Let’s talk about some weird skin and beauty treatments. Ratings included! 

Yes some do work, while others are just a whole lotta marketing hype.

I am a full time licensed Esthetician since 1997, and I own a specialty skin care practice in Providence RI. So I can safely say I’ve seen it all… 

Here are some of the more notably weird skin treatments:

Colloidal gold has been shown to reduce wrinkle depth, increase circulation, and act as an anti inflammatory. It appears to most effective when formulated with peptides, as the gold enhances the penetration of them. 

• Rating on Gold facial treatment: Do it!

• Personal experience: love it! One of our most popular services involves a cocktail of 24k gold, peptides, amber, diamond peptides and hyaluronic acid. The results are immediate and quite visible.

2) Fish pedicures:

This VERY weird treatment has your feet submerged in a pool with little fish who literally eat the dead skin right off your feet.

Does it work?

Yes, to a degree.

Is it at all hygienic?

Hell no.

The risk for bacterial infection with this “procedure” should be enough for anyone to just say No.

Salons are required by law to disinfect tools between every client. All kinds of nasty things can be shared including bacteria, fungal infections, viruses.

Anything that touches the skin needs to be sanitized before it can touch another client.

How exactly does one do this with a living creature? You can’t, at least not without killing it. Enough said.

• Personal experience: you couldn’t pay me to do that. Ewww.

3) Snake massage facial: (see fish pedicures)

Ugh. I personally love snakes, but they can be very smelly.

There is also a concern about the care and safety of the animal. In this scenario, snakes are being exploited, and subject to forced stimulation.

Again there is the issue of sanitation.

Would the muscle stimulation of the snake moving on you be helpful? Sure, but unless that snake has a massage therapy license, it can’t possibly replace the Trained hands of a licensed therapist.

• Verdict: Waste of money.

• Personal experience: None, but I often use slow compressive massage movements during my facial treatments. Plus it doesn’t smell!

4) Snail facials:

This unusual treatment is a bit trickier. Snail filtrate has been shown to be extremely beneficial to skin by increasing hydration, and speeding healing.

It  naturally contains glycolic acid, enzymes and growth factors. It has even shown to be helpful for eliminating warts.

However, snail filtrate in skin care products is collected, filtered and formulated with preservatives, making it safe to use, and not so weird.

It is often diluted because it is very expensive to collect. The percentage of active ingredient matters.

Placing live snails directly on the skin again borders on cruelty to the snail, and there is no way to control for sanitation for us.

• Treatment Rating Verdict: no to live snails. Big YES to snail filtrate in skincare products.

• Personal experience: I love snail filtrate! It’s very slick feeling, and quite soothing for barrier impaired skin. It’s an ingredient in several age management products we carry plus its really effective for reducing acne scars.

5) “Slapping” facials:

You’ve probably seen videos of Estheticians or barbers vigorously slapping the faces of clients on their treatment chair. Some are so rough, it’s a wonder the client didn’t slap back! Is this actually beneficial or just weird? 

Well… the slapping does stimulate circulation, which improves oxygen flow, color, and nutrients to the cells.

However, if you happen to be on the receiving end with a practitioner who is working out their stress on your face, you might not enjoy it so much. 

Slapping the skin isn’t really something new. The massage techniques of tapotement and percussion are tried and true and can be beneficial.

However such aggression may actually induce a stress response in the receiver, leading to higher cortisol, which ultimately accelerates aging. 

• Verdict: maybe, if you are into aggressive massage. 

• Personal experience: I have enjoyed some percussive massage on larger muscle groups, particularly back and thighs. A lighter touch on the face is ok, but I’m not ready to get slapped around!

6) Biting massage: 

Umm…  The human mouth is so full of bacteria that the risk of transferring disease is just way too high.

Frankly, as a professional, this “technique” is repulsive, and belongs more in the category of fetish than unusual spa treatment. 

Kneading muscles before a more soothing massage is a much more palatable experience. (see what I did there?)

• Verdict: No. Just No. This is one weird treatment I will skip.

• Personal experience: Ugh, really?? 

7) Chocolate in skin care:

Chocolate is loaded with antioxidants and minerals. It also naturally contains cannabinoids that stimulate our endocannabinoid system.

It’s high in magnesium, a necessary mineral which helps us to relax, sleep and assists in cardiovascular function.

REAL cacao is also rich in cocoa butter, a lush emollient for the skin.

Claims that chocolate/cacao will also help in weight loss are rampant.

That’s usually based on the idea that caffeine and naturally occurring theo-bromine will assist weight loss. The verdict is out on that, but they do have some positive effects.

In general, most chocolate skin treatments are more a stimulation for the senses than for the weight loss. 

• Verdict: yes, but don’t expect chocolate miracles.
• Personal experience: yum! Just don’t get a chocolate facial treatment when you are hungry.

8) Lymphatic Drainage:

Generally using light, almost fluttery strokes across the skin, this is a proven modality to reduce inflammation, edema and redness in the skin.

If you’ve never expereinced MLD (manual lymphatic drainage), it can feel like a pretty unusual treatment.

Regular lymphatic drainage can help reduce the symptoms of rosacea, acne, sinus pain, headaches, etc.  Even though it may seem like nothing is really happening with MLD because it is so gentle, it really is extremely effective. 

• Verdict: Definitely YES.

• Personal experience: It’s wonderful! Very relaxing, gentle and effective, I’ve also had full body body MLD, and will definitely do it again.

We are super fortunate to have Polly Jiacovelli, a lymphatic specialist here in our building trained with the Dr Vodder method of MLD, the most respected and well researched method in the world. Highly recommended!

9) Facial Gua Sha:

An eastern modality using smooth gemstones, polished bone or horn to “scrape” the contours of the face, this is actually quite effective at stimulating lymphatic movement, and reducing adhesions in the small muscles of the face.

Done too aggressively, Gua Sha facial treatment can bring up a rash that resembles a bruise. This is similar to the rash seen in cupping. 

• Verdict: Yes, when performed with a gentle hand.

• Personal experience: it’s lovely, when done properly can visibly define the contours of the face, especially under the eyes and jawline.

Visible results are temporary, but have long term subtle benefits.

We have been offering facial Gua Sha treatments for several years now.

10) Jade and stone rollers:

These are all the rage on social media lately, with clients asking about stone rollers on a regular basis. Its not even considered a weird treatment anymore!

Yes, they are effective for penetrating products, stimulating circulation, cooling irritated skin and bringing about a healthy glow. But this is more as a by product of massage and lymph drainage. These are not miracle stones. 

That being said, lots of different stones do have benefits for the skin. Don’t limit your self to just jade. Try rose quartz, aventurine, chrysoprase, amethyst…

• Verdict: yes! They are easy and pleasant to use, but don’t expect a full facelift.

• Personal experience: these are fun! Naturally cooling, they feel good on the skin. Because they are natural stone, they are prone to breakage, so be careful.

There are lots of safe effective skin care treatments available. Just because it sounds unusual or weird doesn’t make it good or bad.

Great skin care looks at the whole person: mind, body, spirit and skin.

So if you are serious about your skin care, you are probably already coming to Viriditas Beautiful Skin Therapies.

But if you haven’t made an appointment yet, here is a convenient link to book yourself some high quality self- care.

We look forward to helping your skin look and feel amazing!

Xox

Laurie