The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-04
WAFACE Is MADE PRETTY
The Use of Cosmetics by Ladies in Beau
tifying the Complexion.
The Wax-Like Beauty Derived from Grease
Paints--The Use Of Arsenic as Means
Of Embellishing the Complexion.

VI IulUtliiSuiHg the COMPLEXION.
What are cosmetics9 That admirable collec
ton of words compiled by the late Mr. Noah
Webster, and so which numerous valuable add.
tiors have been made by his heirs and assigns,
informs us that cosmetic is ian external appli
cation that helps to beautfy and improve ths
complexion The sagacious and conscientious
physician will tell us that true cosmetics for
Identifying the complexion are not the produc-
ton of the chemist at all, nor are they exclu
svely external application. Air and water ex.
ternally applied are excellent cosmetics but
wholesome food exercise and good digestion are
efficient colleagues.
The least harmful of the preparations of art
are the chalk powders, which are sold under va
rious euphonic and fancful names For the
most part these tablets are composed of chalk
finely levigated and made into mass by the adj
dition of sufficient plaster OF paris to make
the mass hold together. Finer powders, those
with smoother finish, have added to the chalk
a small quantity of talc-thatis is, soapstone-and
perhaps few drops of oil are added to heighten
the gloss. Some of the French tablets have q
proportion of bismuth. The bismuth prepare
tons are high-priced, and, for that reason, not
in popular demand Neither are these prepara-
tions as harmless as those of pure chalk
The dangerous face preparations are, for the
most part those which come in liquid form.
Many women have formulas for making these
whitewashes for the physognomy. fav orite
among these is one containing flake white. Said
an apothecary to the writer: II have sold flake
white TO thousands of women. 1t is nothing but
refined white lead. / have sold it TO certain Gus
toners until have seen twitchings of the facial
muscles sufficient TO indicate premonitory symp-
toms of paralysis
A number of the LIQUID preparations popular
in the market made of oxide of zinc, sus-
pended in perfumed water and glycerine This
is usually put up in thick Opaque bottle, as when
exposed to the action of q strong light it will in
time, become d dark brown or even black. Zinc
has slightly astringent properties, and as it
closes the pores reduces the exhalations that
nature demands
The least harmful of the preparations sold in
the shops and stores is prepared chalk. The
best prepared chalk in the world is now made in
the United States, but as the chalk cliffs of old
England have the reputation the
American manufacturers compromise with
the prejudice of custom by furnishing their
product embellished with British label
The lady who wishes to dry her face 1.-THE preva-
lent excuse for using cosmetcs) can do with
carbonate OF magnesia or starch either OF which
will "kil" the glossy effect of soap without seri-
Gus obstruction to the pores OF the skin. Many
of the powders, tablets and liquid preparations
sold are slightly pinked. the cooring materials
used being rosanline. carmine. There is not
In this city any great sale OF rouge, except TOR
stage use-the cothurnate stage, not the tally-ho
coach or the little red wagon What are called
grease paints" are in demand now by stage pee
pie, both professionals and amateurs The
grease paints in crayons, with all
colors requisite for make up, and of vari-
Gus sizes, including the slender ones suitable
for lining delicate black or brown lines for
wrinkles. These paints. after they are put on
are covered with powder. Rouge is used for the
cheeks and lips. and the eye -brows and lasnes
made darker and heavier by these little PEN
ellis. Many use it on the edges of the upper and
under lids of the eyes. giving the eye larger
appearance. Tie grease paints, an Indianapolis
dealer says, are now used great deal by ladies
going to balls and parties. The effect is a beau
tiful, smooth complexion, and it makes wax
like coating over the face which is perfectly inn
pervious to perspiration For this reason, it ID
said, the paints used even more in the sum
mer than in the winter.
At one time in this city it was suspected that
number of women were using arsenic internal
ly means of identifying the complexion. the
use of this deadly poison being credited with
bringing about clear complexion and fair skin.
A death once occurred in Indianapolis due to an
accidental overdose of the poison, taken by q
young lady who had begun the use of the dan
eerous beautifer. Another woman, not of good
reputation, but noted for the transparency of
her skin. died victim to arsenical dropsy The
long-continued use even of what are called harm
less cosmetics caused the veins of the face to
show more plainly, no matter how smooth and
velyety the skin may appear. 1t also makes
wrinkles, and doubtless many a user of powder
or whitewash in preparing her face for the
beautif er, when she looks into the glass, is
shocked at the frightful ravages of time, as
shown In the burrows plowed about her eyes.
Immediately, with trembling hand, she show.
ers the cosmetic on thick and fast, and, with the
wrinkles hidden she heaves sigh of relief, anC
joy and pride again light her eye.
In the slow and behold" style, made fashion
able by the new court at Washington the use of
cosmetics, owing to the increased number of
superficial inches to be covered, is attended with
no little expense. OF these preparations a
number of them, particularly those containing
white lead, flake white. oxide of zinc calomel
las some of the liquids dol, cannot come in con-
tact with certain gases likely to be in the atos-
phere without startling results. In room
in which there may be escaping
gas for instance, largely composed OF sulphuret-
ted hydrogen, parian beauty mayin the twink
ling OF an eye be changed to sckly yellow and
in second twinkle perhaps turn to brown or
black.
1t is told of Washington belle who had az
quired the habit of whitewashing herself almost
from the soles of her feet the roots of her hair
with cosmetics that she one day took indicated
BATH and on coming out was Mortified to discover
that her bust and arms, down to that line des-
cribed by Washington correspondents as mark
ing the outposts Of proper exposure. had turned
as black as an Ethiopian. She sent for her ply
stefan IL great haste. On his arrival, he exam
ined the once fair patient and, laughingly, said:
MADAM, you not i'll. You are simply a
chemical product. You are simply sulphide.
1t is now only question Of chemical reaction.
shall prescribe bath of sulphuric acid largely
diluted with water. The acid will combine and
take up the sulphate, and we shall have. as the
precipitate, very handsome woman The
young lady took the bath, and emerged as white.
and bright, and glowing Venus rising from
the wave. 1t would be we'll If the moral could
be appended, that from that time forth she abb
jured the use of cosmetics. But she did not
She only changed the brand of beautifer.
The Only Way to Keep Going.
M