Leeches and Bird Poop and Caviar, Oh My: World’s Strangest Spa Treatments

A couple of months ago Demi Moore appeared on David Letterman to talk about her new movie Flawless. As many conversations with the 45 year-old actress do, this one turned to her age-defying good looks. Her secret? Leeching. Moore went on to reveal that on a recent trip to Austria she underwent a detox treatment in which she was shaved and covered in the little black bloodsuckers.

Hey, no one said being beautiful was easy. Or did they? Either way, women the world over are undergoing bizarre spa treatments–some costing thousands–to sustain their youthful good looks. It seems there’s nothing too gross or too weird when it comes to eternal beauty. To give you an idea of just how extreme these spa treatments can be, we’ve compiled a list of the most outlandish beauty remedies. So put down the Loofah and listen up.

Bird Poop Facial
Let’s just cut to the chase. Some of these treatments are down right nasty, but for a few brave souls, they are the key to external beauty. Once used as a bleaching agent in traditional Japanese garment dying, and to lighten the skin of Geishas, nightingale dung is enjoying resurgence at the Diamond Spa at Hawaii’s Diamond Resort. The spa begins each of its facials, which start at $144 for 15 minutes, with a mask that includes the songbird droppings. Apparently the enzyme found in the birds’ stomach and intestines–usually used to break down protein and fat–dissolves dirt while repairing and whitening damaged skin.

From Sky to Sea
At the Ooedo-Onsen-Monogatari hot springs spa in Tokyo, guests can treat themselves to a traditional Turkish pedicure. Your feet are placed in a bowl or tub filled with tiny little fish called Garra Rufa. As your feet soak, the fish go to work, dining on dry, flakey skin. The pesci-pedicure apparently leaves feet feeling baby’s-bottom soft.

Caviar Bath
If tiny fish nibbling away at your extremities sounds more like a horror film than a day of world-class pampering, consider this. At the Rome Cavalieri Hilton, the spa offerings are equally fishy, but there’s no baiting going on here. Instead, guests looking for a distinctly decadent treatment are covered from head to toe in caviar. The Caviar Firming treatment comes as a facial or full body treatment, and uses the firming agents found in the fish eggs to leave skin looking younger and healthier.

The Gold Standard
The 24k Gold facial at the Casanova Hotel spa in Barcelona will have you looking like a million bucks, or more, considering the current value of the shiny metal. The Gold Secret, as the treatment is called, includes a 24k gold flake facial, a “gold wrap,” and an exfoliating Jacuzzi bath. The spa counts the Gold Secret as it’s most coveted, but its menu also boasts a list of gem treatments, including the Mysterious Jade, which uses the sparkling green stones alongside sage extracts and cucumber to “enhance inner peace.”

Diamonds are for Facials
Being covered from head to toe in 24k gold may sound like decadence at its best, but everyone knows that diamonds are a girl’s best friend. Spas all over the world offer treatments that employ this most famous of rocks. In the beauty community, diamonds are know for their ability to reactivate cellular metabolism and stimulate collagen production, which can reduce signs of aging like sagging and wrinkling. The Lake Austin Spa in Austin, Texas offers a $230, 80 minute Diamond Facial, while the Ritz-Carlton in Doha Qatar boasts a 120 minute, full-body treatment for QR 1400, or about $385. Sounds like a facial made especially for the late Ms. Monroe.