THE HANDS Nothing betrays lack of daintiness in personal care more than neglect of the hands and nails. Of course it is more difficult for some women to keep their nails clean and their hands soft, white, and free from blemishes than for others. But in the care of the hands immaculate cleanliness is imperative. They should never be washed except when it can he done thoroughly. Constantly rinsing them in cold water grinds the dirt in and ruins the texture of the skin, making it rough, coarse, and red. When ex posed to hard usage, as in the rou tine of housework, instead of fre quently washing the hands in water, a few drops of oil should be rubbed into them. They should then be dusted over with talcum powder and wiped with a coarse towel. This will cleanse them and protect the flesh from growing callous. Lemon juice will remove stains.
The hands should always be washed in tepid water, and c L good soap is an absolute necessity. It is also im portant that the water be soft. Avoid washing the hands frequently with cheap laundry soap, washing powders, soft soap, or other powerful detergents. They tend to roughen, redden, and chap the skin. The best soap is none too good for the toilet. There are many brands on the mar ket which are known to be good, and it is better not to experiment with those that are new and untried. Any hard, white, pure or neutral soap is suitable for the toilet. Hence it is not necessary to purchase special toilet soaps, which are usually expen sive, however desirable they may seem to be. To test soap for toilet purposes, apply the tongue to it. If it contains free alkali, it will have a caustic or burning taste and should be avoided. Otherwise it is not likely to be injurious.
In cold weather or when the hands are very dirty rub a little pure lard or cold cream over them, and after wards wash them with soap and water in the usual way. This has a tendency to keep the skin from crack ing or chapping. The use of gloves, especially when gardening, driving, or walking in sun or wind, helps to pre serve the softness of the hands and keep them clean. Sprinkling the
hands with orris root or talcum pow der before drawing on the gloves will counteract excessive perspira tion.
Redness and Burning. — These troubles are caused by defective cir culation. Attention should be given to the general health, and as a pre ventive measure the hands should be protected from exposure to the weather—especially in the winter—by the use of a muff or by fur-lined gloves. Or two pairs of gloves may be worn, which will be found warmer than one pair lined. After the hands have been exposed to the cold they may be prevented from tingling by washing them in very warm water, and drying them carefully on a soft towel. The after effect will be a feel ing of coolness, whereas the use of cold water causes a glow.
Moist Hands.—If the hands are constantly moist from too free per spiration, bathe them frequently either in salt water, which acts as a stimulant or tonic, or in a solution of vinegar or lemon juice, which acts as an astringent.
Or rub them with a mixture of powdered alum and tannic acid, both of which have astringent properties.
Or a little of this mixture may be dusted inside the gloves.
But care should be taken not to use acid or astringent cosmetics oftener than is necessary, as they tend to overwork the pores of the skin and to produce injurious after effects.
To Remove Stains from the Hands. — Substances recommended for removing stains from the hands tomatoes, sulphuric acid (oil of vitriol), chloride of lime, oxalic acid, fumes of sulphur, and various com pounds of these. The following spe cial directions may be noted: To Use Sulphuric Acid.—Dilute a few drops in 20 times its volume of water, and apply to stains with a brush. Take care this does not touch a tut on the flesh or fall upon fab rics of woolen or cotton, as it will take out their color and eat holes in them.