Radio and television mirror (July-Dec 1942)

A woman's daintiness is especially put to the the test in warm weather, says Ruth Gilbert who plays the part of Marie Agnes, Bess Johnson's best friend, every weekday on the NBC network. IF THERE are any shortcomings in our beauty routines, these summer days certainly show them up. Every one of our problems seems to be magnified, and new ones created. Take the problem ofl superfluous hair, for instance. Everyone has it more or less. And how it'Moes show up when you are wearing a bathing suit in the bright July sun! Your favorite nylon or chiffon hose are revealing enough, goodness knows, but when you have nothing but a coat of tan besides your bathing suit your limbs must be perfectly smooth and unblemished, for beauty. Fortunately there are excellent depilatories nowadays. The old-fashioned ones used to be smelly and irritating. Now they are practically odorless or mildly perfumed, and they could not irritate the skin of a baby if used according to the very simple directions. Depilatories produce a better and more lasting effect than a razor, and are better adapted to removing superfluous hair from the legs. Hair on the face is a separate problem altogether. In the first place, if you have only a faint downy fuzz, let it alone. Many girls let themselves in for trouble by trying to do things about a fuzz that is perceptible only to their own self-conscious scrutiny. But if you do have more than a fuzz, it is foolish not to do something about it. First rule, for hair anywhere, face or limbs, is to try one of the bleaching washes or creams which do not remove hair but make it inconspicuous. Then, try one of the good depilatories, using it with especial care. There is a wax depilatory which is not hard to use, once you get the knack. You cover the place where the hair is to be removed with the softened wax. It cools with the hairs imbedded in it. You give a quick jerk, and the hair is out. And it stays away for a long, long time. Distrust any depilatory or other process which promises you that the hair will never come back. I have seen horribly disfigured faces as the result of quack treatments. Superfluous hair is due either to a natural tendency or a glandular condition. The use of depilatories and creams has little or nothing to do with it. Go ahead and use them, the best you can get. Hair under the arms may be removed with depilatories or with a safety razor, as you choose. The main thing is to remove it frequently as a matter of personal daintiness. And that brings us to the other great summer problem — body odor. It is necessary that we perspire. We give out as much as two quarts of perspiration a day. This serves two purposes. It regulates the body temperature, and gets rid of some waste products. Perspiration over most of the body surface is taken care of by the daily beauty bath with a mild but efficient soap. Under the arms there are more sweat glands, and less exposure for evaporation. Therefore a good deodorant is necessary in addition to the daily beauty bath. There are two main types of deodorant: those which actually check perspiration and those which check odor without preventing perspiration. All the good ones are now absolutely harmless to the clothing and nonirritating. Their effect lasts from two to five days. Their cost is small. So why take a chance? Good deodorants come in various forms — liquids, creams and powders. They are harmless to clothing, safe and easy to use. There are convenient little cotton pads moistened with an excellent deodorant. There is another which is combined with a perfume, very pleasant and effective. The liquid deodorants which check perspiration for several days are effective for use on the feet and on the hands, too. Heat is not the only cause of perspiration, remember. There are five other main causes: exercise, fatigue, tight clothing, embarrassment, and nervousness. In short, whatever the weather, a clever woman takes no chances with perspiration but selects a good deodorant and uses it regularly. The use of perfumes, toilet water and other odeurs is a story all by itself. But one thing — perfumes must never, never be used as a cover-up. Personal daintiness is the basis for all the subtle and delightful fragrances. RADIO MIRROR HOME and BEAUTY Bv Dr. GRACE GREGORY 72 RADIO AND TELEVISION MIRKOR