Alexander Wang loves his skin care routine, and the 32-year-old fashion icon recently waxed lyrical about one of his favourite ingredients: sheep placenta.
"I'm a diva when it comes to skin care," he said at his Fashion Icons Talk with Fern Mallis at 92nd Street Y last weekend.
![Designer Alexander Wang poses during the Fashion Icons With Fern Mallis: Alexander Wang at 92nd Street Y on November 3, ...](/web/20170105143449im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/n/9/5/m/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gsn982.png/1478917927158.jpg)
"I use a lot of placenta and a lot of stuff that smells like it shouldn't be put on your face.. Things that really burn your face and make your face really red. But then you wake up in the morning and you're like, 'I look amazing!'"
Unbelievably, placenta isn't even the zaniest thing people put on their face. Here are some of the other weird cosmetic ingredients on the market.
![Look out for snail slime in high-end moisturisers.](/web/20170105143449im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/n/9/g/w/image.related.articleLeadNarrow.300x0.gsn982.png/1478917927158.jpg)
Ambergris in perfume
Ambergris is sperm whale poo (and sometimes vomit) that is a highly prized ingredient in some of the most expensive perfumes.
It is made up of the waxy lumps that coat undigested squid beaks (sperm whales feeds on giant squid). This coating helps whales to pass these sharp beaks through their intestines. The ambergris can bob about in the ocean for up to 30 years before being washed up on shore.
As it floats along, it oxidises in the salt water and a white coating forms. The lighter-coloured bits have a light, sweet fragrance.
It is known as the "gold of the sea": in 2006, a couple found a 14kg chunk of it washed up on a beach in Australia and it was worth a whopping $300,000.
In highly expensive perfumes it used as a fixative to help fragrances last longer. Because of its astronomical price it has been largely replaced by a synthetic version.
Cochineal beetles in lipstick
The female beetles feed on red cactus berries from plants in Central and South America and, when they are crushed up, (no nice way of saying this) a powerful red dye is produced.
Cochineal dye has been used for centuries, in lipstick, ice cream, candy, yoghurt, and eye shadow. In fact, Starbucks admitted to using cochineal dye in some of its beverages, which caused a bit of a problem for its vegan customers,
Fish scales in... lots of things
Fish Scales are in nail polish, lipstick, mascara, shampoos and conditioners, bath products and fragrances. Guanine is a crystalline material made from ground up fish scales that creates a shimmery effect.
Bull semen in hair products
Bull semen is described as "Viagra for hair" because of its high protein content. It is great for dry or damaged hair when mixed with Katera as an in-salon treatment. The process takes about 45 minutes.
Snail slime in moisturisers
Snail secretions are collected and used for their glycolic acid and elastin benefits. Theses ingredients protect the snail's skin from cuts, UV rays and bacteria. The secretions are also a great source for proteins that eliminate dead skin cells and help regenerate skin. Look out for it in high-end moisturisers.
Human foreskins in serums
TNS Recovery Complex by SkinMedica is one of Oprah's favourite anti-ageing skin products. The company claims to use cells derived from human infant foreskins (NouriCel-MD) as well as a combination of soluble collagen, antioxidants, natural growth factors, and matrix proteins, in this "revolutionary" anti-aging product, which promises to "rapidly restore the skins" barrier and moisture balance".
The company claims it hasn't harvested a foreskin in 20 years; instead the cells needed are grown from a single foreskin sample. Well there you go.
0 comments
New User? Sign up