Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on October 2013
For centuries, geisha and kabuki actors cleansed their skin with uguisu no fun. As much as we would like to avoid translating that, it refers to the droppings of the Japanese nightingale. It turns out that they may have been on to something with their novel cosmetic. The droppings contain guanine, a natural substance that gives fish scales their luster and is said to give skin a bright complexion. Traditional Japanese product maker Wawaza has updated the age-old ingredient by treating it with UV to remove bacteria and offering it in powdered form (¥2,272 for a 5 gram pouch). The powder can be added to facial soap for a quick wash, combined with clay or rice bran powder for thick mask or mixed with warm water and applied with a brush.
