COSMETICS. 75 



drying. Probably as many skin-diseases have been 

 caused by too free use of soap, as by uncleanliness. Ex- 

 cept on parts of the body especially exposed to contami- 

 nation, soap should not be applied oftener than twice a 

 week. More frequent employment of it is quite un- 

 necessary for cleanliness, if a daily bath, followed by a 

 good rubbing with the towel, be taken. Persons whose 

 skin is injured by even the occasional use of soap, will 

 find in corn-meal a good substitute. 



8. Cosmetics and Hair-Dyes. When the face is hot 

 and perspiring, a good deal of comfort may often be ob- 

 tained by applying a little finely powdered arrowroot, 

 and immediately wiping it off with a dry towel. This 

 is better than plunging the face in water, which often 

 causes it to become more flushed afterwards. No face- 

 wash, whitening, rouge, or other coloring matter should 

 ever be used. In spite of the assertions of their makers, 

 which induce foolish folks to buy them, nearly every 

 one contains materials highly injurious to the skin. 

 Those which do not, are hurtful by interfering with the 

 proper growth of the epidermis and by checking the 

 action of the sweat-glands. Many face-washes contain 

 poisons which, being absorbed by the skin, ruin the 

 health. 



Most hair-dyes contain lead or some other poison. As 

 they are kept off the skin as much as possible, they do 

 not in most cases injure it, but they always harm the 

 hair, never improve its appearance, and seldom succeed 

 in their purpose of deceit. 



8. State a harmless method of quickly cooling a heated face. Why 

 should face-washes and other "cosmetics" be avoided? Why hair- 

 dyes ? 



