Let’s face it; we’re obsessed with youth. How many actresses are there over the age of 50, that you regularly see on the screen? Do you ever see older females modelling for products appropriate to that age group, or is it always 20-somethings? The truth is, society has told women “we don’t want to see you looking old” and, as a result, the fairer sex are going to extreme lengths in search of youthful beauty.
But if you think that anti-ageing wellness crazes start and end with expensive face creams, think again. These days it’s all about – wait for it – placenta face masks. Yep, that kind of placenta. If money were no object, a recent study by MyVoucherCodes.co.uk found that 45% of women would try a placenta face mask. While it is common in many cultures to eat the placenta for its nutritional benefits – also known as placentophagy if you’re feeling fancy – surely putting it on your face is a whole other kettle of fish.
Popular with a couple of top celebrities, the face masks, which use stem cells harvested from sheep’s placenta, have only recently become available in the UK. Apparently, the stem cells work to improve your wellbeing by boosting your body’s production of collagen, glycoproteins and elastic fibres. According to Dr Preema Vig, medical director of Beyond MediSpa at Harvey Nichols, who have recently started offering a 75-minute placenta facial, ‘Stem cells are extremely hot news at the moment. With medical experts and cosmetologists exploring the many uses for these amazing cells, from giving hope to patients suffering from paralysis to those looking to harness the unique qualities of stem cells to turn back the signs of ageing.’
However, for the 2,173 British women – aged 30 and above – the MyVoucherCodes.co.uk study polled, placenta face masks weren’t the only thing that appealed. 41% would go for bee venom, while vampire face masks and leeches appealed to 39% and 38% of respondents, respectively. 30% of respondents went for, perhaps, the most disgusting treatment; sperm facial, but a large 25% of women would try a bird poo facial too. Women were also tempted by cryotherapy treatment (21%), a cactus massage (19%), urine therapy (15%) and a solid gold facial (14%).