ALL THAT ZAZZ

By Mary N. DiZazzo

The Numbers Know...Not Your Age

Ciao bella,

Laugh lines just don't crack many smiles anymore. The urge to erase them prompted Ponce de Leon in a search for the Fountain of Youth in the sixteenth century. And "lunchtimes" now consist of age defying injections.

Here are some beauty-by-numbers facts as we look between the fine lines.

In 1513 Juan Ponce de Leon set off to find the Fountain of Youth, a legendary spring whose water would provide eternal life and health. Instead he discovered Florida. Ever notice after our long winter that when the snowbirds return they look so much better than we?

In 1889 "Frownies" were created by Margaret Kroesen. Adhesive patches that hold skin taut to smooth wrinkles.

In 1890 The Picture of Dorian Gray was published by Oscar Wilde. It's about a man who pledged his soul in exchange for a portrait that would age instead of him.

The year 1920 was when Coco Chanel made suntans fashionable after her vacation on a yacht. 62: That's the number of years later that Chanel launched its first anti-wrinkle cream with sunscreen.

1988: Year the FDA issued a warning about the indiscriminant use of Retin-A, an acne drug, to treat wrinkles.

$400,000: The amount paid in 1986 to Christian Barnard --the surgeon who performed the first heart transplant-- to promote a line of anti-aging skin care cosmetics called Glycel.

65,157: The number of patients who received Botox injections in 1997, five years before it was approved for cosmetic use by the FDA.

18: The percentage of men who use over-the-counter anti-aging products.

29: The percentage of Americans aged 30 to 50 who are more concerned about gaining weight than getting wrinkles.

Hope you enjoyed this beauty trivia as quoted from Allure magazine.

Buona giornata and God bless the United States of America!


Have you missed any of Mary's columns in the Post-Gazette? Read prior weeks' "All That Zazz" columns on her website www.mary4nails.com. She is a third-generation cosmetologist and owner of Mary for Nails, etc. natural nailcare salon in Andover, and a Massachusetts distributor of Kosmea brand rose hip oil products. She may be contacted at (978) 470-8183. She also sees select clients by appointment in Boston at (617) 742-6881.