Butternut squash is one of the most iconic ingredients of modern autumn cooking, with their creamy, golden, sweet and deeply comforting. But its beauty history stretches far beyond soups and harvest bowls. This squash has been part of North American wellness traditions for generations, celebrated for its glow‑enhancing nutrients, restorative properties and its role in seasonal nourishment rituals that directly influence skin health.
Origins & Cultural Lineage
Butternut squash is a relatively modern fruit (20th century), but its lineage traces back to ancient Indigenous squashes cultivated for thousands of years. These early squashes were prized for their ability to store through Winter, providing essential nutrients during months when fresh produce was scarce.
This made squash a foundational beauty‑nutrition ingredient long before the term existed.
Early Beauty & Wellness Use
Historically, squash was used in:
Winter nourishment routines to maintain skin hydration
Healing broths for recovery and vitality
Natural sweetening in tonics that supported energy and complexion
Seed oils for internal moisture and hair strength
Its creamy texture and natural sweetness made it a comfort food with beauty benefits baked right in.
Modern Cosmetic Relevance
Butternut squash is now recognized as a top-tier beauty food, rich in:
Beta‑carotene → Vitamin A (radiance, cell renewal)
Vitamin C (collagen, brightness)
Vitamin E (antioxidant protection)
Potassium (hydration balance)
Healthy natural sugars (internal moisture)
It’s one of the most glow‑forward vegetables in the autumn pantry.
I’m Stacey Hobbs, thanks for reading Face by Stace! Until next time. do you feel fabulous today?
Rita Hayworth understood that glamour didn’t begin with lipstick or lashes — it started at the fingertips. Her hands were part of her performance: expressive, elegant and always camera‑ready. To keep them flawless, she relied on a beauty routine as soft as it was effective: almond oil.
In an era before cuticle creams and salon treatments, almond oil was Hayworth’s secret weapon. She massaged it into her nails and cuticles nightly, believing that nourishment was the foundation of beauty. The oil’s natural fatty acids helped soften the cuticle, strengthen the nail bed and create that subtle sheen that made her hands look lit from within. Under studio lights, her nails didn’t just appear polished, they appeared pampered.
What makes this routine so compelling is its simplicity. Hayworth didn’t chase complicated formulas or elaborate routines. She trusted ingredients that felt luxurious yet grounded and almond oil offered both. It absorbed quickly, left no heavy residue, and gave her nails the kind of flexibility that prevented breakage during long filming days.
The gesture itself was intimate: a quiet moment at the end of a demanding schedule, a way to reclaim softness after hours of performance. It was self‑care before the term existed, a reminder that glamour is built in small, consistent acts.
Today, almond oil remains a beloved staple for anyone seeking naturally strong, glossy nails.
I’m Stacey Hobbs, thanks for reading Face by Stace! Until next time. do you feel fabulous today?
Chanel has always understood one truth before her arrival to design costumes for her first film, given that Chanel was the first designer, not just from Paris, but over all to design for major films. Chanel’s relationship with Hollywood has been a long, elegant flirtation built on glamour, rebellion, and impeccable timing.
Coco Chanel herself didn’t chase Hollywood; Hollywood chased her. In the early 1930s, studios invited her to design costumes for leading actresses who wanted sophistication rather than theatrical excess. Chanel delivered modernity: clean lines, fluid silhouettes and a sense of ease that contrasted sharply with the ornate costumes dominating the era. Her designs photographed beautifully, giving actresses an aura of effortless chic that felt revolutionary on screen.
But Chanel’s true Hollywood power emerged off‑camera. Stars wore her suits, pearls and fragrances in their personal lives, transforming her vibe into a symbol of cinematic femininity. Chanel No. 5 became a Hollywood legend in its own right — quietly mentioned in dressing rooms, spritzed before call times, and immortalized by Marilyn Monroe’s iconic bedtime confession.
I’m Stacey Hobbs, thanks for reading Face by Stace! Until next time. do you feel fabulous today?
Chanel’s influence on Hollywood wasn’t limited to costumes or couture; it extended into the psychology of stardom itself. Nowhere is this clearer than in her relationships with Marlene Dietrich and Gloria Swanson — two women who understood that glamour could be both a vibe and an argument.
Marlene Dietrich adored Chanel because the clothes matched her mind. Dietrich’s persona was built on precision: tailored suits, clean silhouettes and an androgynous cool that suggested she was always thinking one step ahead. Chanel’s designs amplified that intelligence. When Dietrich wore Chanel, she didn’t look merely beautiful — she looked intentional. Their friendship was a meeting of two women who believed glamour should be sharp, as opposed to sugary if one can describe it in that manner.
Gloria Swanson, meanwhile, embraced Chanel as a symbol of modernity. Swanson’s early screen image was ornate and theatrical, but Chanel offered her a something new, something Chanel represented in her designs: sleek lines, disciplined elegance, and a sense of control. Chanel helped Swanson transition from silent‑era extravagance to a more streamlined, contemporary power.
Together, these relationships shaped what we now refer to as “intellectual glamour.” It’s the archetype of the woman whose beauty is inseparable from her mind — the woman who uses fashion not as decoration but as declaration. Chanel’s clothes gave actresses a way to communicate sophistication without saying a word.
I’m Stacey Hobbs, thanks for reading Face by Stace! Until next time. do you feel fabulous today.
Let’s get right into it, shall we? Let’s discuss egg whites and perhaps a bit on egg yolks. Egg yolk is for oily skin. Egg whites are more for dehydratedskin. Not necessarily the dry skin type, considering egg whites contain water so hydration not moisture as in oil.
Egg whites are used in skin-care for their high-protein, water content and trace elements (iron, phosphorus), and B vitamins (such as vitamin B2, vitamin B3, vitamin B5 and vitamin B6). An egg yolk mask can tighten pores, reduce sebum secretion, and prevent acne.
Protein has properties that boost the healing and growth of facial tissues. Egg whites restore elasticity thanks to collagen and protein and helps to boost elasticity and to defend against skin issues such as wrinkles and fine lines. Plus, egg whitescontain enzymes that help exfoliatethe skin gently, this means egg whites remove dead skin cells and it can be used daily. Although, I would recommend using the egg white mask at least a couple of times a week.
Egg whites hydrate the skin while promoting a youthful and wrinkle-free skin. Using egg whites in facial masks also prevents various types of acne from formulating. I have been using an egg white mask since I was a teenager. Just placing the egg white right onto my clean face as in after I have cleansed my skin.
Legit good DIY beauty:
Egg white mask helps to minimize pores, lift skin and reduce sebum.
egg white mask
Crack 1 egg and separate the yolk and the egg white.
Place the egg white into a bowl. Optional is to whisk the egg white.
Cleanse the face.
Apply egg white straight to the face or add another ingredient, like honey.
Leave the egg white mask on the face for 15-20 minutes.
Rinse. Wash the mask off.
Pat face dry.
Moisturize to lock it in.
I’m Stacey Hobbs, thanks for reading Face by Stace! Until next time.
Oh, how I love a good milk bath. Occasionally adding in some honey. Milk-baths are so great for dehydrated skin. I have used powdered milk as opposed to purchasing products although you can. I have used powdered milk but you can opt for liquid milk instead. As for powdered milk, it just needs a bit, mixed with water for a delicious milk bath.
pinterest.com
In this post we will cover milk-bath benefits, whom they are best for dry skin (moisture), dehydrated skin (intense hydration), skin conditions (psoriasis (see your doctor first), eczema (see your dermatologist first), sunburn and poison ivy), exfoliation, anti-inflammatory and relief from itchiness.
Milk-baths are not a substitution for any prescribed medicine. See your doctor and/or dermatologist first.
Milk-bath benefits
Exfoliation.
Moisturizing.
Intense hydration.
Anti-inflammatory action.
Relief from itchiness.
Dry skin.
Dehydrated skin.
Psoriasis (see your doctor first).
Eczema (see your dermatologist first).
Exfoliation
Milk contains lactic acid, a type of alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) that can exfoliate.
“The lactic acid in milk can get rid of dead skin cells that accumulate on top of your skin to give it a rough texture,” says Dermatologist Alok Vij, MD. “As a result, it can leave your skin feeling soft, smooth and silky all over.”
Exfoliation of the skin removes dead skin cells allowing new skin cells to grow to its full capacity, leaving the skin to be and to feel soft.
Moisturizing and/or Hydrating
The outer layer of the skin sustains oil and water; it needs both. As for milk baths, the skin will absorb milk fats. “As those fats seep in, they provide your skin with a little more hydration,” Dr. Vij explains.
That moisturizing effect may help ease sunburn as well as symptoms of chronic inflammatory diseases such as:
Atopic dermatitis.
Eczema.
Psoriasis.
Sunburn.
Dry Skin
If you are living with dry skin a milk bath can help to replenish moisture. Milk contains:
proteins
fat
vitamins
minerals
lactic acid
Dehydrated Skin
If dehydrated skin is what you have got, milk baths can help to replenish loss of water content to re-hydrate the skin. Milk baths delivers intense hydration. It works really well.
The proteins and fat may help to soften and to soothe the skin.
In one study about skin care for women over the age of sixty-five, researchers also found milk baths to provide effective relief from pruritus, or itchy skin.
Psoriasis
A milk bath may help treat psoriasis symptoms, including itchy, flaky, or patchy skin. However, scientific research is limited on the effectiveness of a milk bath to treat psoriasis. No strong clinical evidence; treat as a comfort ritual not a therapeutic intervention.
Speak with your doctor first before indulging/using milk-baths.
Eczema
Eczema often causes rashes, bumpy skin, irritation and itchiness. It can even lead to skin bleeding due to the dryness or the constant scratching. Studies about the efficacy of milk baths for eczema are limited. Breast milk has shown benefit in infants but cow’s milk baths are adjunctive only not treatment. Avoid milk-baths if your skin barrier is extremely compromised or if you’re prone to irritation from AHAs. It can and/or will cause further damage or irritation. Speak with your dermatologist first before indulging/using milk-baths.
Sunburn
Milk’s proteins, fats, amino acids and vitamins A and D can calm heat and redness. On dry skin follow-up with aloe vera or a moisturizer, preferably a hydrating moisturizer.
Poison Ivy
Milk-baths can help with itch and inflammation and helps wash off lingering plant oils. Milk-baths are not a substitute for medical care if the reaction is severe or becomes severe.
When to avoid milk baths
Severe milk or nut allergies: (depending on milk type).
Very sensitive skin: that reacts to AHAs.
Open wounds: infections, or severe eczema flares.
Pregnancy: check with a clinician first.
milk bath recipe (dermatologist‑aligned)
Add 1–2 cups of milk (liquid or powdered) to warm water.
Optional add‑ins for skin conditions:
Colloidal oatmeal (eczema, poison ivy)
Honey (humectant)
Epsom salt (muscle tension, but avoid if skin is cracked)
Baking soda (itch relief)
Soak 15–20 minutes.
Rinse afterward to avoid residue.
Follow with a barrier moisturizerwhile skin is damp.
history of milk baths
Painting of Cleopatra bathing in a milk-bath surrounded by servants in Ancient Egypt/Image courtesy via craiyon.com
Milk-baths were historically affiliated with luxury and skin-care, dating back to Ancient Egypt, with Queen Cleopatra (60–39 B.C.) who loved her milk-baths. It is reported she would bathe in sour donkey milk to soften and to rejuvenate her skin by using natural component lactic acid. Cleopatra would include honey and rose in her milk baths to hydrate and to exfoliate her skin.
Others have stated Cleopatra’s bathing in milk was not documented, therefore it is believed that this is actually part of her mythic beauty persona. The legend appears centuries later. At this point, some believe Cleopatra’s mythic beauty persona, while others believe it is legendary rather than factual.
So why did the myth stuck? Hollywood (especially Elizabeth Taylor’s 1963 Cleopatra) cemented the visual of the queen reclining in a milky bath.
Other historical figures enjoyed milk baths from Queen Elizabeth I and Roman Empress Poppaea, both of whom adopted similar rituals.
The first credible historical figure to actually have links in bathing in milk is the wife of Nero, Roman Empress Poppaea Sabina. What is actually recorded by Roman historian Pliny the Elder wrote that Poppaea bathed in donkey milk to maintain her soft skin. She reportedly travelled with herds of lactating donkeys so she could maintain the ritual wherever she went. Modern historians believe that it was Poppaea Sabina not Cleopatra, as the first historical figure to milk-bathe.
In regards to Queen Elizabeth I, who valued and prized a porcelain, pale complexion, she had used milk baths to lighten and soften her skin as it was believed milk-baths were able to attain this feature for Tudor beauty. Records note that both Catherine Parr (Henry VIII’s sixth wife) and Elizabeth I used milk baths for cosmetic purposes. In addition milk-baths complemented Elizabeth I’s use of lead-based cosmetics (lead is poisonous) which damaged the skin—milk baths may have been used to counteract irritation. Lastly as to why milk-baths were important in Tudor England, milk aligned with Renaissance beauty science, which emphasized cooling, moistening, and whitening substances.
At the end of the day, milk baths are fantastic or ideal for irritant skin whether it be for whichever skin condition, dehydrated skin more so than for dry skin. It’s all thanks to milk fats, lactic acid, anti-inflammatory nutrients and proteins.
I’m Stacey Hobbs, thanks for reading Face by Stace! Until next time.
do you feel fabulous today?
P. S. If you’re interested, check out this chart below which breaks down what kind of milk is good for which skin type or skin condition one may have.
