The Costhetics team soaks up news stories like sponges. We’re always on the lookout for bulletins about the latest beauty treatments to share here with you. While we’re looking for the best cosmetic treatments, however, we often find ourselves knee-deep in the worst.
What do we consider “the worst”? We mean pseudo-science, flash-in-the-pan beauty treatments that pop up like weeds.
From snake venom moisturisers to placenta hair masks, bizarre beauty regimes always seem to be in fashion. They sound amazing and are often endorsed by celebrities. The fact is, however, is that they’re the beauty treatment equivalent of snake oil, with no real research or evidence to support their claims.
It makes us angry when consumers don’t benefit, but unscrupulous providers do.
That’s why we’re climbing on our Costhetics soapbox to debunk several so-called beauty treatments that are the talk of the town and the bain of the industry.
Interestingly, they all involve living creatures.
Your Feet Are Not Fish Food
The toothless swimmers known as doctor fish nibble away at dead skin while leaving healthy flesh untouched. Advocates claim it to be a natural alternative to potentially unsanitary razors, clippers or pumice stones. Detractors say it is a health nightmare.
Because the footbaths and holding tanks are home to live fish, they cannot always be properly cleaned and disinfected. And according to The Telegraph, “fears were raised over the safety of having the same fish clean the skin of multiple customers, leaving them open to possible infections,” said Susan Stanford of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.”
Geisha Facial Is for the Birds
Created in Japan and dubbed “The Geisha Facial,” this for-the-birds treatment is based on a cream made primarily from nightingale droppings (ugh!). The claim is that natural enzymes in the droppings soften and brighten facial skin. The truth is that few people report any appreciable change to their complexions.
More significantly, a recent article in Australia’s The International Business Times discusses the transmission of possible diseases like bird flu from applying bird poop to the face.
The Snail Facial Is A Little Slow
Perhaps it’s our fast-paced world that makes the idea of a snail facial so appealing. Beyond the relaxation factor, proponent’s say the mucous snails secrete contains skin-friendly compounds such as glycolic acid, elastin and hyaluronic acid.
While it is believed that Hippocrates prescribed a poultice of crushed snails and milk for treating inflammation, dermatologists are sceptical about snail power. Science shows that only fat-soluble molecules and lipids can penetrate the outer barrier of the skin.
Beauty Treatments in the News
If this post makes you a little sceptical the next time you hear about an amazing new beauty treatment, we’ve done our job. If you come across a truly revolutionary product or treatments you think could help you look and feel your best, we urge you to trust, but verify.
Consult your dermatologist or skin care professional and get an expert opinion to guide you.