The pros have long since weighed in on gold’s scientific rap sheet when it comes to anti-aging — or more accurately, the lack thereof — but as a loyal devotee to all that is skin care, it was clear that these precious metal products still needed to be put to the most telling test of all: my own skin. So with the official reassurance that they wouldn’t be doing anything bad, I couldn’t help but wonder if the only two products containing gold out of Prana SpaCeuticals’ large organic skin care line, the AU 24k Gold facial serum and the Gold Body Whip, would do anything good either.

Both products contain visible flakes of Genuine German Gold — a rare ingredient, says Prana SpaCeuticals President Cherie Dobbs, that was obtained only after she was put on a waiting list to be approved by the mining company.

For the facial serum, the gold flakes are submerged in an otherwise clear gel-like substance with the intention to increase skin vitality and promote circulation. In the body whip, the flakes are mixed in with a creamy lotion to moisturize dehydrated skin and promote circulation. Though the tiny metallic specks might come across as merely decorative, Dobbs assures they are there to “rejuvenate weak, compromised cells that need a jump start to be healthy again.”

Though Cleopatra’s beauty secret is cited — it’s been said she wore a mask of gold to bed every night — on both product labels, you won’t quite be following suit with the application of these two; the delicate flakes quickly disappear (or disintegrate, or are absorbed) as soon as you begin to massage either product into your skin.

If your body is in major distress from dry skin, the body whip may very well be your knight with shining armor (or bits and pieces of it, at least). With a slightly overpowering musky scent — no need to put on your own perfume — the whip is much thicker than the average body lotion and stays on your skin all day long.

The facial serum’s eyedropper applicator makes it easy to control the amount of product you take out of the glass bottle and is also very useful to reach the gold flakes, as they rest toward the bottom of the bottle. Continued use of the serum on a nightly basis did made my skin slightly tighter… but whether that was because of the gold or the Vitamin B12, aloe vera gel and marine collagen (just some of the serum’s other ingredients), I know not.

Try these out yourself! The AU 24k Gold Serum ($96) and Gold Body Whip ($36) are available online at Prana’s website.

Photos: Prana SpaCeuticals
Disclaimer: Products were furnished complimentary for review.