The Ladies' Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness Part 30

FOR THE COMPLEXION.--"Take equal parts of the seeds of the melon, pumpkin, gourd, and cuc.u.mber, pounded till they are reduced to powder; add to it sufficient fresh cream to dilute the flour, and then add milk enough to reduce the whole to a thin paste. Add a grain of musk, and a few drops of the oil of lemon. Anoint the face with this, leave it on twenty or thirty minutes, or overnight if convenient, and wash off with warm water. It gives a remarkable purity and brightness to the complexion.

"Infuse a handful of well sifted wheat bran for four hours in white wine vinegar; add to it five yolks of eggs and two grains of musk, and distill the whole. Bottle it, keep carefully corked fifteen days, when it will be fit for use. Apply it over night, and wash in the morning with tepid water."

TOOTH-POWDER.--

"Prepared chalk 6 oz.

Ca.s.sia powder oz.

Orris-root 1 oz.

"These should be thoroughly mixed and used once a day with a firm brush.

"A simple mixture of charcoal and cream of tartar is an excellent tooth-powder."

TO WHITEN THE HAND.--"Both Spanish and French women--those, at least, who are very particular to make the most of these charms--are in the habit of sleeping in gloves which are lined or plastered over with a kind of pomade to improve the delicacy and complexion of their hands.

This paste is generally made of the following ingredients:--

"Take half a pound of soft soap, a gill of salad oil, an ounce of mutton tallow, and boil them till they are thoroughly mixed. After the boiling has ceased, but before it is cold, add one gill of spirits of wine, and a grain of musk.

"If any lady wishes to try this, she can buy a pair of gloves three or four sizes larger than the hand, rip them open and spread on a thin layer of the paste, and then sew the gloves up again. There is no doubt that by wearing them every night they will give smoothness and a fine complexion to the hands. Those who have the means, can send to Paris and purchase them ready made.

"If the hands are inclined to be rough and to chap, the following wash will remedy the evil.

Lemon-juice 3 oz.

White wine vinegar 3 oz.

White brandy pint."

FOR THE HAIR.--"Beat up the white of four eggs into a froth, and rub that thoroughly in close to the roots of the hair. Leave it to dry on.

Then wash the head and hair clean with a mixture of equal parts of rum and rose-water."

"HONEY-WATER.--

"Essence of ambergris 1 dr.

Essence of musk 1 dr.

Essence of bergamot 2 drs.

Oil of cloves 15 drops.

Orange-flower water 4 oz.

Spirits of wine 5 oz.

Distilled water 4 oz.

"All these ingredients should be mixed together, and left about fourteen days, then the whole to be filtered through porous paper, and bottled for use.

"This is a good hair-wash and an excellent perfume."

"TO REMOVE PIMPLES.--There are many kinds of pimples, some of which partake almost of the nature of ulcers, which require medical treatment; but the small red pimple, which is most common, may be removed by applying the following twice a-day:--

"Sulphur water 1 oz.

Acetated liquor of ammonia oz.

Liquor of pota.s.sa 1 gr.

White wine vinegar 2 oz.

Distilled water 2 oz."

"TO REMOVE BLACK SPECKS OR 'FLESHWORMS.'--Sometimes little black specks appear about the base of the nose, or on the forehead, or in the hollow of the chin which are called 'fleshworms,' and are occasioned by coagulated lymph that obstructs the pores of the skin. They may be squeezed out by pressing the skin, and ignorant persons suppose them to be little worms. They are permanently removed by washing with warm water, and severe friction with a towel, and then applying a little of the following preparation:--

"Liquor of pota.s.sa 1 oz.

Cologne 2 oz.

White brandy. 4 oz.

"The warm water and friction alone are sometimes sufficient."

"TO REMOVE FRECKLES.--The most celebrated compound ever used for the removal of freckles was called Unction de Maintenon, after the celebrated Madame de Maintenon, mistress and wife of Louis XIV. It is made as follows:--

"Venice soap 1 oz.

Lemon-juice oz.

Oil of bitter almonds oz.

Deliquidated oil of tartar oz.

Oil of rhodium 3 drops

"First dissolve the soap in the lemon-juice, then add the two oils, and place the whole in the sun till it acquires the consistence of ointment, and then add the oil of rhodium. Anoint the freckly face at night with this unction, and wash in the morning with pure water, or, if convenient, with a mixture of elder-flower and rose-water.

"TO REMOVE TAN.--An excellent wash to remove tan is called Creme de l'Enclos, and is made thus:

"New milk pint.

Lemon-juice oz.

White brandy oz.

"Boil the whole, and skim it clear from all sc.u.m. Use it night and morning.

"A famous preparation with the Spanish ladies for removing the effects of the sun and making the complexion bright, is composed simply of equal parts of lemon-juice and the white of eggs. The whole is beat together in a varnished earthen pot, and set over a slow fire, and stirred with a wooden spoon till it acquires the consistence of soft pomatum. This compound is called Pommade de Seville. If the face is well washed with rice-water before it is applied, it will remove freckles, and give a fine l.u.s.tre to the complexion."