Does caviar as a beauty treatment work wonders or lay an egg?

BY DONNA KATO

Knight Ridder Newspapers

You don't have to be a movie star to indulge in caviar every day. Caviar-infused products are a popular and decadent specialty at the beauty counter, claiming to give a glow to complexions, radiance to hair and softness to skin. Can caviar truly be magic from the sea?

Or is it all a big fish tale?

LA PRAIRIE

Skin Caviar Luxe Cream, $350 for 1.7 ounces, Bloomingdale's.

OCEAN INDULGENCE: ``It's a million bucks in a jar. I had to use hand sanitizer before each use so I wouldn't contaminate the cream in the jar. It felt expensive, and that translated to an improved sense of confidence to match my new outer shine.''

SOMETHING FISHY? ``I didn't taste it, but my man did. Nuthin' fishy about this product.''

OR SUMPTUOUS LUXURY? ``It's like caffeine. It gives your skin a boost in clarity and a jolt. But can you afford the daily `latte factor'?''

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ALTERNA

Caviar Anti-Aging Rapid Repair Spray, $30 for four ounces, Amazon.com and salons.

OCEAN INDULGENCE: ``My initial reaction was `Why would I rub fish egg juice on my hair?' Caviar as the name of a hair product did not conjure luxe in this case. It conjured Ew. As in: Ew, gross!''

SOMETHING FISHY? ``I've never been the kind of person who's into food as body scent - vanilla, orange, lemon. What's next, Bolognese sauce? - so I was reluctant about the smell. A good thing that it doesn't smell like expensive fish eggs. But one of the top three ingredients in it is alcohol. That can't be good for hair.''

OR SUMPTUOUS LUXURY? ``When I sprayed it on my short, spiky hair, it felt like a blast of WD-40. Powdery slick. It made me worry that I may have just Tefloned my hair. But I do think this product might work for long, lush hair.''

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KERSTIN FLORIAN

Caviar Firming Body Complex, $115 for 4.4 ounces, Kerstinflorianusa.com and Amazon.com.

OCEAN INDULGENCE: ``Would you admit to using a `firming body complex?' My reaction was disdain, despite the caviar and Swiss manufacture. But, sadly, harsh bathroom lighting revealed areas (back of the arms and thighs) that have the texture of the Cheez-Its I've been eating.''

SOMETHING FISHY? ``There wasn't much of a smell, even though it contains botanicals (and antioxidant vitamins -- I should be eating this, not smearing it on my body). The white cream is thinner than expected and comes out of the tube very quickly. It meant that I always got more of the stuff in my hand than I intended.''

OR SUMPTUOUS LUXURY? ``It went on smoothly and made my skin feel softer, at least temporarily. After a few weeks of use, however, I didn't see noticeable firming. Then again, I didn't stop eating Cheez-Its either. To sum up: I will continue to use, and dim the lights in the bathroom.''

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Every week The Bottom Line's test panel evaluates cosmetics.---

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