Including manicuring, care of the complexion,
teeth, eyes, feet, Etc.

“The one thing that woman prizes most is her beauty.  Though she have none, she yet persuadeth herself that she possesses some charm upon which men’s eyes rest admiringly.”—­Johnson.

“There is no wound a woman will not more willingly forget than a blow to her vanity.”

Although woman’s chief desire is to be beautiful, it is a historical fact that nearly every woman whose beauty has been renowned has either led an unhappy life or met a tragic fate.  Strangely, too, the most famous attachments of which we have record have been inspired by women who were not only not beautiful, but who had some noticeable defect.  So to be attractive, and to charm, it is not necessary to be beautiful.  Beauty gives a woman a start in the race; her other qualities must enable her to keep her advantage.

THE FACE-HEALTH AS AN AID TO BEAUTY.

The first essential to good looks is good health.  The clear complexion, the bright eyes, the lustrous hair that are such helps are born of good health rather than of creams and hair tonics.  Health depends a good deal on wholesome diet and out-door exercise, which make pure blood.  Pure air is invaluable.  Country girls often have exquisite complexions because of the pure air they breathe—­unless they eat too much heavy, greasy food.

Study hygiene, then, instead of relying upon “Bloom of Youth” and “Cream of Roses” as aids to a good complexion.  Such things deceive no one, and by use ruin the skin, wrinkling and withering it.  It is a good thing to drink plenty of water.  A glass on retiring, another on rising, and a third an hour before the noon meal is little enough.  Keep the stomach and bowels in good order.

Blackheads.—­The most frequent inquiry in the “beauty pages” of the papers is what to do for blackheads.  In the first place, don’t allow yourself to get them.  Keep your face clean.  A blackhead is simply a pore that is filled with oil and dirt.  Sometimes they are as large as the head of a pin.  When taken out they leave an enlargement known as a coarse pore.  Do not steam the face to remove them.  Wash the face well with soap and hot water; wring cloths out of hot water and hold to the face then massage with cold cream.  Several treatments will soften them so they may be pinched out between the thumbs.  Never attempt this treatment before going out; do it at night, before retiring.

Blackheads are a reflection upon one’s personal cleanliness, therefore bathe the whole body often.

[Beauty and the toilet 791]

Pimples.—­Pimples are due to an impure condition of the blood, for which sulphur is a good remedy, taken internally and applied externally.  One dram each of camphor and flowers of sulphur in four ounces of rose-water is a good lotion for external use.  Do not pick or squeeze pimples, unless pus has formed in them.  Nothing is more disgusting than a face broken out in pus-filled pimples.  See a physician if thus afflicted.