Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-29

cosmetic agents is welcome. The true COS
metics are the medicines Of the skin, and
those who take it upon themselves to de-
nounce cosmetics, to be consistent, should
never use salFe or oil on q sore lip, or rub
cold cream on q sunburnt face. The COS
metics to be denounced are those paints and
powders which merely plaster over the de-
fects Of the face without removing them in
any degree.
A REVoL UTIoE IN COSMETICS.
The latest practice makes a revolution in
cosmetics and skin medicines Glyeerine is
found almost non-absorbable by the skin,
and produces so much irritation that it falls
into disuse by dermatologists. Like all IL
ritating applications it tends to produce
down on the face. GlyceEine Jelly is the
jelly Of starch combined with glycerine, and
forms nice hxative for the hair, but is not
highly serviceable to the skin. DR.. Unna,
the distinguished German authority shows
that the sole Office OF fats on the skin or
body Is to prevent evaporation Of sweat and
retain animal warmth. The layer Of fat
serves as layer Of clothing, and nations
who annoint themselves do it as protection
from heat or cold alike. Olive and almond
oil are slowly absorbed, lard passes more
quickly and is considered superior to ban
doline for promoting absorption of drugs,
while vaseline not only is not absorbed, but
contains irritating qualities which discolor
the skin and produce growth Of down if
continued. Numbers of private letters the
last year complain of this result from using
vaseline on the face. Its value for the hair,
however, cannot be too highly urged.
The safe cosmetics for the skin must be
without fatty matters as far as possible,
rather alkaline and cleansing, while protect
ing the face from the air. Old cosmetic for
mulas renew their significance, for the
makers might not have our glYcites and
obites to compund, but they knew better
than we the practical value Of mueilaginous
pastes and lotions. Poppaa, wife of Nero,
nightly plastered her face'with a paste Of
barley flour and asses milk, and she could
hardly improve on her practice to-day, bar
ley being muellaginous and the milk Pc
euliarly softening to the skin. Still, the
newest cosmetic, which is paste, forming a
pearly film over the face, is rather more ele-
giant in looks than Poppaa's pohlticing.
This new preparation. which has hardly lett
the laboratory, is an ideal cosmetic, without
fatty base or irritant qualities, protecting
the skin to its least fold, as a mask cannot
do unless fitted to each particular face, and
and hardly then. 1 do not decry the use of
the mask, but must say the pearly paste is
preferable.
RAIN FOR FLOWERS AND FACES.
One of the best ways of freshening the
complexion is to expose it freely to the
rain. A long walk, with the soft rain play
ing in ones face, is a thorough beauti6er,
which umbrellas have robbed us of long
enough. Equipped in waterproof cloak
and cap of storm serge, leaving the face
quite bare one should walk hours at least
to get the full benefit of the rain. Not
only the rain but the Vapor-laden air soaks
the tissues, washing the skin more thor
oughly than u Turkish bath, filing out the
shrunken skin, parched by house heat, and
obliterating fine wrinkles. Sleep and walk
ing in the rain are two great aids to beauty
which preserved the charms of Diana of
Poitiers, who never allowed weather to keep
her indoors, and who never lost an um-
brella because she never had one.
Spraying the face with water from an
atomizer every night for 15 minutes will
soften the complexion whitening by indoor
dryness. It is q fact that within a month
after the steam is turned on, or the furnace
going, fine lines and wrinkles begin to show
in faces which the coast fogs had sent home
fair and fresh. The furnace is best, if the
air supply is pure and not taken from the
cellar, and the water pan is kept full. But
steam pipes are the unklndest things to
women's faces known. The only way to
endure them is to keep pan of water or
vet towels ,evaporating constantly on the
register. five are to have any beautiful
women left the dealers must give us some
way of securing moist heat for houses. Our
women grow aged by their very comforts.
SHIRLEY DARE.