Morsels

Time magazine arrived yesterday and this caught my eye:  The Freakiest Facials Money Can Buy followed by a list of rather outrageous items.

Gold:  Gold dust has long been considered a make-up enhancer (evenings only) but the article says that it may help rejuvenate cell structure.  Note the use of "may."

Caviar:   some spas believe a liberal rub in of caviar leaves the skin firmer.  I'd rather have a firmer belly, due to massive inhalations of caviar...

Chocolate:   granted many people are firmly convinced that regular, ample servings of chocolate are, indeed, near life saving, but wasting it on one's face just because maybe it may rid the skin of toxins?  Er, probably not.   

Beer:   beer facials are marketed mainly to men, the article says, and I've seen plenty of men using them -- heading toward the 2 a.m. mark,  there they are, face down on the bar room floor.

Nevertheless in an effort to be helpful, I went online and got this recipe for a Beer Facial (don't you guys all rush out into the kitchen together:)
1 T beer - no brand supplied, but Pacifico would probably be best for its association with       beaches and sea water
1 T yogurt
1 T olive oil
1 egg white (editor's comment:  gah)
1 T lemon juice
1 T sweet almond oil

Put all of this crap in a blender for 30 seconds, wet your face and apply it.  Let it sit there for 15 minutes and then rinse it off with warm water, followed by a splash of cold water.  Drink the rest of the bottle of Pacifico.

Uguisu no fun (nightengale droppings) or more commonly "bird poop" is said to beautify the skin of geishas.   The droppings are dried and then powdered onto the face.  Yes, well...

But the most bizarre is this:  a salon in Tokyo puts live snails on a client's face and lets them wander around, spreading snail slime which is thought to reduce inflamation and promote moisture.   I think it would be more prudent to moisturize from within - eat a lovely order of escargot in garlic butter and let the garlic butter seep out.  Standing on your head after eating would probably help the process along...

BALSAMIC VINEGAR
Equal amounts of white balsamic vinegar and lime juice make a nice dressing for raw vegetables such as sliced tomatoes or crab cakes or shrimp or ?  Use your imagination!  
Note:  dark brown balsamic vinegar is made of a pressing of white grapes; white balsamic is white grape pressings mixed with white vinegar.