SIMPLE HOME PREPARATIONS The following simple homemade preparations are suggested in addi tion to the more elaborate receipts given later: To Remove Freckles. — Prepara tions recommended for the removal of freckles are usually of an acid character containing alum, lemon juice, horse-radish, buttermilk, and the like; also mineral drugs, as salts of lead, mercury, bismuth, and oth ers. It cannot be too clearly stated that all such preparations are dis tinctly injurious to the complexion, and their frequent use is not to be recommended. Most young persons of light complexion are annoyed by freckles, but these ordinarily pass away in later life, and the wisest pos sible course is to pay little attention to them and allow nature to effect a cure. The application of prepara tions advertised to remove freckles, the ingredients of which are un known, should be avoided lest they contain bismuth, which is liable to blacken the skin, or lead or mercury, which are active mineral poisons. The following recipes, the active principles of which are principally animal or vegetable acids, are less in jurious; but it must be borne in mind that all cosmetics of an as tringent nature do their work by contracting the pores, which thus be come weakened and in time are un able to discharge their natural func tions. The result may be, in later life, wrinkles and sallowness, and the last state of the complexion may be distinctly worse than the first.
Grate a fresh horse-radish root very fine, cover with fresh buttermilk, and let stand over night. Strain through cheese cloth, and wash the face night and morning with the resulting liquor.
Or squeeze the juice of a lemon into half a tumbler of water, and use two or three times daily as a face wash.
Or dissolve in lemon juice as much sugar as it will hold, and apply with a soft brush frequently until the freckles disappear.
Or apply a lotion containing glyc erin, but this is hardly a specific.
Or mix 2 ounces of lemon juice with I dram of confectioner's sugar or powdered rock candy and dram of powdered borax. Let stand for 4 or 5 days, shaking occasionally, and apply with a camel's-hair brush twa or three times a day.
Or to 1 pint of distilled soft water add I dram of sal ammoniac and A ounce Of cologne. Rub on the face and hands two or three times daily.
Or dissolve in 4 drams of rose wa ter 1 dram of muriate of ammonia, and apply two or three times a day with a camel's-hair brush.
Or put in a double boiler 1 ounce of grated Venice soap and 1 ounce of pure soft water (or distilled wa ter); melt with gentle heat and con tinue the heating until the water is evaporated and only the melted soap rcmains. Remove from the fire, and
stir in I ounce of lemon juice, I ounce of oil of bitter almonds, ounce of deliquidated oil of tartar, and 3 drops of oil rhodium. This is said to be a recipe of the celebrated Mme. de Maintenon, the mistress of Louis XIV of France.
Or this mixture can be prepared by grating the soap, pouring over it the lemon juice and other ingredi ents, exposing it to direct sunlight, and shaking occasionally until it is of the right consistency. Apply to the face at night.
Or mix pint of tincture of tolu, pint of tincture of benzoin, and I ounce of oil of rosemary. Put a tea spoonful of this mixture in one fourth tumblerful of pure soft water, and apply• to the face with a soft sponge two or three times a day.
Or put in a glass fruit jar or bot tle 6 ounces of fresh oxgall. Add 2 ounces of rock candy, 2 ounces of rock salt, scruples of camphor, 1 dram of borax, and 11 scruples of burned alum. But remember that this is an heroic remedy.) Apply with a brush or sponge at night, and wash the face thoroughly next morning.
Or mix 2 ounces each of aqua am monia, sweet oil, and limewater.
But none of these preparations can be regarded as desirable lotions for regular dr frequent use.
Cucumber Milk. — Slice three or four large cucumbers with the skin on, add pint of water, boil, stir to a soft pulp, cool, and strain. Mix 1 ounces of this cucumber juice, 1 ounces of 95 per cent alcohol, and ounce of grated, castile soap. Let stand in a warm place over night; next day add $ ounces more of the cucumber juice, 1 ounce of oil of sweet almonds, 20 drops of tincture of benzoin, and 5 grains of boracic acid. Shake well before using, and apply to the face two or three times a day with a soft cloth or sponge. Milk for the Skin.—New milk, skimmed milk, and buttermilk each possess properties peculiar to it self, and they all make useful and simple washes having a general emol lient action on the skin. If used daily they tend to make the skin soft, smooth, and white, and to preserve it from the effects of exposure to weather. Buttermilk is useful for freckles and acne, and relieves itch ing and local irritations of the skin. Pure, fresh cream is a simple and effective preventive of chapped hands and lips, and is excellent to cure these evils.