Why Geisha Facials Are A Waste Of Cash

I’ve a query concerning the Geisha facial: would you be keen to pay $180 to have hen poop slathered throughout your face? You’re all rolling your eyes and shaking your heads in disgust now, aren’t you? “Eww! No, after all not, Gio,” I hear you declare, outraged. “Who the hell would need THAT?!” I hear ya. I wouldn’t both.

However what if I requested you, as a substitute: “Would you wish to attempt a Geisha facial? It has nightingale poop in it, however it makes your pores and skin so clear and vivid, like a chemical peel, however with out the irritation. And Victoria Beckham is a large fan. That’s how she retains her pores and skin trying so younger!”

Once you put it like that, I assume a few of you’d be keen to present it a attempt, proper. Simply out of curiosity, after all. You by no means know what may fit, proper? However what if I instructed you, you don’t must splurge this a lot on actual poo to get the skincare advantages of poo (now, that’s a sentence I by no means thought I’d have written!). Right here’s the whole lot it’s essential know concerning the Geisha facial – and the advantages of hen poo – in skincare:

What’s A Geisha Facial?

The Geisha facial wasn’t handed down via generations in Kyoto. It was invented in New York. Shizuka Bernstein, an aesthetician who runs a luxurious spa in Manhattan, was the one who turned nightingale poop right into a $180 therapy and slapped the phrase “Geisha” on it to make it sound extra historic and mysterious than it truly is. Basic.

Once you guide it, you’re not simply strolling right into a again room with a jar of powdered hen crap. It’s the entire spa expertise. Low lighting. Calming music. Sizzling towels. Steam. Perhaps a neck therapeutic massage. It’s designed to really feel luxurious – though the star of the present is literal poop (extra on that within the subsequent part).

When you’re on the desk, they combine the powdered poop with rice bran and a little bit of water to make a paste. Then they unfold it throughout your face like a masks. It sits there for 10-ish minutes when you attempt to ignore the truth that your cheeks are marinating in hen droppings. Some variations embody a lightweight therapeutic massage whereas it’s on. Then it’s wiped off with heat towels, they usually end together with your typical toner-serum-moisturiser routine to make it really feel like a correct facial.

What’s In A Geisha Facial?

Apparently, you possibly can’t take the poo from simply any nightingale. It must be a Japanese bush warbler. Why? Legend has it, geishas observed nightingale’s poo was the perfect at clearing up their complexions (don’t ask me how!). These had been the times once they used heavy white, lead-based foundations that fully destroyed their pores and skin (to not point out their well being).

I assume when you’re keen to make use of that stuff, it’s not a lot of a stretch to therapeutic massage poo throughout your face to see if it really works. It did (unsure how pleased they had been with that – I imply, if it had been me, I’d need it NOT to work, you understand what I imply?).

Turns on the market’s a scientific cause behind this insanity. Japanese blush warblers are small birds with small digestive tracts. This permits their poo to maintain all these substances which might be good for the pores and skin. After all, these nightingales should eat nicely or their poo gained’t do a lot. Individuals who promote these things to magnificence salons, manufacturers and anybody else loopy sufficient to purchase it feed them an natural seed food plan.

Then, they spend their days scraping their poo from their cages (and also you had been complaining about your job!), sterilize it with an ultraviolet gentle and floor it right into a fantastic powder in order that nobody would even realise it’s shit once they add it to a cream. Sensible.

Additionally good? Advertising. These facials don’t simply survive as a result of they work. They survive as a result of they’re unique. Name it “enzyme exfoliation” and nobody cares. Say it’s a sacred Geisha secret comprised of uncommon Japanese hen droppings and abruptly individuals are lining up prefer it’s the fountain of youth. Basic magnificence business transfer: slap a mysterious backstory on it, jack up the value, and hope you’re too dazzled to query why you’re placing powdered hen crap in your face.

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Nightingale Poop Skincare Advantages

I do know, it’s loopy to assume there could also be some great things in poo. I imply, wasn’t it purported to be all waste? Mmm, it principally is, however there are a few issues in there your pores and skin will love. What are they?Urea and guanine. Let’s take a more in-depth have a look at them:

Urea Hydrates Pores and skin And Makes It Supple

You’re all aware of urea. It’s the identical stuff present in pee (this doesn’t get any higher, does it?) and in a number of skincare merchandise (however for that, it’s made in a lab – pheww!).

Urea is a superb humectant. Which means it will possibly bind water to the pores and skin, serving to to maintain it hydrated, delicate and supple. Plus, when you crank it up previous 10%, it additionally exfoliates. So yeah, it’s mainly doing two jobs directly. Clean, glowy pores and skin with out scrubbing your face off.

However, it wants to remain on the pores and skin to work. In case you take it off after a couple of minutes (what occurs throughout a Geisha facial), you’re simply slathering poo throughout your face for nothing. Ewww! Simply seize an affordable urea cream from the pharmacy and name it a day. Approach much less gross. Far more efficient.

Greatest Picks:

• Eucerin Dry Pores and skin Replenshing Cream 5% Urea (£12.00): A light-weight moisturiser for dry pores and skin that heals dryness with out leaving a grease residue on pores and skin. Accessible at Boots, Look Improbable, and Sephora.
• First Support Magnificence KP Smoothing Physique Lotion with 10% AHA ($28.00): An exfoliating physique lotion with hydrating urea to clean out imperfection and take away bumps. Accessible at Look Improbable and Sephora 
• The Odd Pure Moisturizing Components + HA Day by day Moisturizer ($13.50): A light-weight moisturiser that strengthens youre pores and skin’s protecting barrier and makes each pores and skin kind delicate and clean. Accessible at Magnificence Bay, Boots, Cult Magnificence, Look Improbable, SpaceNK, The Odd, and Ulta.

Associated: The Full Information To Urea: What It Is, What It Does, And How To Use It

Guanine Brightens Pores and skin

If the identify evokes hazy reminiscences of highschool, it’s since you’ve most likely heard it in science class. Guanine is without doubt one of the 4 bases present in DNA (however don’t fear, these things can’t have an effect on your DNA if you put it on the pores and skin – that might truly provide you with most cancers).

The cool stuff about guanine is its color. Guanine is iridescent, so it will possibly brighten your pores and skin actually nicely. Additionally, let’s not child ourselves: “brightening” from guanine simply means your face appears a bit shiny. That’s it. It’s like rubbing highlighter on high of the issue and calling it skincare. It’s not doing squat for darkish spots or dullness. However you understand what else does that? Glitters and shimmers.

You need actual outcomes? Get your self some vitamin C, azelaic acid, or a strong AHA. These truly do one thing with out requiring you to rub literal hen butt sparkles in your face. Sorry, nightingales!

Greatest Picks:

• MaeLove Glow Booster ($27.95): A vitamin c serum that brightens pores and skin, prevents wrinkles, and boosts the solar safety of your sunscreen. Accessible at Maelove.
• Paula’s Selection 10% Azelaic Acid Booster ($36.00): Nice at treating darkish spots and zits, you need to use it by itself or combine it together with your moisturiser. Accessible at Cult Magnificence, Dermstore and Paula’s Selection, Sephora, SpaceNK
• Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Evening Serum ($90.00): This exfoliant incorporates two exfoliants. Glycolic Acid to fade away darkish spots and Salicylic Acid to unclog pores. Accessible at Cult Magnificence, Sephora and SpaceNK

Are Nightingale Poop Facials Really Secure?

Brief reply: most likely. However would I nonetheless put it on my face? Nah. For the reason that poop is sterilized with UV gentle and floor right into a powder, most micro organism and parasites are neutralized. So technically, it’s not harmful. However it’s nonetheless waste. And though it’s handled, there’s no telling how persistently it’s processed from batch to batch. Add that to the truth that you’re paying luxurious costs for a product that may do lower than your common serum, and the “security” simply doesn’t outweigh the “ick.”

FAQs About Geisha Facials

1. Can I get a Geisha facial if I’m vegan?

Even when it’s cruelty-free and no birds had been harmed, it’s nonetheless animal waste. So no, most vegans would steer clear. However spas don’t at all times point out this up entrance, so it’s straightforward to get caught off guard.

2. Does it work for zits?

It claims to. The urea is hydrating and mildly exfoliating, and the rice bran may also help soften pores and skin. However you probably have energetic breakouts or irritation, smearing fermented hen waste (even when sterilised) isn’t precisely dermatologist-recommended. Use salicylic acid as a substitute.

Associated: The Full Information To Each Kind Of Zits (And How To Deal with It!)

3. How lengthy do the outcomes final?

Not lengthy. Like most facials, you would possibly look a bit glowy for a day or two, however it’s not some miracle that modifications your pores and skin long-term. You’d must hold going often for it to have any lasting impact, which… $$$.

4. Does it have a scent?

It’s been sterilised and scent-masked, however some folks nonetheless say it has a bizarre, earthy scent. Not full-on pet store, however positively not floral both. In case you’re delicate to smells, you’ll discover it.

5. The place can I get one?

It’s a distinct segment therapy. Solely a handful of spas (principally in New York, LA, London, and Tokyo) provide it. It’s not one thing you’ll discover at your native magnificence clinic. And even when it’s provided, it’s usually below the radar, not listed on the menu-because… nicely, not everybody desires to promote that they’re rubbing poo on folks.

The Backside Line

Don’t waste your cash on Geisha facials. They’re gross and don’t do something {that a} good moisturizer, highlighter or exfoliant can’t do.




About Gio


Hello, I am Gio. I am a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is pores and skin coach and author on a mission that can assist you obtain your finest pores and skin day ever – each day. I bust skincare myths and debunk advertising and marketing jargon that can assist you determine what’s definitely worth the splurge and what’s finest left on the shelf – utilizing science, not hype. I additionally provide skincare consultations that can assist you create the perfect skincare routine to your distinctive wants.