THE QUEST AFTER BEAUTY

Ladies' Mirror, Volume I, Issue 3, 1 September 1922, Page 36

THE QUEST AFTER BEAUTY

Care of the Hands TjWERY woman who understands the care of her complexion knows that to keep it in perfect condition she must “feed” it by the regular application of cream or oil. The food which one takes to nourish the body is not sufficient of itself alone to feed the skin, which, unless it receives some external nourishment, soon dries up and becomes wrinkled and shrivelled through the action of the sun and wind upon. it. This applies particularly to the hands of the average woman, who has to contend with the drying effects of the constant application of soap. The use of reliable brands of soap must be urged, otherwise the result may be disastrous to the skin. If natural oils are dried up, the hands will appear old-looking and wrinkled long before they should, especially in the case of those women who possess very slender hands. Gentle Massage TTANDS which are beginning to -J”*- look dry and wrinkled should be given gentle massage with a liberal supply of skin food every night. After a couple of weeks of this treatment even very badly wrinkled hands will have become plump and youthful looking. When washing the hands, use warm, not hot, water; for very hot water has the effect of wrinkling the skin. Choose a good super-fatted soap and lather the hands well with it. Rinse in cold water, then rub into the skin a little vanishing cream or hand emollient, of which there are several that can be recommended. Very little will be required, but it must be well rubbed into the skin until it has been thoroughly absorbed, when it will not only feed but whiten the hands. A Simple Exercise When, besides being wrinkled, the hands arc red, it is a sign of a poor circulation. A simple little exercise which will help to improve matters - consists in holding the hands above the head and shaking them loosely from the wrist. Care should be taken to avoid anything tight in the way of gloves, as tight gloves arrest proper circulation and make the hands appear red and coarse. Points to Bear in ivlind rouius LU UCcll ill IVIIIHJ "jV/rANY women of over forty-five -L’-*- are quite youthful in appearance. Years come and go, and their friends . see very little alteration in them; then comes an illness, or perchance a great grief, and they are faced with the fact that youth has fled. Then comes the great temptation to try and recapture it, especially if they are business or professional

women, as to look young is an asset; but very often the means taken accentuate, rather than lessen ageing lines. ; Becomingly Dressed Hair .. For example, hair parted in the middle and dressed in the nape of the neck is exceedingly becoming to some youthful faces; but let a middleaged woman dress her hair in downward lines and she will add to her age. Again, many women' think that hats of mushroom and other downward shapes soften and hide lines round the eyes and ears. True, but only children and young girls and really old ladies look well in such shapes, and they are ageing to those in middle life. This also applies to strings and chin straps. Long carrings are decidedly ageing, and when worn by some young girls will give their faces quite a womanly look. They should be rejected by the woman over forty, and stud earrings should be worn instead. To shorten skirts slightly takes from age if the carriage and figure are youthful, but great discretion must be used in this direction. No amount of shortening of frocks can ever make a stout, middle-aged woman look anything but very ridiculous. .There are boots and shoes, short in the toes, which are distinctly suitable for the youthful, but there is also very smart footwear for the woman of middle age, and great care should be taken over the selection of shoes for both day and evening wear. Care should also be taken to see that gloves fit well. Morning Exercises "X>USINESS women don’t have enough exercise,” a doctor declared when treating a case of rundown nerves. Unfortunately, that is perfectly true, but how many of us have any time? The morning is one rush to get to the office, and in the evening one . is too tired. But if one can devote ten minutes to do a few exercises in the morning before the bath, much improved health will be the reward. Stand before the open window and breathe deeply, inhaling slowly, so that your lungs are filled to their capacity. Exhale just as slowly until the body is relaxed. Do this ten times, have a brief rest —for deep breathing is a tiring matter at the beginningbefore embarking upon other exercises. The next exercise is equally simple. Lie flat or. the floor with your feet beneath some heavy object like a chest of drawers. Put the hands behind the neck endeavour to attain a sitting position without bending the knees, and without any assistance from hands or arms.