Weird info I came across... Marilyn and Liz

[RainEdayWoman]

I came across an odd fact about Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor a couple days ago and thought it would make for an interesting topic. Have any of you heard the fact that one of the daily beauty routines of both stars (as well as others that won't come forward with this because it is Taboo in America) was to shave their faces every morning? Odd huh. From what I was able to find out including according to dermatologist that shaving of the face acts as a less invasive form of micro-dermabrasion slowly taking off thin layers of skin and allowing for the body to naturally produce new collagen thus reducing the effects of aging and diminishing fine lines. Also, they would do this because the peachfuzz that covers most faces dulls the skin in photographs where as shaving gave a glow to the skin in photos. Apparently, studies have been done surrounding this due to the fact that the areas of mens faces of those men who shaving daily (with a good quality razor) age about half as fast as a the areas that do not get shaved.

Also, I was able to come up with information that in countries such as some Asian countries as well as Middle Eastern countries where women are known for beautifully smooth complexions it is common practice to start shaving face from the time they turn 13. The areas they shave are everything including the forehead except for the nose and eyebrow area where tweezing or threading is used to shape brows and remove thicker hairs. It also states that it is a myth (which I know to be true as a cosmetologist) that the hair grows back thicker. That is genetic as well as just seems so because new hair grows tapered where as shaved hair is blunt. In America though it is a Taboo where other forms of hair removal is used such as waxing and chemical removal. Plus hair removal for women is a taboo topic to begin with.

I thought this was some really interesting facts about Marilyn and Elizabeth. Anyone else heard of this? Look it up there is some really neat information on the topic.

 

[Mrs. James Stewart]

I had not heard about Marilyn or Liz shaving their faces, but I remember an episode of "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" where one of the women mentioned that she shaved her face in the shower everyday. I will be honest and admit that it put the idea in my head and have tried it a few times. I will say, my face is so smooth afterwards and my makeup goes on easier, but I'm always afraid of hacking off an eyebrow or a chunk of hair should I not pay close enough attention! :eeek:

 

[RainEdayWoman]

Another neat little fact about Elizabeth is she was born covered in hair! She was born suffering from the condition hypertrichosis, a rare disease that leaves the victim with a thick, dark coat of hair covering their entire body. A la the famous Wolfboys. Luckily for her though the hair fell off shortly after her birth.

When you think about it, it does make a lot of sense. I personally do a microdermabrasion treatment when I cleanse using microdermabrasion crystals that I mix by hand in my cleanser. I decided to try it for a couple days on my forehead since I do not have any hair on it just to see if I could notice a difference in the feel and look of my skin. I have to say that it is much softer than the rest of my face now even with the mirodermabrasion. I discussed it with my husband as well to hear his opinion on it and he agrees with the logic of it removing a constant thin layer of skin. the most interesting conversation on the matter I was able to come across with a discussion among dermatologist about it saying it is similar to dermaplaining.

""Dr. Edward J. Domanskis, a plastic surgeon in Newport Beach, California, is encouraging his female patients to shave their faces to forestall the aging process.

"One of the purported secrets of Japanese women maintaining their youthful appearance and flawless skin is that they regularly shave their faces," says Dr. Domanskis. Shaving results in an exfoliation of dead cells, which removes several layers of skin, causing irritation and consequent skin tightening, and plumping of the remaining cells.

Elizabeth Cummaro, R.N. aesthetician concurs, "I see a remarkable improvement in my clients' skin after I perform derma-planing, which is almost exactly what shaving does."

"The constant cellular rejuvenation not only results in a cleaner complexion, but also should slow the aging process," counters Dr. Domanskis.

"This may also be one of the reasons why, in spite of all the lotions and potions that women apply to their faces, men, on average, tend to show less comparable signs of aging," says Dr. Domanskis."

"I don't recommend shaving to remove hair on your face!!! Shave to save your face!! If you have a hairy face, get rid of the hair first, (waxing, laser, whatever) then start shaving daily. Everybody has some peach fuzz, which is not an issue if you shave it off. If you have darker, courser hair on your face, it will come back exactly the same, no more or no less, but it will come back with a blunt tip (which feels rougher.)"

Also.....

"Aside from being a cheap easy way to manage facial hair, shaving has many other benefits for women. When done right, shaving is one of the best ways to:

Exfoliate dead skin cells without over stimulating the skin
Significantly reduce fine lines and wrinkles
Minimize pore size
Improve elasticity
Lighten acne scars
Balance skin tone
Permanently remove blackheads"

 

[rene_writer]

I'd heard Marilyn did it, but I never knew that Elizabeth Taylor did it. I tried it. It gave me ingrown hairs which was aweful. However, I have the world's most sensitive skin. I tried a sea salt exfoliant (rubbed it very gently) and looked like I sandpapered my face.

 

[Red Diabla]

I wouldn't be too surprised if the face-shaving turned out to be true...supposedly if a man shaves, he's also taking off the dead skin, etc.

For myself, I'm content with exfoliating using a regular kitchen sponge when I shower. It's especially helpful on the body!

RD

 

[fortworthgal]

Wow, interesting! I hadn't heard that, but I guess I'm not too surprised. I can see the validity... but definitely not something I would try! I'll stick to scrubs.

On a sidenote, Ginger Rogers reportedly had a larger-than-normal amount of peach fuzz on her face. Rumor is that Judy Garland was upset at being replaced by Ginger in a film, and sent her a shaving mug as a "gift." :lol: So catty!

 

[Bluebird Marsha]

True confession time. I've been shaving my face for about 20 years. I'm definitely not hirsute, but I had the idea that if I didn't have any peach fuzz, that my makeup would go on more smoothly. It does. And I'd heard that shaving helps men's skin stay in good shape, so I thought it might work for me. I only do it once or twice a month, and I pretty much avoid trying to clean shave around my lip area.

Really, if you can shave your legs without slicing yourself to ribbons, then shaving your neck and cheeks is no problem. Sometimes I don't even bother with soap, I just wet my face and have at it. When I told my mom, she was horrified. She thought it would grow back thicker. I never believed that one. If shaving made hair thicker, then bald men across America would have thick manes of hair.

I can't say objectively how much it helps with keeping the skin in good shape. Most people think I'm about ten years younger than I am, but I've never smoked or been into tanning- which are both really hard on the skin.

 

[Katinka von K.]

Funnily I read the opposite, namely that Marilyn refused to shave the peach hair because it gave her face a soft glow on photographs, which sounds logical to me.

 

[C-dot]

Funnily I read the opposite, namely that Marilyn refused to shave the peach hair because it gave her face a soft glow on photographs, which sounds logical to me.

By all accounts, this is true - It gave her face an especially luminous quality on film, and many of her directors and co-workers noticed it, notably Whitey Snider, her longtime make-up artist.

I've never read about Liz doing this, though. It's not a very smart thing to do, especially if you suffer from hypertrichosis. Shaving cuts the hair off at its thickest point (just inside the shaft) hence why many people believe shaving leads to thicker, darker hair. Once you start shaving the peach fuzz from your face, it would become a difficult habit to break!

On a sidenote, Ginger Rogers reportedly had a larger-than-normal amount of peach fuzz on her face. Rumor is that Judy Garland was upset at being replaced by Ginger in a film, and sent her a shaving mug as a "gift." :lol: So catty!

It's true - This happened on The Barkleys of Broadway. The shaving mug had "Good Luck" engraved in solid gold on it lol

 

[Lenore]

This is where sugaring comes in. At least in my routine....*riiiiiip*

 

[LinaSofia]

interesting info! I had never heard of this before. I have to admit, I don't even exfoliate in a more conventional way! :eeek: maybe I should, upon reading this! (starting to feel old anyway, as my birthday approaches!). I have such sensitive skin though, I can probably only do it once in a while.

 

[Miss Golightly]

Funnily I read the opposite, namely that Marilyn refused to shave the peach hair because it gave her face a soft glow on photographs, which sounds logical to me.

This is true - I just got a copy of Marilyn Monroe Metamorphosis and Eve Arnold is quoted "Her skin was translucent, white, luminous. She was always sort of golden-looking, and because she had a down of just very fine golden hairs on her face it trapped the light and caused an aureole to form, giving her a faint glow. It was extraordinary. I've never seen it before. It was a nimbus, so that she looked almost angelic".

Any close up photo of her as Norma Jeane or Marilyn always shows this fine down on her face - the photos I think where it is most visible are the photos from "The Last Sitting" taken by Bert Stern.

 

[LinaSofia]

This is true - I just got a copy of Marilyn Monroe Metamorphosis and Eve Arnold is quoted "Her skin was translucent, white, luminous. She was always sort of golden-looking, and because she had a down of just very fine golden hairs on her face it trapped the light and caused an aureole to form, giving her a faint glow. It was extraordinary. I've never seen it before. It was a nimbus, so that she looked almost angelic".

Any close up photo of her as Norma Jeane or Marilyn always shows this fine down on her face - the photos I think where it is most visible are the photos from "The Last Sitting" taken by Bert Stern.

You're right. You can see it quite clearly in this photo.

 

[brookenormajean]

It is said that by applying in her early years vaseline and later erno lazslo's active pHelityl cream all over her face every day that attributed to her peachy hair...

 

[AdrianLvsRocky]

You're right. You can see it quite clearly in this photo.

Wow! Is that what they mean by a peaches and cream complexion!?

Marilyn is, of course, utterly beautiful and can get away with that downy look - I'm not so sure I'd like it on myself even though it looks soft and fluffy. I think I'd keep stroking myself like my husband with his beard. But hats off to anyone who can embrace something that society may frown upon and use it to their advantage.

 

[bunnyb.gal]

fftopic: And that lipstick colour is stunning as well! I don't usually groove on anything but reds, but wow!

 

[Retro_GI_Jane]

Lovely picture find, LinaSophia! I don't feel so bad about my peach fuzz now, though I know Marilyn rocked it better than I ever could.

As for the Vaseline myth, I've always had peach fuzz and only recently started using Vaseline to combat some redness I had on the corners of my mouth. If anything, removing myself from birth control contributed more to my plucking habits than Vaseline. lol

 

[bil_maxx]

By all accounts, this is true - It gave her face an especially luminous quality on film, and many of her directors and co-workers noticed it, notably Whitey Snider, her longtime make-up artist.

I've never read about Liz doing this, though. It's not a very smart thing to do, especially if you suffer from hypertrichosis. Shaving cuts the hair off at its thickest point (just inside the shaft) hence why many people believe shaving leads to thicker, darker hair. Once you start shaving the peach fuzz from your face, it would become a difficult habit to break!

I have known 2 women of opposite colouring who shaved with the results you are talking about. One had naturally thick dark hair (she was Greek) and the other had very light blonde hair (Italian oddly enough). The Greek girl actually had a bit of 5 o'clock shadow visible after she did it. Your explanation of the thickness of the base of the hair makes perfect sense as I can relate to that when I shave in the morning. It is never completely gone after I shave no matter now smooth it feels. Like this girl I have dark thick hair. Needless to say, it was not flattering when she did it.

The blond girl on the other hand had a smooth shininess that was almost like she had a light on her all the time. I didn't know she shaved but was told by one of her friends after I remarked on several occasions on the radiance she had. She did stop and I found that the light was picked up by her peachfuzz and was incredible to look at in its own right.

As a man who knows virtually nothing about women, I can say that face shaving probably wasn't the best way to go for either based on their appearance without it and the risks you have all stated.

 

[swinggal]

Staying out of the sun has a lot to do with good skin too. Laying about trying to get a tan will not help keep skin young. I hardly have a wrinkle because I stay out of it. Women half my age look older than me!! Crazy!

 

[Miss Golightly]

Staying out of the sun has a lot to do with good skin too. Laying about trying to get a tan will not help keep skin young. I hardly have a wrinkle because I stay out of it. Women half my age look older than me!! Crazy!

Sound advice! I'm the same - I never put my face in the sun and wear SPF 40 every day - Winter or Summer regardless!