This is another of the ads from Defoe’s A Review of the Affairs of France, which I have mentioned previously.
COSMETICON: A most excellent wash
to Beautifie the Face, &c., rendring the Skin sur-
prisingly white and clear: It takes away all Hard-
ness, Tan, Sunburn, or other Discolourings: All
Morphews, Scurfs, Freckles, Lentils, &c., tho’ of
never so long standing, speedily heals chop’d Lips,
Pimples, or other breakings-out in the Skin, after
an admirable manner. Gives such a delicate, pure,
clear, natural lustre to the Face and Hands, &c.,
that nothing in Nature can possibly exceeds it ;
yet leaves no darnish, but is wholly free from all
pernicious Ingredients, as Mercury &c, being
pure, sweet, clean, harmless and transparently clear;
’tis found, by many Years Experience, to make
the skin so incomparably pure, fine and soft, and
so free from all Defilements and Defects whatsoe-
ver, that it leaves no room for anything of the
like kind to come after it. For Bruises by Falls,
&c., Aches and Pains even of the Gout or Rheu-
matism, it’s a present Sovereign Remedy. Sold at
Mr. Stevens’s, a Tin-Shop next the Three Nuns
near Salisbury-Court in Fleet-street, and at Mr.
Parker’s Bookseller at the Keg and Star in Corn-
hill, over against the Royal-Exchange, at 3s. 6d.
a Bottle, with Directions.
Source: A Review of the Affairs of France, Tuesday 3 April 1705
Note: Archaic spellings too numerous to detail but all as in original.
