Tincture of benzoin (ten cents' worth), dissolved in a pint of wine✪ Tincture of Benzoin,
imparts a smoothness to the skin, and does not harm it, as so many face
washes do. This should be put on at night, before going to bed ; the
face first washed with pure and fine soap, and then rinsed off in clear,
cold water. The benzoin can be dissolved in water, as well as wine,
though the latter is preferable. For a rough or sunburned skin, use
two ounces of distilled water, one of glycerine, one of alcohol, and half
an ounce of tincture of benzoin. Without the water, and with the addi-
tion of two ounces of prepared chalk, free from bismuth, it makes a
fine cosmetic for whitening the face, and is not injurious, like the expen-
sive "Balms " or "Blooms," so highly advertised.
350 THE TOILET.
The beauties of the court of Charles II. took a small piece of green
benzoin, and boiled it in spirits of wine until it became a rich tincture.
Fifteen drops of this poured into a glass of water will produce a liquid
that looks like milk, and emits a most agreeable perfume. This wash is
an excellent remedy for spots, pimples and eruptions, renders the skin
clear and brilliant, and the cheeks a beautiful rosy color.
Another is medicated soap, melted and made into balls, with finely
ground oatmeal. Oatmeal and buttermilk together possess wonder-
fully beautifying qualities, and oatmeal by itself now occupies a place
on many washstands, steeped in water in small quantities. Its balsamic
qualities and glutinous oiliness make the flesh beautifully soft and
white. A little lemon juice may be added advantageously.
For a remedy to produce immediate and wonderful effects in whiten-
ing the skin, use tar and olive oil heated together and cooled ; use upon
the face when going to bed, with a mask of thin old linen or muslin
put on to prevent coming off — farther protecting the pillows by an
old sheet thrown over them. In the morning a bath of white castile
soap and water brings the face out pure and softly tinted as a child's.
This is not only the best, but the most perfectly harmless and cheap
preparation that can be procured.
To improve the texture of the skin, bathe it before going to bed in
very warm water and toilet soap of fine quality, rubbing thoroughly
with a coarse towel. Then wash off all soap with cooler water, and
dry the skin with a soft towel and smooth.
The discoloration known as mask is removed by a wash made from
thirty grains of the chlorate of potash in eight ounces of rose-water.
Wrinkles are less apparent under a kind of varnish containing thirty-
six grammes of turpentine in three drachms of alcohol, allowed to dry
on the face.
For pimples on the face use this recipe : Thirty grains of bicarbonate
of soda, one drachm of glycerine, one ounce of spermaceti ointment.
Rub on the face ; let it remain for a quarter of an hour, and wipe off
all but a slight film with a soft cloth.
Page 310 · 1 recipe record on this page
Presented as published in 1886. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
Tincture of benzoin (ten cents' worth), dissolved in a pint of wine, imparts a smoothness to the skin, and does not harm it, as so many face washes do. This should be put on at night, before going to bed ; the face first washed with pure and fine soap, and then rinsed off in clear, cold water. The benzoin can be dissolved in water, as well as wine, though the latter is preferable. For a rough or sunburned skin, use two ounces of distilled water, one of glycerine, one of alcohol, and half an ounce of tincture of benzoin. Without the water, and with the addition of two ounces of prepared chalk, free from bismuth, it makes a fine cosmetic for whitening the face, and is not injurious, like the expensive "Balms " or "Blooms," so highly advertised.
The beauties of the court of Charles II. took a small piece of green benzoin, and boiled it in spirits of wine until it became a rich tincture. Fifteen drops of this poured into a glass of water will produce a liquid that looks like milk, and emits a most agreeable perfume. This wash is an excellent remedy for spots, pimples and eruptions, renders the skin clear and brilliant, and the cheeks a beautiful rosy color.
Another is medicated soap, melted and made into balls, with finely ground oatmeal. Oatmeal and buttermilk together possess wonderfully beautifying qualities, and oatmeal by itself now occupies a place on many washstands, steeped in water in small quantities. Its balsamic qualities and glutinous oiliness make the flesh beautifully soft and white. A little lemon juice may be added advantageously.
For a remedy to produce immediate and wonderful effects in whitening the skin, use tar and olive oil heated together and cooled ; use upon the face when going to bed, with a mask of thin old linen or muslin put on to prevent coming off — farther protecting the pillows by an old sheet thrown over them. In the morning a bath of white castile soap and water brings the face out pure and softly tinted as a child's. This is not only the best, but the most perfectly harmless and cheap preparation that can be procured.
To improve the texture of the skin, bathe it before going to bed in very warm water and toilet soap of fine quality, rubbing thoroughly with a coarse towel. Then wash off all soap with cooler water, and dry the skin with a soft towel and smooth.
The discoloration known as mask is removed by a wash made from thirty grains of the chlorate of potash in eight ounces of rose-water.
Wrinkles are less apparent under a kind of varnish containing thirtysix grammes of turpentine in three drachms of alcohol, allowed to dry on the face.
For pimples on the face use this recipe : Thirty grains of bicarbonate of soda, one drachm of glycerine, one ounce of spermaceti ointment. Rub on the face ; let it remain for a quarter of an hour, and wipe off all but a slight film with a soft cloth.
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Tincture of Benzoin