Gone are the days when women like my late mother prepared and applied their own facial masks in the privacy of their own homes. The white of an egg whisked stiffly, a shake of talcum powder and dash of hand lotion, were the ingredients for the homemade mask. As time went by, my mother graduated to a honey mask, which had to be purchased in the United States.
The point is that many women of the thirty's took very good care of their skins in their own way.
Whereas the women of the 60's and thereafter have been submerged with a plethora of beauty products from so many different manufacturers, that it has become increasingly difficult to decide on the products which are best suited to your skin. The one blessing is that within this same time, women have been told that they should not use the same product repeatedly as the skin becomes accustomed to the product, which gives us the freedom to try as many as we so desire.
The newest line to come to Trinidad, which will not be distributed through the retail stores, but through the aestheticians, PEVONIA Botanica, was launched at a luncheon hosted by Rosemary Skinner's Salon Essentials last Sunday at the Hilton Hotel.
Norma Zumaeta, an aesthetician from Pevonia in Orlando, told the large gathering of beauty specialists about Pevonia's four basic products for dry, sensitive, combination and oily skins, produced in Switzerland by Phillipe and Sylvie Henessy since 1991.
"A 100% natural line covering from head to toe, made from extracts from fruits and vegetables and everything God has given us" said the Peruvian-born Zumaeta, Director of International Education for Pevonia.
A qualified aesthetician now residing in Orlando, Florida, Zumaeta, who has been with the Henessys even before the company was formed seven years ago, travels widely to ensure that Pevonia retains its more than fifty percent U.S. market share and distribution in thirty three countries worldwide. Especially as the product is retailed by licensed aestheticians because "we do have a professional line, in addition to the retail, and we need to train all our people specially."
My late mother, a firm believer in all that went to keep the skin firm and beautiful, would have been as wide-eyed as the local aestheticians last Sunday as Norma Zumaeta, cleaned the model's face and applied product generally, and re-applied product specially suited to problem areas, such as, the eye and nose areas, for more than forty minutes, at the end of which time the model was sure that the lines around her eyes had all but disappeared.
But warned Zumaeta, this was not a one and done treatment, the product must now be applied on a daily basis at home before the next full treatment by the aesthetician.
According to Greek mythology, Paion, the physician of gods discovered Pevonia, miraculous flowers filled with pure essential extracts so magnetic and powerful that they were able to cure the skin of every goddess. The legend spread throughout the world and rapidly men and women of all ages were exposed to the brilliancy and natural wonder of Pevonia.
"Are you ready to enter into the new millennium with the realm of Pevonia" is the question being asked by Salon Essentials of Sackville Street, local distributors for the product which covers face, body and feet.
"The main organ in our bodies is the skin" explained Zumaeta, "and Sylvie Henessy, chemist/owner of the company believes that we need to use our own oxygen to make our skin become healthier. Each time one inhales oxygen, God has made our bodies in such a way that the body purifies. The professional treatments are going to help our circulation and the oxygen will be used more efficiently where the product is applied, whether to face or hands. The oxygen is going to circulate and your skin is going to start breathing pure, clean oxygen, the skin will become younger, brighter, cleaner and healthier, in general."
"The skin" says Zumaeta "is a delicate showcase of the body's glory. Good skin is a major contributor to our own self esteem and self confidence."
My beloved mother would have been a willing model for Zumaeta as she demonstrated the five Pevonia masks, Oxy-Vital Lift off, Plantomer Lift-off, Luminous "C& SEA", O2ptimal or Anti-Free Radical.