A good old stand-by query is about the simple matter of keeping one's
face clean. There is no manner of doubt but that the hard water which
we have in the cities is responsible for many complexion ills, and that
we must not use it too generously upon our complexions if we long for
the colors of the rose and the lily in our cheeks. There is nothing in
the world so excellent as rain-water for the skin, but it's a great
bulging problem as to how those of us who live in yardless flats and
apartments can manage to catch the elusive rain-drops. We might as well
hope to lasso an electric car and hitch it onto our back porches for
the babies to play in, I think. When city people persist in telling
others to wash their faces in rain-water and thus secure beauty
everlasting and glorious, I always have a mental picture of a frantic
lady with golden locks a-streaming and her eyes brimful of wildness,
rushing madly down the street with basins and things in her
outstretched hands. It's all right if one has rain-barrels or cisterns,
but, after years of perspiring and nerve-sizzling flat hunting, I have
failed to find apartments provided with either of these luxuries. With
folding beds built in the sleeping apartments and steam radiators with
real steam in them, the landlords feel that their duties are done.
But to return to our muttons. Those who cannot have real rain-water
should use the harder brand sparingly on their faces. A thorough
scrubbing at night before going to bed is an absolute necessity, lest
the pores of the skin become clogged with the smoke and dust of our
murky atmosphere. A little castile soap and a camel's-hair face brush
will assist the cleansing operation. To soften the water, I would
advise the following delightful lotion:
Four ounces of alcohol.
One ounce ammonia.
One dram oil of lavender.
One teaspoonful to a large basin of water is sufficient. To keep
the skin free from harshness and on unpleasant terms with wrinkles
and turkey tracks, a little pure cold cream should be used. If, in
the morning, the skin has not absorbed all the oils of the cream,
then wipe away with a cloth just slightly moistened. When at other
times the face needs washing, let me suggest that this toilet milk
be used. It is also excellent to apply before fluffing powder over
the cheeks:
Milk of violets:
Cucumber juice, boiled and cooled, one ounce.
Spirit of soap, one ounce.
Rose-water or orange flower water, four ounces.
By remembering that there are two tablespoonfuls to the ounce, the
measuring will not be at all difficult. If one wishes a stronger
perfume add a few drops of violet extract. Whether rose-water or
orange flower be used is left to one's own choice. They are equally
excellent for the skin.