Jessica Turner Weird aesthetic “treatments” are making waves worldwide and industry experts are debating rather than dissing their effectiveness.
Urine therapy, snail skincare and face-diving are a few of the things people are trying in their quest for perfect skin.
We breakdown these bizarre trends and separate the bogus from the brilliant.
1) Say Goodbye To Sluggish Skin
Follow the trail of a snail for radiant skin. The beauty benefits of snail slime date back to ancient Greece but it’s not surprising South Korea (home to a bevy of bizarre beauty ideas) have made it the ingredient a la mode.
It’s marketed as the skincare equivalent to a holy grail cooking ingredient like Stevia and can be found in a variety of face products from masks to BB creams.
Some reputable sources such as Marie Claire champion the brightening, skin clearing properties of helix aspera muller glyconjugates (aka snail slime). Indeed, it is naturally laced with nutrients like hyaluronic acid and peptides–all of these haven proven hydration skin benefits.
But most of the manufacturers of snail slime creams are South Korean, so it might be difficult to translate the entire ingredient list. What if there was only the tiniest amount on snail excretion? And what if the other ingredients were questionable?
Verdict:
Regardless of any skin brightening benefits, snails play an important role in the ecosystem and it’s difficult to determine whether snails farmed for cosmetic purposes are harmed in the manufacturing process.
If animal ethics are important to you, we suggest giving this trend a miss.
The glycoprotein enzymes in snail slime are renowned for calming inflammation caused by sugar overload. But there are safe, cruelty-free alternatives to treat glycated skin that you can retail with confidence.
2) Pee For Perfect Skin?
As a skin specialist you’re already au fait with the stats. Acne affects more than 80 percent of teenagers, and over half of women are plagued by it at some point in their adult life.
Urine Therapy is an ancient eastern tradition believed to heal external ailments using the body’s natural antibodies released in our urine. And now there’s anecdotal support for it as an acne treatment.
Champions of this alternative remedy tout it as a cure for nearly every ailment (including cancer) but it’s unlikely to become the 21st century answer to acupuncture. The jury is out among doctors.
Countless professionals agree, urea (the main component of urine) won’t penetrate the surface in its raw state. However, US dermatologist Dr Wendy Bowe told Refinery29 she prescribes it in various concentrations for its hotly debated hydration and exfoliation benefits.
“Go to the bathroom and collect the specimen in a sterile cup or jar. Saturate a cotton pad with it, and sweep it over your face like you would a toner. Let it sit for 10 minutes, rinse with soap and water, and finish with moisturiser,” she says.
Verdict:
It’s undeniably unsavoury and there’s little scientific evidence indicating effectiveness.
Wendy is careful to warn readers: “This might not be safe for those taking oral medication that could react unexpectedly skin.”
Therefore, ironically, those trying to treat acne simultaneously with oral medication should never attempt the method.
For a non-disgusting yet nouvelle acne treatment, read up about SGA, which is popular at Face Plus Medispa, a reputable doctor operated Sydney clinic.
3) Hold Your Breath … Is This Better Than Baking?
Weddings, formals and party makeup … clients expect special occasion makeup to last the long haul, without budging or balling. The latest South Korean beauty hack promises makeup staying power to boot face baking off the social media stakes.
Jamsu makeup roughly translates to diving, or submerging. Advocates of the idea agree on the method which starts with applying skincare as normal then concealer and foundation underneath a cast of Johnson’s Baby Powder.
“Pat it on freely with (with palms), releasing clouds of it into the air until you have a pale base,” says Monica Kim, Beauty Editor of US Vogue.
“Filling a sink with cool water, plunge your powdered complexion into the bath and hold it there for no more than 30 seconds. Finally, pat your face dry, and finish the rest of your look with a lasting, pitch-perfect canvas.”
Verdict:
It works on the same body heat premise as face baking. Vogue has road tested “face diving”, giving it the thumbs up, as has New Beauty.
We suggest experimenting with Jamsu on yourself first, but modifying the idea (if you love it) for your makeup clients in the name of professionalism.
According to the Bustle, using a setting powder such as Mineral X rice powder with any water mist is just as effective. And, honestly, so is (not so) traditional face baking.
