539. Grape Lotion for Sunburn.—Dip a bunch of green grapes in a basin of water; sprinkle it with powdered alum and salt, mixed together; wrap it in paper, and bake it under hot ashes; then express the remaining juice, and wash the face with the liquid.
540. Lemon Cream for Sunburn and Freckles.—Put two spoonfuls of fresh cream into half a pint of new milk; squeeze into it the juice of a lemon, and half a glass of brandy, a little alum, and loaf sugar; boil the whole, skim it well, and, when cool, it will be fit for use.
541. A French Receipt.—Take equal parts of the seeds of the melon, pompion, gourd, and cucumber, pounded and reduced to powder or meal; add to it fresh cream sufficient to dilute the flour; beat all up together, adding a sufficient quantity of milk, as it may be required, to make an ointment, and then apply it to the face. Leave it there for half an hour, and then wash it off with warm soft water. Pimpernel water is often used on the continent for the purpose of whitening the complexion. It is there in so high reputation, that it is said generally that it ought to be continually on the toilet of every lady who cares for the brightness of her skin.
542. Moles.—The author of "The Art of Beauty," whose work appeared in 1824, has very judiciously observed: "The common brown mole appears to be much of the same nature as freckles, and to be situated in the middle layer of the skin, or membrane of color. Moles are sometimes so placed as to improve rather than injure a fine face. They contrast with the delicacy of a fair skin, and give a pleasing archness of expression to the countenance. They are, however, most frequently found on women of a dark complexion. The coloring matter, as in the case of freckles and sunburn, is probably some chemical combination of iron. Moles have evidently a superabundant vitality, and a tendency to increased action, in consequence, perhaps, of the stimulus of the iron; and hence they are often slightly elevated above the surface, and the natural down of the skin is changed into a tuft of hair. The same cosmetic applications may be tried as for freckles, with gentle friction, but they are seldom successful. But it will be found very dangerous to apply depilatories to eradicate the tufts of hair on moles, as cancer in the face is not unfrequently the consequence of such applications."
543. Birth Marks.—Let them alone, or apply to some eminent surgeon to attempt their removal.