Imagine placing gold leaves on your face to restore your skin and reduce wrinkles. If it sounds like a treatment for royalty that’s because the practice dates back to the days of Cleopatra.
The last pharaoh of Ptolemaic Egypt slept in a mask made of 24 karat gold every night to maintain a flawless look. Now, that practice is being revived in San Diego.
Melanie Trehan, the owner of HD Beauty in Rancho Bernardo, said the luxury treatment is beneficial for numerous reasons.
“It’s perfect to boost your hydration levels,” said Trehan, who has worked in the skin care industry for 15 years. “You see a difference instantaneously. Your skin is immediately glowing and bright.”
The hour-long treatment is simple, Trehan said. It begins with a scrub to remove the top layer of the skin and completed by placing gold leaves on one’s face. The 24 karat gold leaves lifts and firms, while nourishing the skin, Trehan said. It’s a treatment that can only be successful using pure, 24 karat gold.
“Everybody absolutely loves the treatment,” Trehan said. “It’s most popular during the winter and spring seasons, but you can have it at any point of the year. It’s effective for anyone who wants radiant skin.”
So, why is the practice just now re-emerging when Cleopatra enjoyed it during her time?
“I think everything comes full circle at some point,” Trehan said. “It’s normal and natural.”
