Page:Australian enquiry book of household and general information.djvu/142



EARING that in New York there were complexion artists who regularly make it their business to undertake to treat the faces of society ladies, some months back I wrote to one for a few particulars, and will now give my readers the benefit of the information received. The whole letter or paper reads like a fairy tale, and were it not that I have seen accounts of the process in American papers, and also advertisements from the profession, I should be inclined to think it all a hoax. But it is not so, and I am informed that the results of a few visits to one of these complexion artists are quite startling. It would be too much to give the whole paper sent me, so I take from it the chief recipes.

To Prepare the Face for Treatment.—First wash the skin with warm water and soap. Then into a wash hand basin put about two quarts of hot water, the heat must be determined by ones own feeling and the amount of heat one can bear. It is the steam that does the work and the hotter it can be borne the better. Add to the water a teaspoonful of any oil preferred, eucalyptus, rosemary, lavender, any will do. Now cover a big bath towel over the head, shoulders and the basin and let the face steam from ten to fifteen minutes, after which it must be massaged or rubbed as directed in a recipe on “The Complexion and Freckles.” Having rubbed or massaged the face, apply linen cloths dipped in hot milk, lay them on the face hot. The milk is said to nourish the skin and restore its plumpness. Be very careful not to go into the cold air directly the face is done, half an hour or so should be allowed for it to cool and recover. If the face is treated in this way twice a week there will be a very noticeable change in a short time, no matter what age, or however brown and wrinkled the face is, it can be beautified by the above treatment.

Save your poultry fat and make a face oil with it. Goose fat is the best,