It’s in your hands. Have you ever noticed how beautiful a woman looks when she’s in a good mood? That’s easier for those who, by temperament, can keep their composure, hide their problems and troubles, and thus learn to control their facial muscles.
Any emotion shows on our appearance, and unfortunately, these are challenging times with so few positive feelings. Use willpower, smile, and diffuse tense moments with a joke. Given how much positive emotions affect both our well-being and our appearance, I encourage every woman and girl to keep their facial expression pleasant and charming.
French cosmetologists divide skincare into three stages: cleansing, nourishing, and protecting against external irritants like environmental and industrial pollutants. Therefore, specific skincare practices should be adjusted to the skin’s current condition, age, and the season. Remember, the great physician Hippocrates, in his treatise “On Healthy Living,” recommends changing not only your diet but even the pace of your walks depending on whether it’s spring or autumn. Before suggesting masks, a modern cosmetologist will often advise, “It’s August — eat as many fresh salads as possible every day, and not just onions. Use plantain, primrose, and nettle.” This is because our skin reacts strongly to our diet.
Cleanse your face thoroughly in the evening, not in the morning. During the day, the skin collects dust, sweat, and makeup. Do this about one and a half to two hours before bedtime. If you cleanse thoroughly in the evening, a splash of water in the morning will suffice when time is short. If soap irritates your skin, use cleansing lotions and softening emulsions.
Use lotions that contain alcohol for oily skin. When using lotions and emulsions, change cotton pads two to three times. Prepare a cleansing solution at home: take a rich cream (do not use liquid creams), mix it with an equal amount of unrefined oil, and apply a small amount of the mixture to your face and neck. If your skin is dry, leave it on for 3–5 minutes, then remove it with a cotton pad soaked in tea or slightly acidic water. Afterward, apply a nourishing cream to your damp face.
Washing with milk is very beneficial. Our grandmothers did this because milk has a calming effect on the skin, making it ideal for women with sensitive skin. Perform this procedure after cleansing the face and neck. Boil the milk and dilute it with an equal amount of water. Wipe your face with a cotton pad soaked in the milk, or if you have time, use a bowl and alternate wetting one cheek and then the other, followed by the forehead and chin. If your facial skin is very irritated or flaky, add a strong infusion of chamomile or linden (one tablespoon per cup of water) instead of warm water.
You can wash with milk only if there are no scratches or pustules on the skin.
If you work in fields or in polluted environments (like fabric factories), clean your face with a brush. Use a soft toothbrush with a soapy cream (any kind, such as shaving cream) to combine cleansing and massage, which strengthens the skin. This procedure is especially beneficial for those with porous, coarse, oily skin. Do not use this method on dry skin or if there are scratches or pustules.
In winter and spring, do this once or twice a week; in summer and autumn, do it every other day for a month, then take a month-long break.
After washing your face, moisten the brush with a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution and apply the soapy cream to it. Starting from the chin, use circular motions to gently massage the skin for 2–3 minutes, then apply more pressure. If the skin is very dirty and oily, leave the mixture on your face for 2–3 minutes after massaging. Rinse off, and apply a nourishing cream to your damp face.
