BY LANJI OUKO
“Black doesn’t crack” is a commonly used phrase to describe how gracefully African women age. Take a look at Mama Ngina Kenyatta or the ever-glowing Nyiva Mwendwa. Since time immemorial, before anti-wrinkle creams and cosmetic surgery were introduced, women used natural products to nourish their skin.
Centuries later, the cosmetic industry unexpectedly and gradually merged with the agricultural industry. Rice water, potato slices, avocado are some of the conventional natural products, however, the extreme skin care products include snail secretion, bird feces and bee venom.
Women will go to great lengths in the name of beauty to ensure any signs of aging are immediately lost. Despite the rapidly growing cosmetic surgical industry, the market is swamped with what is deemed to be “natural, organic avenues of youth”, which range from rabbit urine to bird excrement and much more! Yes, beauty will lead a woman to smear feces on her face in the name of “the fountain of youth”.
Today, agriculture and spa therapeutics are more or less synonymous. Rosemary Odinga is one of the few snail farmers in the country. With 3,000 snails at various stages of their lives at her farm, Shelltops Ltd, it later dawned on Kenyans that, snails are not only a delicacy as escargot but also the secret to smooth, glowing spotless skin.
Snail facials are very common in different parts of Asia and recently in Kenya. The facial basically entails a snake gliding across one’s face as it secrets the mucus which is believed to contain antibiotics and collagen, which are important in the treatment of wounds, burns and scars. Some spas offer the alternative of the secretion in a facemask. The ladies wear the mask for approximately 15 to 30 minutes. Originally, it was practiced in Ancient Greece, as a concoction of sour milk and crushed snails to treat skin inflammation and scars.
A bee farmer in Karen, Amos Ngugi, says the bee venom is the safer method of young looking skin. He argues it is much safer and less painful compared to Botox and cosmetic surgery.
“Five years ago, honey and wax were the sole reason for my bee keeping, however, a Russian neighbor introduced me to bee venom and I’ve never looked back. The market is quite small however it is booming business considering 0.1ml injection costs Sh21, 000.
Euphoria Fish Spa along James Gichuru is yet another intriguing forms of spa therapeutics. The high-end fish spa is a one of a kind experience right in the heart of Nairobi. A no pain pedicure, with a tingly sensation from the flesh-eating fish can indeed be a slightly traumatizing session at first. Once the feet are immersed into the tiny pond of fish, the fish begin to eat out the dead skin. Some refer to it as relaxing while others view the half an hour process of fish nibbling on dead skin as a disturbing therapeutic ordeal.
The availability of the fish spa therapy in Kenya is still growing gradually. The very tiny, toothless Garra rufa fish are also known as doctor fish or nibble fish.
Despite the risk of infection associated with Garra rufa fish being low, a number of experts have warned users their ability to boost the spread of illness such as HIV and Hepatitis C or any other skin diseases from people with open sores or skin cuts. What most of these clients aren’t aware of is the manner in which these fish are inhumanely starved in order for them to eat out the dead skin.
What about the earthworm droppings which are said to contain copper, peptides, auxins, kinetins and cytokinins, which promote cell growth and firm your skin? It is still not used in Kenya but is said to cost Sh45, 000.The most intriguing is the placenta facial and as the name suggests, it is the use of a placenta. The treatment is said to be perfect for those who suffer from acne skin complexities.
The Nightingale birds, which are fed a special diet of organic seeds and berries, in order to ensure what they excrete are completely vegan and organic treatment, are used for the Geisha facial. A geisha facial is a bird poop facial originally from Japan. Contrary to what most believe, this facial is said to be one of the most effective treatments and heals a wide number of dermatological problems, the common one being acne.
Ironically, the more controversial and bizarre, the natural product, the more expensive it retails at. As the agricultural products slowly stream into the spa therapeutics market, and the odd and outlandish ingredients for spa treatments slowly gain popularity, the inherent question is centered on the hygiene behind using such products.
