Seasonal Beauty Care

All Beauty and Makeup information comes from A Complete 1950s Guide to Vintage Makeup, Hairstyling & Beauty Techniques by the Westmore Brothers. 


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In the Northern Hemisphere, where most of my readers are, it's currently summer except for you loyal Australians. After posting about how to find your face shape, I was going to go straight into the business of beauty by face and feature, but it's so bloody hot here I decided to take a small break and post beauty advice for Summer Autumn and Winter. As of previously all information comes from A Complete 1950s Guide to Vintage Makeup, Hairstyling and Beauty Techniques, which is really a wonderful book that you should look into getting as there is so much more information in there. Anyway, Onto Seasons.

Summer-

At this point in climate change/hole in the Ozone reality I don't think I have to remind people to remember to wear sunscreen but if you'd forgotten go out and by an SPF minimum of 15, personally I wear SPF 60. I'm going to divide Summer into 2 categories, those who like Skin Cancer and looking like either tanned leather or an Oompa Loompa, and those with fair skin and a collection of big floppy hats who don't like Skin Cancer Regardless of which group you fall into however, the sun will get to your skin and you'll need a good skin conditioner. Once a week when you take a nice long bath to relax put some oatmeal into a cheesecloth and let that float with your rubber ducky until the water turns milky. then open the bag and put the oatmeal on your face and neck,  and let it dry. Rinse off before getting out of the bath. This will give lovely soft skin and can be used for all seasons not just summer.

During the summer we have to make sure our body hair is at a minimum, but all the shaving leaves your legs, arms, pits and bikini line scaly or dry. What you do is use a lanolin based lotion mixed with 1 tablespoon of salt to rub down your legs, shoulders, arms etc. I did this just this morning and my legs feels silky smooth.

Elbows and knees can also get a bit tough as well with harsh rays from the sun, for these trouble areas rub in heavy eye cream every night for softening.

Now, those who have gotten a tan whether naturally or sitting in a tanning bed will need to keep the skin lubricated. Use a rich facial cream every night and once or twice a week drop a few spoons of lanolin based lotion into the bath to keep the skin lubricated and hydrated.

Generally in the summer we eat more fresh fruit and veg and generally eat lighter foods. But don't forget to keep butter and cheeses in the diet because otherwise the skin can start to crack.

For those who are addicted to fake tan, but are tired of spending large sums of money on products. I have a Recipe for Fake Tan

7 Grams Cider Vindegar (For the Tannic Acid)
60 Grams Caron Oil
50 Grams Iodine (for color unless allergic and then omit)
15 Grams Baby Oil
115 Grams cologne ( do not put directly onto face)

Mix ingredients and rub into areas you want tanned.

For those who don't want a tan constant application of sun  screen in necessary at the highest SPF you can get your hands on. Also, Wear big floppy hats.

Everyone should wear sunglasses to protect the eyes from the suns harmful rays, however, if you get big dark sunglasses and end up with a white ring around your eyes, this can be corrected by getting a darker base and covering it up.

The summer is also a good excuse to toss out your makeup and get new lipsticks bases, nailpolish etc. If you have tanned colours that go well on a browned blonde are orangey or pepper reds for lippy and nails, and for browned brunettes you can't go wrong with a bright battle red. Lipstick should also be reapplied constantly as it helps preven blisters and windburn this should also be done in winter for similiar reasons.

New Hairstyles are also a good way to feel summery and update your look. For summer try a shorter hairstyle, or large loose curls for longer hair.

Speaking of hair, the stuff can turn to straw from overexposure to the sun, hence the big floppy hat. to prevent this, the hair needs extra shampooing as well as weekly hot oil treatments. You can also rub lanolin or olive oil into the hair as a conditioner. Either way wrap a steaming wet towel around your head unti lit cools then replace with a new steaming hot towel. Do this three times then remove and shampoo.

Autumn-

As tans fade, regardless of  how light or dark they were, the skin aquires a yellow dingy colouring. This can be covered up with a base until winter. For Autumn buy your make up base in a more pink base then normal to counteract the yellowing from the fading of the tan.

To speed up the process of going pale, pat lemon juice onto the face, and neck and body an dleave on on for no  longer then 5 minutes before washing off with soap and water.

for dry flaky skin add 1 tablespoon of salt to your cleansing cream to remove any particles from the face. If you can get a day away from friends and family cover the entire face and neck with moisturizing oil and leave on for as long as possible. Rub down your body a few times a week with this same oil and allow to stay on all night.

Foundation liquids or creams are very important in Autumn and winter as they lubricate and protect against cold and chapping something that willcarry into the winter months.For hands remember to use lotion after each washing and massage warm olive oil into the hands each night.

Winter-

Winter is a time of parties and holidays, many of the things to remember have already been highlighted in the earlier seasons. The darker deeper colours of winter should be matched with more formal hairstyles. Hair will also have to be reconditioned with weekly hot oil treatments as already outlined. Skin as well will need to be protected from chapping and cracking with regular use of lotion.

The biggest threat in winter is the deep lull of sedentary life as you decide that perhaps it's best not to leave th ehouse because you can't be bothered to shovel your way out. So don't forget to excercise you certainly won't have anything better to do.