The Golden Mask~ Ninon de L'Enclos' secret of eternal youth!

Ninon de L'Enclos was a famed  French courtesan, author and beauty of the seventeenth century. I am not that well-versed on her life, I do know, however that after her parents died she entered a convent, only to leave a year later to lead an independent life.  This woman was remarkable for her wonderful physical preservation. At the age of eighty, creditable authorities state, she retained the great beauty of her girlhood, her face having the freshness of youth, and being as free then from the lines of age as it had been at twenty, her whitepowdered hair, then fashionable, but adding to her youthful appearance.

In my opinion, this is one of the most absurd beauty devices EVER!!! If we are to believe the "authorities" and this etching,  I suppose... it WORKED! But who would want to sleep wearing a metal face mask? And did that not interfere with her life as a courtesan? 

                                                                                             

From a tome entitled "Old Age, it's Cause and Prevention, The Story of  an Old Body and Face made Young", by Sanford Bennett, copyright 1912. This portion discusses Mr. Bennett's experiments

with fabricating a new and "improved" mask, as there was no electricity in Mme. 

de L'Enclos' time... 

The Metal Face Mask 

Designed for Softening the Skin and Improving the Complexion

IN the chapter of an old French pamphlet, relating to the celebrated French beauty, Ninon de L'Enclos, mention is made of a metal face mask which she wore as a means for the prevention of wrinkles and for the preservation of the smoothness of skin and brilliant complexion for which she was celebrated. The pamphlet, referred to in the brief sketch of her personality, was silent as to how this mask was constructed, but I could readily understand how it was attached to the face and worn, also that such a device would be cleanly and durable, and that if it fitted the contour of the features accurately the even pressure, exclusion of air, and stimulation of the sweat glands would certainly have a very beneficial effect upon the skin and complexion. Her maid, Jeanne Sauval, simply described it as un masque d'or; i. e., a gold mask. It was evident that a perfect fit was necessary, as if there was an uneven bearing it would be painful and could not be worn when sleeping, as the maid stated was frequently the custom of her mistress.

Feeling assured that the French woman had found the right method, I experimented nearly three years upon that device, being determined to learn how it was constructed. The specialist and the two ladies who kindly assisted in these experiments tried every known variety of mask, hoping to find some less expensive substitute as efficacious as the French beauty's masque d'or. The requisites seemed to be about as follows: An even pressure all over the face, material durable and capable of being scalded and polished without injury, thus assuring antiseptic conditions. The surface which rested upon the skin should be hard, smooth and firm. It should be light and strong and finally not too expensive. These conditions we found to be necessary to success, but a very difficult problem to solve.

We experimented with flannel, kid, celluloid, papier mache, tin, lead and rubber, finding them one and all failures. The flannel and kid masks simply kept the face warm and neither whitened the skin nor had any effect upon the wrinkles, the papier-mache and celluloid quickly lost shape, tin was a flat failure, and rubber, while bleaching the face and admitting the use of face cream to some extent, had no effect upon the wrinkles. It also soon became ill-smelling and impossible.

In the case of one of the ladies, experimenting with the rubber mask, a very troublesome rash appeared, causing apprehensions of some dangerous skin disease. But when a slight accident prevented the fair investigator from wearing the rubber mask for a few nights the eruption quickly disappeared. Accepting Nature's hint, I discarded that form of mask and material. It was evident that the French beauty had the right idea in using gold or possibly a gilding of gold upon the metal used in the construction of her mask, but the expense of such a highpriced material was prohibitive. It seemed evident that her mask was not modeled upon her face, but most probably from a plaster cast taken from it. We therefore had casts made of the ladies' faces, and upon these plaster faces we experimented with various metals. These metals were melted and poured upon the plaster models. In this way we obtained several facsimiles in metal of the original cast, but all were too heavy and cumbersome, which the original masque d'or
                                                      certainly could not have been. 

Finally we hit upon the idea of precipitating copper in solution by electricity upon the plaster faces, allowing the deposit to accumulate to about the thickness of pasteboard, the result being a light, strong copper mask, fitting the features in every detail, the pressure being even at all points, no discomfort was felt by the wearers, as the mouth, nostrils and eyes were left free of obstruction; but finding that the con* tact of copper with the skin had an injurious effect, we plated the mask with silver. However, this speedily tarnished, leaving black stains upon the skin. We then plated with gold, and finally succeeded in producing the veritable masque d'or of Ninon de L'Enclos, and probably a far better article than she used. This light, strong and clean device we fastened to the ladies' faces with elastic bands, as shown in the accompanying illustrations. The application of a thick coat of face cream to the face is necessary as it aids in the exclusion of air and softens the skin. The result has been very remarkable, and both of these ladies, as well as others who have tried the device, have had very extraordinary success.

In a case where there was a deficiency of superficial circulation in the skin of the face (and as a consequence great pallor), an electric current from a small portable battery, as shown in the illustration, was applied. The improvement was very pronounced. The first objection to the metal face mask usually offered is that it would be unpleasant to sleep with such a device upon the face, if that should be desired; but this is not the case. The metal mask fitting the contour of the features accurately in every detail (as it surely will if the plaster cast is made properly), results in a general, even bearing. The warmth generated produces a gentle perspiration which has a soothing effect upon the nerves and induces sleep. After wearing the mask an hour, or even half of that time, when it is removed the face will be found to be bathed in perspiration. Wipe this off with a dry towel. The skin, after this prolonged perspiration bath will be found to be white and smooth and the wrinkles temporarily pressed out.

If the cheeks and chin have been developed by the deep massage exercise described in the chapter relating to those muscles, a very decided improvement in the appearance of the face by the mask alone will quickly result, but the process of facial rejuvenation will be greatly hastened by friction with the palms of the hands and tips of the fingers. Not gentle smoothings with the tips of the fingers, as usually recommended in beauty articles, but rubbing and plenty of it. This should be done immediately after the removal of the mask. The lines have then been temporarily pressed out, the skin has still a slight coating of face cream, and the conditions are then favorable for this friction process. The most convenient position you will find to be as you lie upon your back in bed. The neck should also be treated in the same way as the face, and no harm will be done to the skin as long as it does not chafe, a few drops of the face cream applied by the palms of the hands preventing that condition.

This was the logical, practical and successful method of Ninon de L'Enclos. By it and some of the other methods described she retained a youthful face free from wrinkles and with the appearance of the skin of youth up to the age of 80 years. As success rewarded her efforts, so will success come to anyone who will follow her example. It requires time and patience, but success is certain and the reward to any woman who greatly values her facial appearance, in my judgment, is worth the trouble.

To the reader of this chapter I have now an apology to make. These experiments at facial rejuvenation were not made upon my part with any idea of manufacturing a face mask for sale. They were taken up at the request of numerous correspondents who had obtained copies of my previous works upon Physical and Facial Rejuvenation. Accident placed me in possession of the old French pamphlet referred to. It seemed evident that the French beauty had found the real secret and solution of a problem which has worried womankind in all ages, and to satisfactorily answer those questions these experiments were conducted; but now I must confess that I am confronted with a difficulty which I cannot overcome, or at least to my own satisfaction. In entering into an arrangement with my publishers, it was distinctly understood that all of the matter I was to present for publication was to be the result of my own personal and successful experiences in the art of getting young again. That all of the methods described should be free from any artificial devices or descriptions of drug decoctions designed or used for that purpose, and that Nature's methods of deferring physical old age, or indications of facial age, should be described. In short, the book was to be a clear description of the natural means by which I have become physically young at 72 and presenting the appearance of a man but little over half of my age. Also that anyone could successfully practice those methods without an instructor and without expense. I can confidently and truthfully say that up to this stage of my account of the matter I have carefully adhered to those conditions. The trouble now confronting me is that this metal face mask is now a patented device and I have been restrained from publishing the instructions necessary to understand how to make such a mask or how to make the plaster face cast upon which the mask is built. As this is the basis of the patents of the manufacturer some legal entanglement might result if I were to disregard that restrainer. In any event its construction seems to be a much more intricate process than I had supposed; in fact, about as much of an art as fitting and making a set of false teeth. Probably the only way around the difficulty would be to refer anyone interested in the matter to the experts who manufacture the device. It is an expensive affair, requiring careful measurements, photographs of the face and lines to be eliminated and generally a good deal of time and attention to various details with which I am unfamiliar. The materials of which it is constructed are all expensive; i. e., gold, silver and copper in solution, and I am now advised special electric plating devices are used. Under these conditions the manufacturers write me that they charge for each mask, with battery, etc., if desired, one hundred dollars. To the average reader of this book that will be a prohibitive price, but I can say this much for the device that it is wonderfully effective, and it certainly does whiten the skin and generally improve the complexion. Also if accurately fitted it will last a lifetime, but just like a set of false teeth, each individual must be measured and fitted by herself. There does not seem to be any other way. After using the mask the face should be thoroughly frictioned with the palms of the hands, as heretofore described; afterwards anoint the face with the white of an egg; this, after drying and shrinking up the wrinkles, should be rinsed off in pure warm water. If all this detail is performed as I have instructed, the results will be found to be very satisfactory, possibly far greater than you think possible. The immediate effect will probably endure for several hours, and as the practice is continued, finally permanent improvement will surely ensue.