Celebrate the Pumpkin

Celebrate the Pumpkin

Ciao bella,

One of the only saving graces to the end of summer and the start of autumn are the magnificent colors of the season. The grand pumpkin! Bright eye candy! It’s an uplifting sight to see them lined up at farm stands and piled up in front of the grocers. Such a sturdy fruit, so yummy and then again another of Mother Nature's beauty treatments and medicinal cures!

This orange squash is native to North America. Approximately 90 percent of pumpkins from United States are grown in Illinois. Pumpkin color can vary but most popular are orange and yellow.

Inside the core which contain the seeds is high in nutrients with the seeds having a high Zinc content, known to be terrific for the skin. The Zinc helps to heal acne blemishes and sooth irritated skin. The alpha-hydroxy acids help to exfoliate and revitalize. The pulp is also used to reduce the appearance of scarring. The bright colored fruit are chalk full of multivitamins which nourish the skin.

The vitamin C maintains skin health by preventing the collagen from breaking down. Vitamin A softens and cleanses and softens the skin.

In days gone by it was staple food of the Native Americans. They used it to make medicine and wove dried strips of it into mats. Was also used as a cure for freckles and as a remedy for snake bites! You can find the benefits of pumpkin in your beauty aisle. There are peels and facial masks and anti-aging creams along with lotions, shampoos and body washes.

Here is a do-it-yourself facial with this extraordinary fruit! Mix 2 teaspoons pureed pumpkin, 1/2 teaspoon honey, and 1/4 teaspoon heavy cream. Smooth on face leaving on for 10 minutes. Rinse off with warm water for glowing, smoother skin!

Buona giornata and God bless the United States of America!

Mary N. DiZazzo-Trumbull

Read prior weeks' "All That Zazz" columns at www.allthatzazz.com. Mary is a third-generation cosmetologist and a Massachusetts distributor of Kosmea brand rose hip oil products. She may be contacted at (978) 470-8183 or mary@mary4nails.com.

Your Cosmetic Bag

Your Cosmetic Bag

Ciao bella,

It’s that time of year to clean out the old and make room for the new! As a professional, I know that sanitization has a huge effect on our health and well-being. I understand many of us Glamazons can get attached to some fave make-up or cream; however, our old and used stuff goes beyond the expiration date. Hanging on to such items can cause unnecessary drama. All cosmetics, once we open and use them, start to harbor bacteria.

Bacteria can cause unpleasant breakouts, eye infections, and even rashes!

So here is a professional list I go by on how long we should keep our cosmetics and when we should toss them.

Mascara and eyeliner are huge on collecting bacteria. So 3 months should be the limit on keeping and using them.

Lipstick should be tossed between 1 and 2 years. In fact, with some lipsticks, they will have a rancid type odor. Toss immediately!

Face cream should also be used up in 3 months.

Foundation will last for 1 year. When applying, try not to touch tip of bottle/applicator so as not to promote bacteria and cause contamination. It will alsocarry a rancid smell when it’s gone bad. Toss yesterday! Face oil will also be good for 1 year. After that long, take a sniff and you’ll know if it’s useable.

Sunscreen usually has an expiration date and I would go by that. I say 1 year for it. Loose powder is supposed to be tossed after a year as well.

As for your makeup brushes, please clean regularly with a brush cleaner or Woolite.

I hope these tips will keep you beautiful and healthy. It’s a new season and time for a new palette!

Buona giornata and God bless the United States of America!

Mary N. DiZazzo-Trumbull

Read prior weeks' "All That Zazz" columns at www.allthatzazz.com. Mary is a third-generation cosmetologist and a Massachusetts distributor of Kosmea brand rose hip oil products. She may be contacted at (978) 470-8183 or mary@mary4nails.com.

Eyelashes in Retro! A Look Back!

Eyelashes in Retro! A Look Back!

Ciao bella,

The hype today on Brows and Lashes is incredible! However, centuries ago women and men prided themselves with the same hype, only differently. Let’s go back and see!

In Egypt 3500 B.C., Eyelids and Lashes were taken very seriously. Women and men used black and green toned ointments to enhance their eyes. Not only for style, but as a sunscreen and disinfectant. It was also believed to be an aphrodisiac, invoking the image of sun god Ra.

From 753 B.C.to 625 B.C., the women of Ancient Rome used kohl, saffron and burnt cork to make their lashes lustrous and thick. It was a sign of chastity.

From 1533 to 1603, Queen Elizabeth’s gold/red hair was highly regarded. Ladies used dangerous liquids to achieve the color for their eyebrows and lashes!

In 1840, Eugene Rimmel put out one of the first nontoxic mascaras. The word “rimmel” means mascara in more than 5 languages. It’s not my favorite brand of cosmetics!

In 1916, false eyelashes of human hair were woven though gauze. According to a Hollywood legend, the director wanted his star to have lashes that “brushed her cheeks to make her eyes shine larger than life” for a film. Love that!

In 1920, Maybelline mascara was trademarked by Tom Lyle Williams. Named after his sister Maybel, who used petroleum jelly, ash and coal dust to darken her singed lashes after a stove fire!

In 1923, a U.S. Patent for “Artificial Eyelashes” by Germanborn hair stylist Charles Nessler was issued.

In 1923, the first eyelash curler, the Kurlash, was invented. Even though it was difficult to use and costly, it was very popular as it achieved the desired effect.

In 1938, waterproof mascara was patented by Viennese actress Helene Vierthaler. The hot stage lights would make mascara run, so that was a divine call!

In 1958, Revlon invented the roll-on mascara in shades of green, violet and blue. The blue was a favorite of mine!

In 1967, “Twiggy Lashes” by Yardley were the rage, selling more than 20 million pairs in U.S. annually.

In 1971, the famous pink tube was launched by Maybelline for Great Lash Mascara.

In 1988, Max Factor introduced No Color Mascara, making eyelashes look shiny, thick and more natural. Great for girls attending strict Catholic schools, at least in my day!

In 2001, Jennifer Lopez sported red fox fur lashes to the Academy Awards, sparking the brand’s Tokyo Lash Bar at Shu Uemura.

In 2004, Eyelash extensions came swinging into U.S., offering product and training in Lashing soon to follow. Between 2006 and 2008, a host of manufacturers introduced Cosmetic Eyelash Conditioners for diminished lashes due to illness, genes, cancer treatments, poorly trained professionals using inferior product for eyelash extensions, etc.

I grew my lashes back beautifully with Grande Lash in a gold tube.

So here you have Eyelashes and Brows through the Ages. Grow a pair and feel the Beauty!

After a divine summer, here’s wishing my readers, colleagues and friends a Happy and Safe Labor Day weekend!

Buona giornata and God bless the United States of America!

Mary N. DiZazzo-Trumbull

Read prior weeks' "All That Zazz" columns at www.allthatzazz.com. Mary is a third-generation cosmetologist and a Massachusetts distributor of Kosmea brand rose hip oil products. She may be contacted at (978) 470-8183 or mary@mary4nails.com.