Madame Qui-Vive, in her Sears promotional pamphlet Hairdressing and Beauty Talks, had a bit to say on the subject of powder and rouge. Here is her article in full:
PROPER USE OF POWDER AND ROUGE
The New York Medical Journal, the most dignified and conservative medical journal in the United States, endorses the use of pure cosmetics. The powder puff and the rouge pot are acknowledged as useful hygienic accessories. Following is a brief quotation of the article to which we refer:
“The use of face creams and makeups is universal and the moral aspect of the question is becoming settled. Our women now fearlessly and scientifically handle the complexion brush, the face cream, and the powder puff. Why is the face of a country woman sixty years old faded and wrinkled, while the face of a city woman of the same age frequently is smooth and beautiful? On account of protection against the elements. The city woman has been using her cream and powder for forty years and has yet to experience any deleterious effects.
The idea that the faces of actresses are old looking off the stage is pure superstition. Many an actress courted of our fathers has a complexion the envy of our daughters. These are things the physicians should know and not be afraid to say.”
It is not an uncommon matter to hear a woman say: “I have never used powder in my life.” It usually happens that the woman’s complexion would appear to better advantage if it were powdered. The statement she makes is usually orated in a voice significant of great virtue and self satisfaction. Powder protects the skin from atmospheric dust and also from sun and wind. Good materials can be put in powder form as well as in creams or skin foods. There is no earthly reason why a woman should shun face powder as if it were poison.
The woman who keeps youthful and dainty never feels presentable without a bit of powder. It takes away the shine and the starched look and puts in its place a soft velvety surface, clean and pleasant, and gives an appearance of perfect grooming.
Excessive pallor is significant of ill health or drooping spirits and a touch of rouge on pale cheeks will not only make the chalky, wan face brighten up, but it will have a certain effect upon one’s mental state. The woman who looks into her mirror and sees the reflection of bright eyes and rosy cheeks must certainly feel happier than the one who gazes upon the mirrored outlines of a pale, white faced, forlorn looking lady.
Powder should never be applied without a foundation of cream. Special greaseless creams are manufactured for the use of those who have oily skins. This cosmetic vanishes as it is rubbed into the skin and just enough of it remains on the surface to hold the powder tight. When rouge is used it should be put on after the cream, and the powder is fluffed in afterward.
Powder should not be scattered about the face, but should be rubbed in thoroughly. The idea that it will clog the pores is nonsense. Many a mother who dusts the entire body of her infant with powder fears to put powder on her face. Life is certainly filled with many absurdities, and custom creates strange inconsistencies.
While too much rouge is always to be deplored – for the world has little use for the “painted lady” – a tiny touch of color will be found becoming. You doubtless know personally dozens of women of high social standing who have used cosmetics, rouge and powder all their lives and not one of them has any but the most exquisite and youthful complexions. To scare away wrinkles and give Father Time the laugh, the complexion should be given generously of some good skin nourishing oily cosmetic. Continual bathing of the face robs it of the natural oils and their equivalent is supplied by cold creams and skin foods.
It is best to remove powder and rouge with a bit of cold cream, although pure soap and water will do the work as well, and the cream can be rubbed in afterward.
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