Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-07-16

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cheated in the value of them her right
eo1s indignation would do more 70 stop
the sale of those things than the clearest
knowledge Of the dangerous drugs they
contain and the peculiar injury TO
health and beauty they infiet.
The writer OF this was at one time
engaged in the preparation and sale
Of cosmetics. and therefore knows ex-
actly what each snd every one Of
them costs to prepare and what the
women pay for them. And now prob
ably for the tlrst time will the truth be
told regarding the ingredients used in
the most prominent Of such articles and
the danger attending the use Of each.
First come the various blooms,
balms and lotions" each with its title
and imaginary history and high sound
ing recommendations. These are di-
vided into two classes-the bad and the
very bad. The first, an eight ounce bot
tie. will contain 2l4 ounces rosewater
aud five Of distilled water, and half an
ounce Of light oxide OF zinc. This must
be shaken and applied TO the face, and.
Willie uOl AiA& id4u IA, hNo
and shrivels the skin eventually, so that
one must keep on using it. This costs
for bottle, wrapper. stopper, ribbon and
box eight cents, and for rosewater and
zinc about the same, SO that sixteen
cents is the actual cost Of what women
willingly pay two dollars for. The very
bad are made in the same way, only
nth l.zas "a and NTH
fake white. which is pure lead. This
sells for the same price, two dollars.
and costs less. A few drops Of ammonia
will turn this black. The effect is that
1t shrivels the skin soon. and is liable to
bring an attack of lead palsy, or partial
paralysis of the muscles of the face and
eyelids, as well as regular symptoms of
lead poisoning of the whole body, and
death.
Another "balm" has as foundation q
white powder containing arsenic in So
luton, which soon induces dropeical
swelling and frequently death. This
costs twelve cents and sells for two dol
lars
The creams" all without exception
contain lead, zinc or bismuth as a
whitener, with lard and olive oil to hold
it to creamlike consistency, and they
cost about ten cents per pot pretty pots,
with dainty ribbons) and sell from 81 25
to $3.50 apiece. The lead and zinc are
most often used, as bismuth is little
dearer. It is also finer and moro deli
cate, but soon turns to violet or ashen
color on the face if exposed to gas or
smoke.
Eyebrow pencils are made Of mutton
tallow and lampblack, cost one-half
cent apiece and sell for twenty-five cents
to one dollar, according to the con-
science Of the dealer. Eyelid darkeners
have belladonna in them to enlarge the
pupils, and they cost one dollar to buy,
perhaps one cent to make. The use of
these is bound to destroy the sight in .
short time.
Rouge is made Of carmine saucers, the
common Of red ink and aniline red, and
costs about AZ cents in pretty bottles,
and always brings 81 to Sc if a very high
sounding name is added. Indelible
rouge is made by soaking alkanet root in
alcohol. An ounce bottle of this would
cost, all finished, about cents. Sells
for $3.50. Rouge does not seem to do
any constitutional injury, but does not
look refined on anybody.
Powder for the face is made Of vsri-
Gus things, among them magnesia, pow
dered egg shells, rice -four, fake white,
dry oxide Of zinc, fuller's earth, starch,
bismuth and mixture Of two or three
Of these same things combined. Mag
nesia and fake white are the two most
injurious of these. Veloutine is made OF
rice -four and bismuth, with little gly-
cerine to make it sticky. All powders
sell well for from % cents to $3.50 q
box. The cost is nominal.
There are several "face bleaches" on
the market, every one dangerous. Some
Of them are made Of the corrosive subli-
mate Of mercury, some Of arsenical COM
that embalmers use to blanch the faces
| of the dead. The cost Of these is never
more, advertising included, than fifteen
cents per bottle, and women willingly
pay two dollars bottle. have known
Of three cases Of salvation and two OF
blood poisoning and one Of the burning
of OF the whole skin of the face by the
use Of these vile compounds.
In whatever other way q woman may
be economical, shc Is not in the buying
Of cosmetics. She never hagglee at the
price and the more one asks the bettel
she considers the stuff. She will stint
herself on necessities to buy these abom
nations.
The hair dyes all have nitrate of silve,
or nitrate Of nickel in them, and they
cost to produce less than ten cents and
cell for $3.50 to q. The bleaches hav'
powerful alksloids and will destroy tn,
vitality Of the hair, and often the use ol
the bleaches brings on stubborn scaly
diseases. besides injuring the eyesight
Blesches cost almost nothing beyoni
the bottles they come in and sell from
IRE dollar TO five dollars. according Il
the style" of the store.
Vail polishers are made Of LITTLE
balsam OF tolu in q small bottle with {
tiny brush. With this the tolu IL painted
ON the finger nails and left to dry on. 4
costs five cents and brings $3.50 and
more.
One Of the greatest humbugs 10 Ii,
skin food. which consists Of . littl
hypophosphites and oodliver oil nixc,
with arsenic. This IL rubbed into tn
akin after il has been steamed until th'
pores are open. The OIL and srssni
penetrate by leing rnhhel in. and Great.