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 contains 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 snakebites! 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!

Here's wishing all my associates at The Post-Gazette and my readers a fun and spooky Hallowe'en!

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.

The Beauty Shoppe

The Beauty Shoppe

Ciao bella,

Mom and Nana in their Beauty Shoppe, circa 1940s

I simply adore live theatre. I attend at every chance I get. Recently I attended "Saturday Night, Sunday Morning" at The Lyric Stage here in Boston.

The whole play was set in a beauty shop of all black women called "Mary's Press and Curl." It was 1945, just before World War II ended. The woman, Mary, lost her husband early on in the war. She decided to turn her big house into a boarding house for women and turned another room into her beauty shop.

The camaraderie of the women as they gathered together with their customers was very touching. Of course each day was a different scenario, however filled with compassion and understanding. They would console the gals in many ways who wondered if their men were coming home to them or if they were even still alive. Remember it was World War II and letters, if any, were far and few between. The men who did return presented another set of problems. The gossip of everyone's business held seat front and center as always in a gathering of women. Yet there was always a sympathetic ear. The shop was a place to vent and break down revealing their feelings. The shop was a place to fantasize and dream of what life will be like in their future. Wishing for better days and also perfect hair. Many experimental hair straightening solutions failed leaving girls vulnerable to ridicule and running to Woolworth's wig department! The shop acted as a refuge to hide from the problems made by the war. It was a place of comfort and sharing.

The memories of my Mom and Nana's Beauty Shoppe came flooding back as reminiscent times told by my Mom so long ago. The familiar "tools of the trade" from the era in the play were very much alike as well. Including the scenarios that women pull through by expressing their inner thoughts to hear advice or a kind word. It got me thinking -- the beauty shoppe was more than just a place to get your hair done.

Beauty and wisdom all do lie in the menu of services in a Beauty Shoppe.

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.

Get Scary with LUSH for Hallowe'en 2015

Get Scary with LUSH for Hallowe'en 2015

Ciao bella,

This is one of my favorite times of the year! I started getting my Hallowe'en costume together at the beginning of summer. You must be ready and plan or you'll be wearing your Nana's apron, carrying a spoon and pretending you're a cook or something last minute like that!

Here are some ideas to a spook-takular season!

Get in the mood of the season with LUSH! Their new Hallowe'en limited edition products will help you to smell wickedly good and feeling soft! This year LUSH has packaged up a hanging Pumpkin Ball filled with Lushious goodies as well as a hanging Bat Ball!

The Pumpkin Ball contains Sparkly Pumpkin Bubble Bar to bathe in shimmery, swirling water of bubbles with fruity lime and juniper berry! You'll emerge sparkly and feeling sweet!

Lord of Misrule Bath bomb is a wine colored, mystically scented soak to soften over sun kissed skin!

The Bat Ball contains Nightwing Shower Jelly and a Fang-tastically zesty jelly that smells intoxicatingly delicious. It will brighten up those dark nights!

Lord of Misrule Shower Cream is an herbal wash with a mischievous earthy color! Your body will feel and smell too good and will ward off the nightly ghouls!

So everyone get ready for a spooky season with LUSH and get scared!

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.

Airbrush Makeup

Airbrush Makeup

Ciao bella,

Applying a good foundation can be difficult. But when applied properly it should look completely natural. The only way to achieve that true look is professional airbrushing. It will make you camera-ready.

Airbrush make-up has been used for decades by the film industry. As far back as Ben-Hur in the 1920s this technique reigns supreme to cult status. Ever since Demi Moore's 1992 cover shot on Vanity Fair, the actress was wearing nothing but a painted-on suit that a make-up artist created with airbrushing. It caused quite a stir and a trend was set.

Today airbrushing has gone mainstream. From countless celebrities that relied on this flawless look to the everyday woman.

Traditional foundation can look and feel cakey or thick. But airbrush make-up leaves a light seamless veil of color on the skin by misting it on for sheer, flawless coverage. It minimizes imperfections giving skin a natural-looking finish that looks radiant in real-life situations.

What about all those newscasters? Their complexions always look so great. The answer is airbrush make-up. You can now find at your favorite make-up counter airbrush make-up spray. It truly gives a flawless finish!

So for that special occasion whether it's a big birthday, or a bride, or a prom queen, find a salon nearest you that does airbrush make-up, or, do it yourself. Are you ready for your close-up?

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.

Feed Your Face 2015

Feed Your Face 2015

Ciao bella,

Ahhhhh the ending of summer! Just a few weeks left to enjoy lounging in the sunshine. I always feel that when Labor Day rolls around, that's it! Summer is over! Although we all try to hang on to the last days hoping it will not end so soon. This season I felt many did not fall in sync with the rhythm of summer. Whether it was that devastating winter, the failed MBTA or our complete loss of June?

Anyway here are some fun recipes to cheer up your skin after all the rushing to the next summer fun thing to do!

Get your face and body ready for a natural cleansing and brightening with food from your fridge and pantry.

Exfoliating, Gentle Face Mask: use 4 well ripened mashed strawberries, 1 Tablespoon brown sugar and 1/4 cup Greek yogurt. Mix together and apply as a mask for 10-15 min. Use a damp cloth to buff off. Together the salicylic and lactic acid from strawberries and yogurt help to unclog pores leaving skin fresh. Brown sugar helps to soften.

Honey and Coconut Hair Conditioner: mix 3 Tablespoons coconut oil (less for shorter hair) and 1 Tablespoon honey. Massage into clean, damp hair from shaft down to ends. Leave on for 30 minutes and rinse. Use whenever hair feels dry up to 2 times a week. This protein packed combo acts as a reparative hair mask.

Calming Face Treatment with Cucumber: 2 Tablespoon plain yogurt, 1/2 cuke puréed Apply this mixture like a mask. Relax for 15 minutes then rinse off. Cukes are anti-inflammatory with high levels of caffeic acid to calm irritation and swelling.

Sugar Body Polish: 2 Tablespoon honey, 1/3 cup olive oil, 1 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup Greek yogurt. Make into a paste and rub gently into damp skin for a bit, then rinse off. The sugar granules act like a scrub to smooth. Also combined with the Greek yogurt the paste sloughs dead skin, both containing alpha hydroxy acids. The olive oil and honey retain moisture.

Gardening Trick: before putting on garden gloves. Apply fav hand cream then scrape your fingernails over a bar of soap. (Keeps nails sturdy and clean.) Apply thin plastic gloves then your garden gloves! You'll be already to dig and weed!

OK Glamour Pusses that's the lowdown on a Spa Home Beauty Routine! So go out and enjoy the last weeks of summer beautifully!

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.

Mirror, Mirror On The Wall, Who's The Fairest of Them All?

Mirror, Mirror On The Wall, Who's The Fairest of Them All?

Ciao bella,

Many countries and different centuries claim the discovery of the mirror! However, I found some interesting facts on the mirror, a precious tool of beauty and reflection. It can also be an object for dismay, disappointment, and the truth of what is beauty as we see it.

The first mirrors in ancient times were dark colored container of water. Then in Turkey, around 6000 B.C., people started doing non-water mirrors with highly polished volcanic glass.

Then in Mesopotamia, around 4000 B.C., polished copper mirrors were around. The Chinese were making bronze mirrors in 2000 B.C.

Jumping to the 16th century, Venice was already well known for its blown glass. Mirrors were made from glass with a tin/mercury backing producing an extremely similar reflection we experience today. The Venetians mirror making was precious, lucrative and top secret, so that a renegade craftsmen who tried to sell the formula was assassinated!

It's always been said that in this beginning of reflection, the mirror could only be afforded by the wealthy. The materials to make this high quality mirror and their delicate transport made for a luxurious expense!

Lowering the price of the mirror came from the French. When they learned how the Venetian glass blowers were making the mirror they began mass producing them inevitably lowering the prices in Western Europe.

Today the modern process in making a mirror is called "silvering", by spraying a thin layer of silver or aluminum onto the backside of a sheet of glass. However, most mirrors

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.

Hair Removal: the Fun of it All!

Hair Removal: the Fun of it All!

Ciao bella,

My experiences have been all over the board when it comes to hair removal! From so many years of waxing, tweezing and shaving my extraneous hair, it's hardly a problem anymore. One good thing of getting older hair does get scarcer -- unfortunately on the top of your head as well. I still have plenty.

Recently my best hair removal, especially for facial hair, is Naad's. Developed by a Mom in Australia whose daughter had very sensitive skin. Once hair is removed, the residue can be washed off with water! Wish this product were around when I was young and hairy! When I used this hair removal product it lasted for several weeks! Hair growth becomes slower.

Then there's waxing which should be done professionally. Keeps hair gone for several weeks as well. After waxing so many years I do attribute that to my lesser hair experience as of today!

My eyebrows are a bit thin than I would like them for the style of the day. Although waxing under my arms left that area sensitive and now can only use a certain deodorant.

Shaving anywhere isn't great, however, it is very quick. Fine for legs although they must be done every week. It's a myth that shaving your facial hair promotes hair growth. The razor cuts a blunt edge making hair look thicker.

I've used a depilatory that dissolves the hair just a few times. For all the fuss, mess and odor it has to be used once a week.

And then there is the epilator, which looks very painful! It rips the hair out of its root in a wide margin. So if you have pain tolerance and invest in one your hair will stay gone for several weeks with the prospect of not returning so heavy.

Any Hair Removal product you use that removes the hair from the root will eventually make hair growth lesser and sparser.

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.