STARS – they’re not really like us.
While we use soap and lotion, they use sheep embryos and snake venom. Teri Hatcher bathes in wine. Coffee goes on the thighs of Halle Berry and the hair of Jennifer Love Hewitt. And you don’t even want to know what Christie Brinkley does with kitty litter.
But do these unconventional beauty regimens actually work? We talked to top New York dermatologists and dentists to see if being beautiful means being a little crazy.
Gwyneth Paltrow’s snake venom skin cream
What it promises: The Academy Award winner swears by Sonya Dakar’s UltraLuxe 9 skin cream, a cream with a bite: The key ingredient is Syn-Ake, a synthetic snake venom that promises to reduce wrinkles. If you don’t feel the pinch from that, perhaps the $185 price tag will do the trick.
Our expert says: Dermatologist Dr. John Romano says while he has not heard of this product specifically, he has heard of others with similar ingredients. “People are thinking it works like a Botox – it might relax some of the muscles. But when things become synthetic, you wonder what they’re doing and how they’re altering the product from the natural product,” he says.
Bottom line: THUMBS DOWN
Catherine Zeta-Jones’ crushed strawberry toothpaste
What it promises: Zeta-Jones once told The Australian newspaper she sweetens her daily teeth-brushing regimen by using crushed strawberries. “I was told it is a natural teeth whitener, and it really works for me. And, anyway, strawberries taste better than most toothpastes,” she said.
Our expert says: Beware. New York City dentist Dr. Irwin Smigel says the malic acid found in strawberries is dangerous for your pearly whites: “The acids can wear away the enamel,” he says. “People used to suck on lemons. You would get a clean feeling. But it would wear away the enamel.” And at least you won’t have to deal with picking those pesky strawberry seeds out of your teeth all day.
Bottom line: THUMBS DOWN
Halle Berry’s caffeinated cellulite blaster
What it promises: Berry’s cellulite solution comes with a kick: The actress reportedly mixes coffee grounds with body wash to rid her thighs of cellulite.
Our experts say: Since cellulite is essentially fat cells, Dr. John Romano says, the problem lies beneath the skin, so any surface rubbing and scrubbing isn’t going to do much. “Maybe if you rub it enough it’ll swell to fill up the dimples,” he speculates.
Bottom line: THUMBS DOWN
Teri Hatcher’s wine bath
What it promises: The “Desperate Housewives” star doesn’t let her extra wine go to waste – she once said her beauty regimen involves pouring a glass of wine into her bath, because it is a natural skin softener and exfoliant.
Our experts say: “Cleopatra occasionally washed her face with red wine. Apparently red wine contains alpha hydroxy acids. It may also contain antioxidants,” says Dr. Marsha Gordon. “If it’s wine, it should be red,” says Dr. Lenora Felderman. “She should put milk in the bath [to moisturize her skin]. It would be cheaper.”
Bottom line: THUMBS UP
Jenna Jameson’s Neosporin shaving solution
What it promises: Jameson once suggested using the antibiotic ointment instead of shaving cream when shaving the bikini region. It’s supposed to reduce razor burn and ingrown hairs.
Our experts say: Gordon says Neosporin will reduce shave friction, “which should reduce nicking and small cuts.” But Felderman says any advantage is nixed by the fact that the Neosporin will numb the area and make you feel strange. “I would discourage people from using it,” she says.
Bottom line: THUMBS DOWN
Christie Brinkley’s kitty-litter scrub
What it promises: According to the Web site of “The View,: the Uptown Girl uses this weird mixture as an exfoliator.
Our expert says: “An exfoliant helps slough off dead skin cells. A washcloth is an exfoliator. Anything can help,” Romano says. But do you really want to give off a faint smell that will attract tabbies?
Bottom line: THUMBS UP
Sandra Bullock’s hemorrhoid cream anti-aging trick
What it promises: Bullock and many other stars apply it to their faces to prevent wrinkles, dark circles and puffiness around the eyes.
Our experts say: “That goes back 20 years,” Romano says. Products like Preparation H cause vasoconstriction, so “people put it on their faces because it decreases puffiness and constricts blood vessels.” An added bonus: “Other than a reaction to a product, which is rare, [there is] no big side effect.” Felderman adds, “A lot of [theater] people used to do it; that’s an old trick.”
Bottom line: THUMBS UP
Jennifer Love Hewitt’s coffee for hair shine
What it promises: The Australian reports that actress Jennifer Love Hewitt pours coffee through her hair to give it that extra shine. “You make a pot of coffee, let it cool – that’s important – then you simply put it on your hair,” she said.
Our expert says: Felderman is not convinced this is a good idea. “I’m not quite sure of the mechanism of the interaction,” she says. Although you can pick up guys at Starbucks.
Bottom line: THUMBS DOWN
Eva Longoria’s placenta-protein skin cream
What it promises: Due to the plentiful minerals, antioxidants and amino acids that are naturally found in it, placenta protein is supposed to have many benefits. EMK Placental face cream, at $85 a pop, promises to keep you “baby” faced (pun intended) by improving your skin texture, and reducing wrinkles and sun damage.
Related: Deborah Harry recently admitted that she has given herself injections made from black sheep embryos to keep her looking young. Ewww.
Our expert says: “Placenta was used 30 years ago as a conditioner. It’s healthy for the hair, because of the proteins and growth factors,” Felderman says.
Bottom line: THUMBS UP
source
