By Mary N. DiZazzo

Food on Your Face

Ciao bella,

Especially after Thanksgiving it's okay to have egg on your face. Maybe even banana, oatmeal, or yogurt. Just call it a food facial. So while shopping for your produce, shop for your beauty. It's an investment in good nutrition for both inside and outside your body.

So welcome to my "Spa Pantry" and do it at home. Try to put some relaxing time aside and whip up some of these treatment recipes.

BANANA OATMEAL MASK. One-half banana, one tablespoon honey, two tablespoons sour cream, one or two tablespoons oatmeal.
1. Mash half of banana with honey and sour cream.
2. Add oatmeal one tablespoon at a time until it's a soft paste.
3. Apply to face and let set for 10 minutes. Gently wipe off with damp cloth. Always apply your fav moisturizer after rinse.

This skin-refreshing recipe containing B vitamins will make your face feel nourished and refreshed. The oatmeal will soften.

For a wake-up call on your skin, which will exfoliate and moisturize try CAFFEINE FIX COFFEE SCRUB. Two teaspoons ground coffee, one tablespoon coconut oil butter.
1. Mix both ingredients well.
2. Use gentle circular motion while applying
3. Rinse well with warm water.

Try a SKIN-REFINING FACIAL from a salon in California that is loaded with vitamins. Stir two tablespoons of milk and a half-cup cornmeal to create a paste. Gently scrub skin; rinse; pat dry. Mix one tablespoon honey and one egg white 'til blended. Apply to face, avoiding eyes; when dry rinse. Mash one banana and one tablespoon avocado; apply to skin for ten minutes; rinse. Finish with a layer of your regular moisturizer.

Just a plain whipped up egg white painted on your face --sit and let dry for 15 minutes-- is a great-feeling quickie facial.

Avocados are packed with emollients. This is a perfect winter facial to rejuvenate lost moisture. AVOCADO MASK. One-half avocado, peeled, pit removed.
1. Mash the avocado until smooth; apply to entire face; let set for 20 minutes.
2. Gently wipe off with damp wash cloth.

SUGAR SCRUB is a sweet way to get rid of dead skin on chapped lips. Just rub sugar over them. Kiss tired old skin good-bye!

For a truly beautiful Italian experience and superb writing, read Rococo by Adriana Trigiani.

Buona giornata and God bless the United States of America!

--Mary

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.