By Germaine Lim

THERE is nothing time won't heal - or ravage.

But for those with fame and money, time is something they use to seek out extreme beauty 'solutions'.

Take R&B singer Beyonce, 27, who reportedly lived on water, cayenne pepper and maple syrup and lost 10kg in a fortnight.

Now it seems the trappings of Tinseltown have gone far deeper - and into the bowels.

Sometime-singer Victoria Beckham (top pic), 34, apparently indulges in 'geisha facials', which use a paste made from nightingale faeces and Japanese white clay to combat a recurrent acne problem.

Traditional Japanese theatre actors and top-ranking geishas swear by this prized excretion, which contains guanine, an amino acid claimed to remove heavy make-up effectively while bleaching and exfoliating skin.

This skin-lightening stimulant is what purportedly causes the iridescence of fish scales and skins of amphibians and reptiles.

A 50-minute Geisha Facial at New York's Shizuka day spa costs US$180 ($264) a pop.

Cleopatra, who is thought to apply a pure gold face mask before sleeping, may find that hard to beat.

Is Mrs Beckham stretching the pursuit of perfection too far?

She is not the only one who experiments with absurdity for beauty's sake.

It is said that actress Sandra Bullock, 44, reduces puffiness and wrinkles under her eyes with haemorrhoid cream.

Preparation H is one such product. That is the stuff used to treat piles.

Would any woman in Singapore take the cue and try such unconventional treatments?

Forex trader Candice Chan, 24, said she is game for anything that guarantees results: 'As long as it is a topical treatment, I don't see why not.'

Shipping sales executive Faith Lin, 26, agreed: 'Ingestion is taking it to the extremes. But I'm fine with external application.'

But do local beauty experts, who were quizzed based on their knowledge on the ingredients in question, recommend such 'extreme' measures?

Dr Low Chai Ling, medical director of The Sloane Clinic, said she does not recommend using Preparation H for puffy eyes.

'Users believe that what shrinks haemorrhoids will also work for bulging eye bags. The active ingredients here are shark oil and a live yeast cell derivative called Bio-Dyne, a skin respiratory factor.

'But the US Food and Drug Administration wasn't convinced. Manufacturer Whitehall-Robbins Inc had to reformulate the product.'

A Whitehall-Robbins representative discourages using Preparation H for purposes other than what it is intended for.

Adverse reactions, which include irritation, burning and itching, have already been reported.

At The Sloane Clinic, a gentle laser toning for the undereye skin, followed by a vitamin-enriched eye cream to relieve dark eye circles, is offered for those who just cannot bear to have pouches under their peepers.

Aesthetic physician Isabelle Yeoh, of IYACAesthetic & Anti-Aging Clinic, said that eating healthily, getting enough rest, and drinking enough water is essential.

And, perhaps, a hydrating eye cream to combat dark circles and lines.

Dermatologist Joyce Lim of Joyce Lim Skin and Laser Clinic says vitamin E is beneficial for its antioxidant properties, and it helps to alleviate the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Singer Gwen Stefani, 39, has a penchant for bright red lips and apparently applies a blue lip gloss over lip colour to enhance the whiteness of her teeth.

For those of us who do not need to signal passing ships, make-up artist Dily Wang of Face Bistro says colour-contrasting is more effective.

'If you're fair, wear a darker shade. Lip glosses merely give a youthful and healthier look.'

But what about Catherine Zeta-Jones' rumoured secret to her pearly whites - brushing her teeth with pureed strawberries?

Dr Teh Wee Lyn of Aaron Dentalcare said this may prove damaging and achieve opposite results instead: 'Fruit juices are very acidic. They erode and dissolve enamel.

'Futhermore, strawberry juice stains, so it may discolour teeth.'

The dental surgeon also reckons Zeta-Jones, 39, has porcelain veneers which correct teeth uniformity, thus improving the aesthetics of her chompers.

Hilary Duff, 21, has also had them fitted on top of her chipped teeth.

Dr Teh said: 'Zeta-Jones' teeth look too perfect to be real.' The Welsh beauty was also said to slather caviar as a conditioning treatment after using a truffle-based shampoo - a report that has since been refuted.

Trichologist Leonica Kei of Leonica International says non-living tissue like hair will not reap the benefits.

'The only living part of hair is its bulb, so only a nutritious diet rich in vitamin B12 and amino acids will stimulate healthy hair. These are commonly found in meat, eggs and dairy products.

'Don't waste caviar on hair. Stick to the conventional usage method - eating it.'

Ms Kei said the key to healthy hair is replenishing moisture, thus restoring elasticity.

Without the latter, colour fades easily and curls do not last. Her Philip Kingsley clinic in Ngee Ann City offers a treatment called Elasticizer which aims to revive limp and dull hair.

One thing which seems to have worked is treating cellulite with a ground coffee bean scrub. Supermodel Tyra Banks, 35, is said to use this.

Dr Low said: 'Topical caffeine is popular for removing excess water in skin. It tightens and firms skin, and helps to reduce cellulite's 'swelling appearance'.

'But it does not remove cellulite.'

Dr Patricia Yuen, of Dermatology, Laser & Aesthetics Clinic, prefers science to alternative antics, and advises that mere mortals stick to medically-proven methods: 'They have been through scientific trials and vigorous tests and are one's safest bets.'

This story was first published in The New Paper on Oct 10, 2008.

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