Bizarre Beauty Rituals

You normally won’t find fish or bird droppings at the beauty section of big department stores. But these bizarre cosmetic ingredients have been used by Japanese women for ages to maintain their smooth, wrinkle-free complexion.

Now, trendy, high-end spas are offering these ancient ...You normally won’t find fish or bird droppings at the beauty section of big department stores. But these bizarre cosmetic ingredients have been used by Japanese women for ages to maintain their smooth, wrinkle-free complexion.

Now, trendy, high-end spas are offering these ancient remedies to both men and women who are willing to try anything in the name of beauty. These geisha-inspired treatments are the latest craze and are taking the beauty industry by storm.

“For several centuries, Japanese women made their own skincare formulas at home with natural food products – and the trade secrets of their female ancestors were passed from generation to generation. It is these ancient beauty rituals – and renewed interest in the once denigrated geisha – that have been resurrected in Japan and sold around the world,” said Stephanie Rafanelli in the Daily Mail.

For starters, how about a goldfish pedicure? In this procedure, hundreds of miniature fish eat your feet right before your very eyes! But don’t panic. We’re not talking about piranhas here. The treatment uses doctor fish or gara rufa that nibble away dead, scaly skin in a matter of minutes.

“Several beauty salons have picked up on this trend, which has long been used in Turkey, China, and Japan. The fish feed on dead skin, leaving the healthy, new skin exposed. The result is supposed to be soft smooth skin without a hint of roughness,” explained Amy White in AssociatedContent.com.

“Your most unpleasant flaky bits will be swiftly nibbled away in 15 unbearably ticklish minutes to reveal baby, clean feet. So the only thing you’re likely to die of is laughing,” Rafanelli added.

If you have a strong stomach, get a nightingale-dropping facial at Hari’s Salon in London. This 90-minute treatment will help lighten and brighten dull skin. The bird’s feces were used by early geishas and Kabuki actors to remove their thick make-up. Prior to applying, the droppings were dried in the sun. This has been replaced by ultraviolet light to sterilize them. At £135 it’s one of the most expensive facials but customers swear it leaves the skin shiny, clean, and fresh looking for the rest of the week. Plus it’s odor-free!

“Nightingale droppings contain an enzyme called guanine which bleaches and heals the skin, which makes it such an effective facial ingredient. This amino acid's benefits have long been known by Japanese geishas and Kabuki actors. Even monks have used these droppings to condition their exposed scalps,” revealed White.

Believing that beauty is not only skin deep, the Takano Yuri Beauty Clinic in Japan is known for its Etiquette Up treatment that supposedly purifies the body. This weird beauty regimen promises to detoxify your internal organs and make your feces odor-free. Your bathroom visits will be more pleasant afterwards. Did I mention this procedure is also good for the skin and eliminates wrinkles? Indeed, Japan is the place to be for pretty feces – I mean faces!

For the less adventurous types who don’t want to go far in their pursuit of beauty, they can find comfort in the popular wrinkle-fighter Dermaxin. This unique cream has powerful anti-aging ingredients that moisturize the skin, leaving it smooth, soft, and healthy. Check out http://tinyurl.com/8jkw6ma for details.