Is Snake Venom the New Beauty Poison of Preference?
Plenty of Hollywood stars voluntarily inject toxic substances into their faces to stave off wrinkles (Botox is a mild form of a very harmful toxin), so it shouldn’t come as any surprise that the latest in anti-aging technology just might be scarier than the frozen faces that are the hallmark of bad plastic surgery. The newest poison product promising to smooth wrinkles for a younger, fresher face is a replicant of actual snake venom. Put this on the Definitely Don’t Do-it-Yourself list.
This guy's snake bite can kill you - or scare off your wrinkles
British beauty brand Rodial recently introduced Glamoxy Snake Serum, a substance that promises to plump skin and diminish the appearance of wrinkles with technology that mimics the poisonous venom of Southeast Asia’s deadly Temple Viper snake. The stuff isn’t cheap either – $160 for one bottle! {Stylelist}
The oxygenated serum’s formula contains syn-ake, a neuropeptide that Rodial claims hinders the contraction of facial muscles so that expression lines and wrinkles are less apparent. The snake serum also contains Fiflow BTX, a carbon molecule, which the brand claims increases cell turn over and plumps the skin. {Rodial}
Perhaps the price tag can be justified by the product’s multiple uses. The serum has a sheer, pearly powder finish to double as a skin primer. It also claims to protect skin from damage with Rodial’s signature antioxidant, pomegranate ellagic tannin, and moisturize.
What may be most surprising is that this isn’t the first snake venom anti-aging technology out there. Sonya Dakar in Beverly Hills offers a snake venom facial, and Kumaara Overnight Repair Complex includes the same imitation venom as Rodial’s serum.
We know the product doesn’t contain any actual venom (which is deadly), but we can’t help but shy away, and we fear especially for women with sensitive skin. The product’s Web site actually asks, “How far will you go to look younger?†Plenty of anti-wrinkle creams on the market that don’t contain poisonous active ingredients have proven at least somewhat effective. We’ll stick to those.
