ladies’ department. 
98 
Cables’ department. 
THE EFFECTS OF COSMETICS ON THE SKIN, 
The deep interest I take in the moral improve¬ 
ment of my young countrywomen, more particu¬ 
larly those who are so fortunate as to he the wives 
and daughters of farmers, must be my apology for 
the following remarks upon the article in the Janu¬ 
ary number of the Agriculturist on the “ Effects of 
Cosmetics on the Skin.” I shali therefore ask no 
other excuse for expressing my difference of opinion, 
nor for pointing out what I conceive to he mistaken 
views on the subject, feeling very sure that a little 
serious reflection will bring your correspondent over 
to my old-fashioned way of thinking. Let me first 
say, however, that I agree entirely with her ob¬ 
servations on the different kinds of soap, alcoholic 
preparations, &c. 
We know that all kinds of soap are more or less 
injurious to a delicate skin, and in cold weather 
their too frequent use should be dispensed with, as 
much as possible; but when necessary, the skin 
should be protected afterwards, for a little while, 
from the air. Therefore, when cleanliness re¬ 
quires it for the face and neck, they should be wash¬ 
ed just before retiring at night; and in the morning, 
nothing more will be wanted than the usual sponge 
bath of pure, cold, soft water, and a coarse rubber 
vigorously applied. Some skins will chap under 
the most careful treatment that can be bestowed 
upon them: while others wall continue soft and 
smooth, though exposed to every wind that blows, 
and seem to be proof against all kinds of domestic 
labor. For the first of these, the best purifier 
would be corn, or bean meal, or palm-cil soap, fol¬ 
lowed by a few drops of honey rubbed on while 
the hands are wet. Fine dry salt acts very pleas¬ 
antly on the skin ; rendering it soft and smooth, 
and has also the advantage of strengthening the 
system, on which account it is often highly recom¬ 
mended by physicians. The best way to apply it, 
is, to draw on a pair of very coarse cotton or lin¬ 
en knitted gloves, that have been frequently dipped 
in strong salt and water, and dried after each im¬ 
mersion, and with them rub until the skin looks 
red, and the blood circulates freely. 
But it is the second part of your correspondent’s 
remarks that I intended particularly to notice. That 
the writer does not speak from personal experience 
I think is evident, or she would not say that “ rouge 
can be employed, without injury, to brighten a 
lady’s complexion.” 
Every school girl knows that even the common 
carmine in her paint box, if put on the cheeks with 
water, can be wrnshed off without leaving a per¬ 
manent mark. I have been much in fashionable 
French society where the use of rouge was not only 
considered unblameworthy, but in certain cases 
openly vindicated; yet its deleterious effects upon 
the skin were undoubted, and openly lamented, as 
producing a sallow stain, which, as it cannot be re¬ 
moved by ordinary means, makes a continuance of 
the bad practice seem necessary. , And a bad prac¬ 
tice it is, in sober sadness, for any woman : but for 
women living in this bright, beautiful country—for 
the wives and daughters of American farmers, even 
to think of using rouge and pearl powder, would be 
ridiculous, could it be contemplated in any other 
light than as a degradation ? They, too, who en¬ 
joy the glorious privilege, not to be too highly 
prized, of living in the pure, health-giving breath 
of heaven,—who are at liberty to exercise daily on 
horseback, and roam at will over hills and fields. 
I will not think so badly of them as to suppose that 
they -would condescend to tolerate the use of such 
miscalled beautifiers. It is true, a pale cheek is not 
esteemed so lovely as one tinged with 
u Celestial r >sy red, love’s proper hue ” 
nor is a dark, or coarse skin thought so desirable as 
one fairer and more delicate ; but does not every one 
know instances among their friends, of faces by 
nature ugly, to which intelligence, benevolence, and 
good temper impart the characters of real, soul-like 
beauty '? Believe me, God’s handiwork cannot be 
improved. And the admiration of strangers is 
dearly purchased by the loss of the respect of those 
in whose eyes and hearts alone it should be their 
ambition to appear to advantage • for the mistaken 
ones, who resort to these paltry arts, do not deck 
their faces with rouge and pearl powder, to make 
themselves more loveable to their husbands and 
brothers. It is not put on when they alone are to 
see them. No—any garb, any faded looks will do 
for the beings who ought to make their hearts hap¬ 
piness ; with whom they are to pass their lives. 
For whom, then, it may be asked, are they willing 
to take so much trouble ? They who know 
from experience, may answer. 
All substances , without a single exception , that are y 
or can be used to impart a delicate white tint to the 
complexion,” are decidedly injurious; marring what 
they are intended to mend. 
The “ metalic compounds” are justly said to be- 
poisonous, and the effect, even when sparingly 
used, is to make the skin look parched and glazed. 
Magnesia, being a mineral substance, is not much 
less hurtful; and powdered starch, though the least 
objectionable of any, is seriously injurious by the 
mechanical action of closing the pores of the skin, 
preventing the escape of the insensible perspiration 
which -would keep it clear and moist, and finally 
producing a sickly, unnatural thickness that makes 
a fair girl, who would otherwise be pretty, look 
like Jersey veal, bled slowly to death by the butcher! 
and a brunette more like a piece of old parchment 
than a lovely young daughter of Eve. Of such an 
one, in a neighboring city, I heard a physician re¬ 
mark that this disagreeable appearance, being only 
skin deep, could easily be removed by the appli¬ 
cation of a vegetable blister ! 
But I must close this, already-too-long notice; 
though something might be said of the pangs of 
wounded vanity that these short-sighted fair ones 
would suffer if 
^Some power the gift would give them 
To see themselves as others see them 
when a warm day, or a little over exertion, by 
producing a free perspiration throws off the beauti- 
jiers , leaving the white in disclosed streaks, and 
the red in unsightly blotches, to the mortification 
of their friends, and the badly-disguised amazement 
of the very persons they wished to charm. American 
women should be ashamed to appear under “ false 
colors.*’ 
