From The Straits Times    |

It’s no secret that I’m a skin snob – give me luxury or give me death! #NotSoHumbleBrag alert:  My powder-room is packed with potions produced from a plethora of precious paraphernalia – platinum, diamond, gold … you get the drift.

But are these exquisite (not to mention expensive) elixirs a complete and colossal pot of crock?

Let’s start with the good news: These luxe lotions may quite literally be diamonds in the rough. “Diamond dust and other crushed gemstones are effective exfoliators and are quite commonly used in microdermabrasion treatments,” notes Nicolas Travis, Singapore founder of upcoming grooming label Allies of Skin.

Crucial caveat: You really do have to gun for stuff that’s up to snuff; Nicolas says that these gems must be ground very finely indeed to avoid abrading your skin.  (Sidebar: Nicolas’ skincare line has a ton of off-the-charts cool stuff; keep a mascaraed eye peeled for more #deets to come.)

Then there’s the instant gratification afforded by these glimmering particles. “The light-reflecting properties of gold flakes in priming products help to prop up tired skin with a boost of radiance,” adds Nicolas. Indeed, this pretty pearlescence can imbue your mien with a lit-from-within luminosity that’s very intriguing indeed – but bear in mind that this fleeting flash of phosphorescence is far from permanent.

Other experts aren’t buying into the gold rush. Grilled about the efficacy of precious metals in topical treatments, Dr Karen Soh, medical director of Prive Clinic, has this to say: “While there’s a long tradition of gold being used for beauty purposes, no solid scientific proof exists for any of these ingredients.” Ouch. That’s as succinct a response as any, then.

Therein lies the crux of the matter: Even if your gold-speckled gel appears to be working wonders for you, it’s probably the inexpensive “filler” ingredients (“proven” anti-ageing actives like peptides, for instance) that are doing the heavy lifting. Here’s Nicolas again: “I personally feel that investing in proven cosmeceutical products and doctor’s lasers would be more beneficial than any jar of cream made with semi-precious stones.”

Right, then. While there’s no golden rule to live by, so to speak, your best bet is to stick with the “gold standards” of skincare – which most certainly doesn’t include gold in its literal form. But hey, if you’re a stickler for swanky salves because you like the short-term sparkle they offer, by all means go right ahead and splash out on ‘em all you want!

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