then apply a further very thin coating of cream, and off to bed. Your skin will then be thoroughly re-nour-ished for the following day. Of course, if the skin is very oily, you will then substitute the use of an astringent cream for the usual nourishing cream. But bear in mind that beauty demands a clean skin, and that it must be washed in the morning and nourished at night.