COLD CREAM

ERASE TEMPORARY TATTOOS • Kids love temporary tattoos, but getting them off can be a painful scrubbing job. To make removal easier, rub cold cream on the tatoo to loosen it, then gently rub it off with a washcloth.

MAKE FACE PAINT

Need a safe, easy recipe for children’s face paint? Mix 1 teaspoon (5 ml) cornstarch, 1/2 teaspoon (2 ml) water, 1/2 teaspoon (2 ml) cold cream, and 2 drops of food coloring (depending on the costume) together. Use a small brush to paint designs on your child’s face. This paint will come off easily with a bit of soap and water.

REMOVE BUMPER STICKERS

Does your bumper sticker still say “Bush for President”? Erase the past by rubbing cold cream on the sticker and letting it soak in. Once it does, you should be able to just peel it right off.

DID YOU KNOW?

Yes, cold cream really is cold. That’s because it’s made with a lot of water that evaporates and cools your warm face. Cold cream is the granddaddy of all facial ointments. It was invented by the Greek physician Galen in A.D. 157. It’s not known exactly why Galen created his mixture, but ancient medicine was based on treating with opposites and Galen might have been seeking a cure for a hot and dry skin condition like eczema or psoriasis. But the women of ancient Greece soon discovered the soothing white cream was great for taking off makeup, which remains the primary use for cold cream to this day.