The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-11-15
Household Hints
BRITISH COSMETIC SHORTAGE
 SPAWlNS BIG BOOTLEG RACKET
By R0sETTE HAR0RovR CNEA Service Stan VVrlter)

London.-There were few women throughout the length and breadth of the British Isles who were not appalled, when the "cosmetics racket" was disclosed recently in the press.
 The thought that backyard man. ufacturers were knowingly defraud- ing His Majesty's government of over million pounds sterling 0 year (about 4,0O0000 dollars), did not af- feet them so much as the thought that these defrauders, these makers of cheap cosmetics, might be re- sponsible for ruining sne looks of thousands of womenfolk.
 Racketeers of the Beauty Black Market, most of whom have been operating since the outset of the war, and the subsequent introduc- ton of the limitation of supplies act have been perfectly ruthless. This l was told by the Hnanageress of Q beauty parlor.
 Tn new racketeers have sold cos. metics made from the lowest quality ingredients and under the most un- hygienic conditions, often with only dirty kitchen sink and corre- spondingly filthy utensils for their laboratory.
 COSMETICS TOUTED TO
 UNSUSPECTING BUYERS
 Deals were made in unsuspecting tea-skops, in public houses, In the street even, and the finished goods were touted around by an army of men and women. Their beats were mainly in manufacturing areas, in the less-expensive flat buildings, and they also haunted chain tea-shops where typists and shopgirls congre. gated.
 Leading manufacturers As well as the authorities were growing very worried over the amazing growth of illicit beauty products.
 The cutting down of legitimate brands to 25 per cent of their pre- war output offered Q marvellous loophole on the other hand, to small traders whose volume of business did not come up to the 100 pounds sterling (400 dollars) c month pres viso. To their number were added hundreds of unknown chemists, hairdresserS and drug g-store owners who had never before attempted to manufacture cosmetics but who could not resist the opportunity of- fered by the new situation. Many of these fake preparations looked enough like well known brands to be mistaken for them. The counters of several of the Lon- don stores were stocked with e mass of quite unknown brands Of llpstick, powder, tale and other beauty aids selling at much the same price as Arden, Rubinstein or CyclaXS. Llp- sticks, for example, sold for c dollar and 0 half; these cost the little chemist around . the corner some. where around 30 cents.
 All this has now been stopped. The Beard of Trade, not Q moment too soon, has now made c ruling that non-registered cosmetic makers can. not produce more than Q certain amount of products-around S2,000 worth year--and these sales are to be made direct to the public.
 There is also to be a control of perfumery, and beauty creams and preparations generally, but toilet soap, shaving cream and dentifrices are exempt.
 Many women, unable to buy their favorite brand of cosmetics, have been patronizng these "parlor- -chem- iSts." Those who have escaped serious skin troubles may be thank ful. Many of the products used by interruptions people-acids, fats and oils-are such that they were likely to provoke dermatitis and other af- factions of the skin. Women with delicate skins who become badly affected are liable to carry the marks for life. A skin specialist told me recently that his advice to women was to leave the nose shiny until the end of the war rather than use cosmetics other than those made by reputed firms.
 Altoge ther the beauty outlook is bleak. The new order will result in a further reduction of lipstick, pow der and face creams, but front line girls of the ordnance factories in the west of England are to be privileged.
 The Ministry of Supply will take the bulk Of supplies from famous cosmetic firm to help girl workers who have difficulty in getting lip- stick and face powder in their home towns; these will be available at spe- cial prices in workers canteens. This may be the incentive to make girls flock in their hundreds to re- cruiting bureaus, and labor ex-