13 Craziest Ways Women Try to Stay Young (14 Photos)

Ever since the days of Cleopatra, people have been searching for magic ingredients that can not only enhance natural beauty, but make it last. Today, store shelves are packed with promising creams and serums. The trouble is, most of these products simply don't work and fall far short of turning back the clock. While plastic surgery has become widely accepted, chemical peels and Botox injections to stave off aging for a few years can still feel surprisingly extreme. In this article, we dive into the wild extremes women go to in their quest to keep or regain their youth.







13. Leeches

Would you let blood-sucking leeches crawl all over your face if it meant getting rid of a few wrinkles? Demi Moore allegedly swears by this gruesome procedure. The theory is that leeches detoxify the blood and restore a youthful glow—though if turning back time were really that simple, we'd all be doing it.





12. Bird Droppings

Victoria Beckham is no stranger to extreme beauty regimens. Since rising to fame in the '90s, she’s adhered to strict diets, but her secret to supple, radiant skin involves a rather bizarre ingredient. Her go-to facial mask relies on nightingale droppings, mixed with rice bran and water—a traditional remedy once used by Japanese geishas to achieve a flawless complexion. The treatment takes 60 minutes and costs around $200 per session.



11. Placenta

The placenta is rich in nutrients and growth factors known for their powerful therapeutic properties. Actress Eva Longoria is reportedly a major fan of placenta-based treatments, trusting them to boost cell regeneration and keep her skin looking fresh.



10. Kitty Litter

Pets are great for relieving stress, but some beauty enthusiasts skip the cuddling and go straight for the cat box—using unused kitty litter as an exfoliating scrub. Supermodel Christie Brinkley has reportedly used it to exfoliate her skin. While scientists haven't officially endorsed the trend, Brinkley's ageless appearance certainly leaves people wondering.



9. Caviar

Caviar has always been synonymous with luxury. Cleopatra allegedly used it in her beauty rituals, and today Angelina Jolie is said to indulge in caviar facial and body treatments. Packed with vitamins A and D, a tiny portion of this lavish moisturizing mask can cost upwards of $300. That said, you could probably get similar nutrient benefits from a $15 bottle of fish oil supplements.



8. Refusing to Smile

It might sound absurd, but while laughter is good for the soul, it also causes laugh lines and crow's feet. To avoid expression lines, some women go to great lengths to remain completely stoic. One woman, dubbed the "modern-day Mona Lisa," claims she hasn't smiled or laughed in 40 years. Kim Kardashian has faced similar criticism, though she once admitted on Instagram that while she does laugh, she tries to limit it to prevent wrinkles.



7. Drinking Collagen

Another anti-aging trend that gained huge popularity comes from Japan: consuming collagen. Instead of relying solely on creams or injections, many women swallow liquid collagen shots or eat collagen-infused meals at restaurants, convinced that nourishing their bodies from the inside out will maintain skin elasticity.



6. Purple Foods

Antioxidants are famous for fighting free radicals and premature aging. They are rich in high-end creams as well as deep purple fruits and berries like blueberries and acai. Many adopt strict "purple diets" to load up on these compounds. Courtney Love claimed to follow a purple food diet for years, though considering her history with cosmetic procedures, it's hard to give all the credit to the berries.



5. Botox

Botox remains one of the most popular quick fixes in aesthetics—it's far more accessible and less invasive than surgery. But it comes with risks. Poorly administered injections or low-quality products can freeze facial expressions or cause partial paralysis. Plus, the temporary results mean constant upkeep. Countless Hollywood stars have noticeably altered their appearance with overdone injections, often with disappointing results.



4. Neck Lifts

No matter how smooth your face looks, your neck often betrays your real age. That’s where a neck lift comes in—a surgical procedure where excess skin is trimmed and tightened. However, don't expect it to magically restore the neck of a 20-year-old; it generally offers only subtle improvements.



3. 24-Karat Gold Masks

Facial masks have been around for centuries, usually relying on nourishing ingredients like honey or milk. But 24-karat gold treatments take things to another level. Originally popularized by Japanese skincare brands as a powerful antioxidant facial, luxury spas worldwide now offer gold-leaf facials—for around $250 a pop.



2. Hemorrhoid Cream

One infamous runway secret—dusted off by supermodels like Christy Turlington—is dabbing Preparation H under the eyes to tighten skin and reduce puffiness. Containing phenylephrine, this cream constricts blood vessels. Dermatologists strongly advise against using it on your face regularly, as long-term use can thin or damage delicate skin and actually accelerate aging.



1. Stem Cells

Stem cell research is one of the hottest frontiers in anti-aging, promising to regenerate skin cells, diminish scars, and reverse signs of aging. Some luxury stem cell creams claim to show results in under an hour, though rigorous clinical proof is still lacking. Only time will tell if stem cell treatments will truly become the next Botox.

Of course, this is far from a complete list of bizarre beauty treatments. As it turns out, people are willing to try things even wilder than these in the name of youth.