See also Cleaning Methods and Photography for removal of stains caused by photographic developers.

Astringent Wash for Flabby Skin

This is used to correct coarse pores, and to remedy an oily or flabby skin. Apply with sponge night and morning:

Cucumber juice...... 1.5 ounces

Tincture of benzoin .. 0.5 ounce

Cologne............ 1 ounce

Elder-flower water. . . 5 ounces Put the tincture of benzoin in an 8-ounce bottle, add the other ingredients, previously mixed, and shake slightly. There will be some precipitation of benzoin in this mixture, but it will settle out, or it may be strained out through cheese cloth.

Bleaching Skin Salves

A skin-bleaching action, due to the presence of hydrogen peroxide, is possessed by the following mixtures:

I

Lanolin............ 30 parts

Bitter almond oil. . . . 10 parts Mix and stir with this salve base a solution of

Borax.............. 1 part

Glycerine........... 15 parts

Hydrogen peroxide.. 15 parts

For impure skin the following composition is recommended:

II

White mercurial ointment............. 5 grams

Zinc ointment....... 5 grams

Lanolin............ 30 grams

Bitter almond oil. . .. 10 grams

And gradually stir into this a solution of

Borax.............     2 grams

Glycerine..........   30 grams

Rose water.........   10 grams

Concentrated nitric acid............     5 drops

III

Lanolin........... 30 grams

Oil sweet almond... 10 grams

Borax............. 1 gram

Glycerine.......... 15 grams

Solution hydrogen

peroxide......... 15 grams

Mix the lanolin and oil, then incorporate the borax previously dissolved in the mixture of glycerine and peroxide solution.

IV

Ointment ammoniac mercury......... 5 grams

Ointment zinc oxide. 5 grams

Lanolin........... 30 grams

Oil sweet almond.. . 10 grams

Borax............ 2 grams

Glycerine.......... 30 grams

Rose water......... 10 grams

Nitric acid, C. P.. .. 5 drops Prepare in a similar manner as the foregoing. Rose oil in either ointment makes a good perfume. Both ointments may, of course, be employed as a general skin bleach, which, in fact, is their real office—cosmetic creams.