Anita Page

Anita is pictured with Max Factor, at his studios in Hollywood, 1931.

You too, can learn how to be as beautiful as Miss Page in the following article~

"We women of the stage and screen are often asked to give what is termed "our secrets of beauty", for it is supposed by many that there are special methods and rites we employ that can work wonders in suddenly changing one from ordinary common placeness to ravishing beauty. Perhaps it is the "wish fullfilment" psycho~analists talk about which makes us believe in these overnight beauty treatments, when our reason of course tells us "there ain't no such thing". Your reason is usually right!

However, we who work on the screen find it a part of our job to keep ourselves well groomed, and as necessity is the mother of invention we sometimes stumble on good methods which, if regularly adhered to, bring marvelous results toward the beauty goal all women strive for. Some of these aids to beauty which I have found important and which may help you, I shall be glad to give here~

CARE OF THE HAIR ~Let's first consider the hair. It's the crowning glory whether it is shorn or not and therefore should have the attention which healthy, glowing hair gets. Now here is something that I have learned which I think very few people know. Very dry hair should be shampooed more often than oily hair! That is an entirely different theory from the old one, but there is a logical reason for it. The more the natural oils of the scalp are required to flow more they will do so. Whenever the hair is washed the natural oils flow more freely, since it stimulates the oil sacs. Now the average person shampoos oily hair often, thinking in this way to eliminate the oil, but this only makes the oil sacs work harder. Naturally ouly hair should be shampooed less and after the shampoo rub in a little olive oil. This will bring the excessive oil flow back to normal. By shampooing dry hair more, it makes the oil sacs work harder. Massage is good for any head. At least twice a week give the scalp a good ten minute massage with the tips of the fingers, working in a rotary motion from the back, forward. And I also believe in the old- fashioned method of a good thorough brushing every morning. It makes the hair both soft and glossy.

Anita makes up.

SKIN ~ Someone has said that no woman who is neatly groomed and has a well cared for skin is really homely. I'm inclined to agree with this. So don't make the mistake of neglecting your complexion. The skin requires stimulation. We have learned to exercise the body - we should also learn to exercise the skin. Massage is good, but personally I get the best results from the pinching process. With two fingers of each hand go all over the face pinching it not too gently to fail to get a glow and not too hard to bruise it if it is tender. This should be done twice a week for five minutes or so. And let me give you a word of warning. When you pinch, massage or exercise the face, be sure to spread on a generous layer of cold cream first to prevent wrinkles. Avoid methods that are too strenuous. It is better to take it slowly than to ruin your complexion. Steaming the face over hot water is good and so is an ice rub, but I believe that these should be done on different days so that the skin will not be subjected to too great a change. With ice or with steam be sure to taper off with luke warm and then cool -not cold- water. Don't ruin your complexion with poor soap or make up just because it happens to be advertised as 'theatrical' make-up; exercise the greatest of care and discretion.

Anita Page's well kept hands.

HANDS ~There is no better whitener for the hands than the time-honored lemon juice. This should be put on full strength and allowed to dry, then use a good hand lotion with softening qualities. Hands express so much character that they should be developed more. There is nothing more beautiful than a supple, capable hand. Suppleness and strength can be gained by exercise. Stretch the fingers as wide apart as possible, training every muscle, then close the hand into a fist. Repeat this ten or fifteen times every day. It is also a good idea to make it a daily habit to shake the hands from the wrist quickly for three or four minutes. In this way the skin becomes stimulated, the muscles are exercised and the hand becomes lithe. Because we wash the hands so much more frequently than we do our face, we should give them more cream or oil or hand emolient designed for the prevention of their premature aging. Many women do kill two birds with the one cold creaming action. When they cleanse and massage the face and neck at night they go after the hands with cream, too. Let me simply repeat that nails should be given daily care and should never be worn too long, too pointed or too highly polished. Although this has been said a thousand times there are still women who have not taken it to heart.

There's more advice from Anita on how to look beautiful here.