Page:Every Woman's Encyclopedia Volume 1.djvu/199

 177 BEAUTY I I But the warm bath, since it opens the pores, renders the cold bath an absolute necessity in order that the skin may be made firm, elastic, and fine. In this connection, it may be fitting to add that swimming is an exercise which has a most beneficial effect upon form and beauty. Swimming brings into play the muscles and organs of the body, exercising them in such a way as to develop the form upon beautiful lines. Swimming, moreover, exer- cises the whole body, and does not develop one set of muscles to the exclusion of the others. Again, it clears the skin, brightens the eyes, straightens the figure, and renders the neck and bosom becomingly curved. Beauty Baths The use of baths with a view to restoring and preserving beauty leads us to more complicated questions. Many beauty baths are of but doubtful value, and Women anxious to improve their looks will pay prices Which are out of proportion to the value of the bath. A scented bath is pleasant, but it is not necessarily beneficial. Bran baths are probably the best of exist- ing beauty baths. In order to make one, fill a large. bag with bran, and add a small quantity of powdered orris-root to perfume the water with a violet fragrance. If left for some time in tepid water the bag will render the bath soft, creamy, and pleasant to the touch. A small bag of bran may be used in addition as a cleansing pad. If possible, this bath should be followed by a shower-bath. As a treatment for delicate skins which are irritated by soap, for oily skins, and in cases of excessive perspiration, this will be found most efi&cacious. It is safe to say that there are no " rejuvenating " baths — no matter what their fancy name or price — which can be shown by demonstration to be better than the bath to which has been added some astringent, such as Eau de Cologne, toilet vinegar, or a few drops of cloudy ammonia. This bath invigorates and renders firm the skin Which has become tired or old, and Monin gives an excellent decoction to be used in such a bath : Mix strong vinegar and simple tincture of benzoin in equal parts. Keep the bottle well corked. Use at discretion. The value, however, of the strawberry, raspberry, or champagne baths of the professional beauty is very small. For the existence of milk baths there is some reason. The application of Warm milk soothes the skin, nourishes the tissues, and removes dis- colourations. Medical Baths Medical baths should be used only under medical advice, but it is well to notice the great value of alkaline and sulphur baths in many disorders of the skin or the blood. Every bath should be accompanied by friction or massage, for herein lies half the value. Discretion also must be exercised in the choice of baths. No matter how beneficial in general cold baths may be, more harm than good may be done to a constitution with which such baths do not agree. Only general rules in these matters can be laid down, and individuals should adapt or reject them according to their own special requirements. Astringent baths should never be used in conjunction with soap. The effect of doing so Would be most injurious. Powdered orris root forms the basis of many mixtures sold for beauty baths, partly because ol its fragrance and partly because it forms an inexpensive and refined founda- tion on Which to work. But powdered orris root, when it comes in direct contact with many skins, causes irritation, and this should be remembered when taking a bran bath, if the skin is exceptionally irritable or chafed. This, by the way, is not generally known to mothers and nurses who are fond of violet powder for use after baby's bath. Fuller's earth or starch are simple and nice substi- tutes for the scented powder — ^where powder is considered a necessary adjunct. The fact is, that gentle friction and thorough drying are much more beneficial to sensitive skins, and, indeed, mght often be used with almost as good an effect when a bath is not advisable. Substitute for a Bath Friction as a tonic to the nerves and skin is often more beneficial to the delicate woman than a cold bath, which would rob her body of more heat than she can well spare. The use of a flesh brush, a rough towel, or a loofah for those parts of the body that are covered by clothing induces a healthy glow and gives tone to the system. This " dry bath," followed by a sleep, will give youth to the " nervy " or worried womm, especially if someone can operate for her. In the ordinary way, when friction is going to be substituted for the bath proper, use a gentle but brisk motion ; but for nerves and over-tiredness, try a long and leisured movement. A doctor may order electric baths for poor circulation and undue perspiration, and the friction bath may also be used. A word of warning needs to be said against the too-frequent use of vapour and hot-air baths, since these are apt to render the flesh flabby. If this happens, use the astringent bath (Monin) described on another part of this page. Air-baths, that is, fresh-air and sun-baths, when there is any sunshine, are aids to health, and therefore beauty. After all, the whole secret of the beauty bath lies with a sensible appreciation of that clever saying, " The skin is the safety-valve of the animal machine."