Selected entries from actress Anna Held's regular column in the Lincoln Daily Star
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Selected entries from actress Anna Held's regular column in the Lincoln Daily Star "My Own Beauty Secrets'" By Anna Held |
31st October, 1913
Good Teeth and a Pretty Smile as Beauty Essentials
Have you the courage to smile? I do not ask, "Have you the disposition to smile?" — for every woman has the disposition to smile. Every woman has the knowledge that a smile radiates light over her whole face. And every woman smiles, if only she has good teeth to give her the courage to cmlle and show them.
Even white, well cared for teeth! They add charm to a charming face. They even make you forget irregularity of feature and flaws in coloring. Come, madame, confess, have you given your teeth the care they deserve? And, mademoiselle, be warned before it is too late. Your teeth are one of your great beauty assets. But they are perishable, they are easily flawed, and they will repay you measure for measure for either neglect or care.
Do you know one reason why the peasant woman and the middle class "bourgeoisie" of my own country fade so early? It is because in youth they have sparkling girlish faces lit by smiles and flashing teeth. Soon decay takes its toll — the teeth become yellow and broken; they fall out from ill use and neglect. The cheeks become hollow when the tooth support is removed, the pretty facial curve is lost and a smile becomes impossible.
Now, the first rule to follow in caring for your teeth is to have them examined by a reliable dentist every six months. Whatever sacrifice of luxury this means, you should still adhere to this rule. A tiny cavity can be filled painlessly and cheaply — and a filling in time saves the tooth. So consult your dentist regularly and save big cavities in teeth and pocketbook.
A Necessary Precaution
Don't fear a toothache that is brought on by work in the dentist's chair. If visible decay starts, attend to it at once. If no decay is visible or can be felt with the sensitive tongue tip, it is still a necessary precaution to visit the dentist twice a year.
Use peroxide to disinfect the mouth and lips and allow no soreness to persist in either place. Absolute cleanliness in and about the mouth cavity is as important as is every other sort of bodily cleanliness.
The teeth must be brushed with some cleaning and disinfecting preparation every morning and evening. A simple and effective combination is carbon and common soot. Powders attack the enamel of teeth and are agents for rapid decay. The slightest crack in the enamel allows decay an entering wedge.
An over-abundance of any one principal in the system is inadvisable. Too much acid or too much alkaline matter will injure the teeth. The diet should counteract this. If you are a gourmet and cannot resist the delights of the menu, find out if your mouth is over-acid or over-alkaline.
For the acid mouth bi-carbonite of soda and water will make a counter irritant mouth wash. For the alkaline mouth vinegar has been used with good results.
Her Own Teeth
I recommend carbon and common soot as a tooth cleanser, since I have used them for years and my teeth are white — and mine own!
And as the final aid for teeth, I recommend fresh air. Let us return to our beginning — a smile. Smile if you have good teeth - and smile because it is good for your teeth. It gives them a chance for the cleansing, renewing, growing power of fresh air.
So, chere amies, here is my slogan for beautiful teeth. Have the courage to smile for your teeth's sake — and have teeth that will give you the courage to smile.
2nd November, 1913
Beautifying Arms and Hands
In France we consider a beautiful, expressive arm and hand one of woman's great charms. Do you not think this beauty is well worth your cultivation? Hands are so much in evidence it is important for every woman to try to make hers attractive. Hands are so much in evidence it is important for every woman to try to make hers attractive.
Never use highly scented soaps. Never wear tight wristbands or cuffs, and be sure that your dresses always have plenty of room in the armholes. Of course, the foundation for all the beauty is cleanliness. Grooming and care will make the skin of your arms and hands smooth and clear.
Shapeliness is also within your reach. And if you will but cultivate grace and expressiveness, you may master beauty of the hands and arms.
In France we admire gesture and expression through a certain amount of free motion. To you repose is essential for the hands. But the grace of repose is a thing that requires study.
Allons! We proceed.
Bathe the arms in bran water - using the bags of "son" as I told you in my talk about the bath. Leave the arms in warm, but not extremely hot water, lest an undue amount of blood be called to the hands, giving them an unsightly red appearance.
Now beginning at the shoulder rub down very gently with a good cold cream. If the elbow is unsightly with callous skin or goose flesh, make up your mind that you must break yourself of your American habit of leaning on the elbow. Leaning on the elbow looks quite attractive when a pretty slender girl assumes the pose. But it is most unsightly when a stout woman takes it, and in any case it will give you ugly, coarse pads at the elbow. Break yourself of the habit, and in the meantime rub the elbows each night with lanoline.
Always Rub Down
Always rub down in cultivating beauty of either arm or hand. By following the downward sweep of the circulation you will acquire the greatest possible shapeliness and get the tapering line of hand and arm that is essential to their true beauty.
Swing very light dumb-bells or Indian clubs to acquire flexible, graceful motion of the hand or arm. Lift the arms first to the sides, then straight up in front of you, then to the shoulder level. In each position flex the wrist, and turn the hand on the wrist as a pivot. Try expressing your idea of various emotions with the hands and arms. Study arranging the fingers gracefully and yet not loosely from the wrist to acquire the power to relax them easily.
And now, to crown your efforts, have your hands always well groomed and clean. If you cannot afford a weekly manicure, purchase manicure tools — an orange wood stick or two, a flexible file, some chamois buffers, a bottle of peroxide, castile soap and good cold cream. To this add a pair of loose chamois gloves, some finger-tip squeezers, glycerine and some well recommended article that will give luster to the nails.
After filing, soak your hands in warm soap suds to which you have added a few drops of benzoin. When they are soft and clean, push the cuticle back with a towel and cleanse under the nails with the orange wood stick dipped in peroxide. Not only must the nails be free from dust and soil and spots of all sorts, but the flesh under them must shine clear white through the translucent nails.
Now rub a bit of luster-cream or powder on the nails and polish with the buffer. Each night rub glycerine, with a bit of camphor, or of carbolic acid and rose water (you will be the best judge or which mixture best agrees with your skin), on hands and about the cuticle of the nails. Then don the loose gloves and let the softening effect of your glycerine preparation go on.
In the Morning
In the morning shape the fingers by applying the squeezers to the fingers in alternation. Massage the fingers toward the tips, and be sure to keep the joints supple and smooth.
When on the street always wear gloves that are large enough for you. When in a building remove the gloves at once, so that no perspiration stiffen the glove or chap the hand.
Never use highly scented soaps. Never wear tight wristbands or cuffs, and be sure that your dresses always have plenty Of room in the arm-holes.
If you follow these careful directions, madame, I think you will find yourself possessed of a pair of supple, graceful white hands and arms. And, either in motion or in repose, they will add to the tout ensemble of true beauty.