19 Bizarre Ingredients That Will Upgrade Your Beauty Routine
Jessica Ourisman
Jessica Ourisman
Oh, the lengths we'll go to — and the ingredients we'll try — in order to reach our beauty goals. Crystal-infused products and sake-based skincare are just the start. These additions pack a powerful punch, much like the ceramides and superfoods we read so much about. Bizarre beauty ingredients like snail slime and foreskin might sound legitimately crazy, but the following 19 unconventional products work to hydrate, smooth, soften, and heal even the most stubborn complexions.
Missha Super Aqua Cell Renew Snail Skin Treatment ($33): Snail mucin is a skincare favorite for its age-reversing powers. Helping to repair damage, fade acne scars, and stimulate cell renewal, the ingredient fends off wrinkles for good. P.S. No snails were harmed in its making!
Lano Lips Strawberry 101 Ointment ($14): Meet your crazy-dry, chapped, and sensitive skin's new BFF. Lanolin, which is obtained from sheep's wool, is a favorite among nursing mothers, sufferers of chronically dry lips, and those with chronically dry skin.
Skin Medica TNS Essential Serum ($281): The jaw-dropping ingredient in this holy-grail age-eraser? Foreskin — or at least stem cells derived by newborn foreskin, to be exact (and gross) — to fight off signs of aging.
Bath Asana Deeply Hydrating CBD Face Serum ($100): Hemp-derived CBD is growing in popularity thanks to its ultra-nourishing perks. Get in on all the anti-inflammatory goodness with this natural facial serum from the luxury line Bath Asana.
La Tierra Sagrada Jojoba Oil ($42): The line's founder studied with a South American shaman, later using plant medicine to create this hair-saving elixir. It contains the spiritually significant drug ayahuasca, a potent hallucinogen. (But don't worry — it's non-psychoactive!)
Adsorb Antibody Moist Essence Serum ($140): Japan's popular skincare line fortifies the immunity of your skin using antibodies taken straight from the egg yolk of an ostrich... Sounds good, right?
Sooryehan Soo ChunSam Seonyu Toner ($50): Deer antler velvet could be the missing ingredient for your coveted ever-glow. When used in skincare products, the substance — taken from a stag's shed antlers — brightens and evens the complexion.
Lilfox Chlorophyll + Tourmaline Brightening Mask ($68): Plant chlorophyll offers major benefits for the skin, speeding up healing time and oxygenating cells like a champ.
Omorovicza Ultramoor Mud Mask ($125): If you've seen The Grand Budapest Hotel, you might remember the region is famous for its natural healing waters. You can benefit from all that and more by applying Budapest's detoxifying mud with its renowned beauty enhancers, packaged straight from the source.
Skinfood Salmon Dark Circle Concealer Cream ($13):Salmon holds the key to covering your dark under-eye circles. At least it does when you use this budget-friendly concealer.
Biologique Recherche Serum Placenta ($68): Before you wince, know that placenta is ace at improving skin elasticity and firmness, preventing signs of aging over the long term.
Lancer Skincare Eye Contour Lifting Cream ($95): Kim Kardashian and Victoria Beckham's dermatologist makes an eye cream so luxe it contains actual diamonds to hydrate, lift, and contour.
Microneedling With PRP (Price available upon request): The retexturing and stimulating effects of microneedling on the skin become even more effective when enhanced with PRP, a platelet-rich plasma made from your own blood — hence the nickname, "The Vampire Facial." (Photo via Zwivel)
Restorsea Repairing Neck & Decollatage Treatment ($150): A derivative of salmon roe powers the line's ultra-gentle exfoliation process that leaves skin as vibrant as... fish scales? It works as well as glycolic acid — sans harsh side effects — and is clinically proven to smooth skin like whoa.
Me Factory Pig Collagen 3 Step Nose Pack ($12): Say it isn't so! The answer to all of our pore problems comes from piggies, whose collagen is used in this three-step mask to banish blackheads.
Tatcha Rice Enzyme Powder ($65): The pearl in the water-activated exfoliant powder leaves you with a luminescence like no other. If it's glow you're after, this gem will result in smoother skin, more even tone, and smoothed wrinkles when used daily.
Wei Bee Venom Anti-Wrinkle Cream Mask ($60): Bee venom from New Zealand is what gets this wrinkle-smoothing party started. The anti-aging mask contains the potent youth-preserver some call "nature's Botox."
Mimi Luzon 24K Gold Eye Treatment Mask ($249): Here's a comprehensive eye treatment that is every bit as luxe as you'd hope, with 24K gold foil eye patches to maximize absorption of the line-erasing serum.
Blithe Crystal Iceplant Pressed Serum ($49): This cooling hydrator — made with 63 percent crystal iceplant extract — might be a skin-transforming game changer. While its star ingredient sounds like something out of a video game, the trendy pressed serum is said to be truly effective for those with oily skin types.
Which of these wild ingredients would you like to try? Tell us on Pinterest!
Which of these wild ingredients would you like to try? Tell us on Pinterest!
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