You AND BEAUTY

New Zealand Listener, Volume 5, Issue 118, 26 September 1941, Page 44

You AND BEAUTY

AN OILY SKIN

F you have the kind of nose that powder just slides off, if healthy outdoor exercise brings a shine to your whole face as well as to your eyes, you are probably suffering from a too oily skin. There is nothing you can do about this, The oiliness or otherwise of the skin is regulated by glands, the functioning of which is beyond our conscious control, All we can do is to disguise surface oiliness by outside applications, and to remove the products of oil secretion from the skin surface. The most important thing is external cleanliness. Soap and water are of great help in the prevention of an oily skin. Just as soap is capable of removing grease from dishes, it can remove oil from the surface of the skin, and by working the soap-lather into the skin by gentle massage, you can empty the contents of the oil-glands on to the skin, where they can be washed away. The general principles of face massage are that it should be gentle, and that its direction should correspond to the mould of the features. Massage from the bridge of the nose to the corner of the mouth, and out from the sides of the nose across the cheeks, paying particular attention to the crevice around the nostrils, where blackheads are particularly likely to form. After cleansing, splash the face with ice-cold water, or use some form of astringent, such as witchhazel, diluted with two parts of water. You may find that some form of lotion gives better results with an oily skin than a vanishing cream, Try using some simple preparation such as almond and benzoin, or glycerine and rosewater, in place of heavier preparations. Oily Skin and Diet Many people believe that an oily skin is the direct result of a diet too rich in fats. There appears, however, to be little connection. The oil glands of the skin do not depend upon fat from food. Sugars and starches in the diet have a moré direct effect on the skin as excessive sugar in the blood-stream encourages the breeding of the various infections that tend to find a home in the overoily skin. There is far less likelihood of the spread of various skin disorders if the sugar content of the diet is considerably reduced. The best way to do this is to place increasing reliance upon fruit and vegetables in the diet. Drink a vegetable broth by simmering together as many kinds of vegetables as you can obtain, And drink plenty of water.