Selling snake oil

[botias]

My mamma got a gift basket of Nu Skin 'product' and she gave it to me to do with as I would. I would turn it into cash on ebay and I get to the Polishing Bar, package description as follows:

Inspired by the wisdom of the Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest^{TM (just kidding)}, Epoch Polishing Bar mildly polishes the skin while removing dirt, excess oil and impurities-- without the use of soap (heaven forfend, only the unwashed unpolished masses use that) It contains deep-cleaning Glacial Marine Mud^{TM (not kidding)} and a soothing botanical...

This is just silly. It's like a Monty Python skit or something.

Next up. Firewalker^TM Foot Cream. Is this that cultural appropriation I've been hearing about? Using some other cultures sacred rituals to sell foot cream?

Comments

[elynne.livejournal.com]

WTF, trademarked Pacific Northwest?? I'ma come down there and kick some asses! Trademarked my shiny metal ass.

[botias.livejournal.com]

Nah, I was kidding about that, it's the Glacial Marine Mud that's actually trademarked. The bar has streaks of earthy red through it which I assumed was the mud, as I am no doubt intended to, but if you look at the ingredients the color comes from iron oxide which has been added.

These folks might very well need their asses kicked, if you can get them to move their heads out of the way that is. I feel like such a wench for dissing their 'product' though. I feel like a wench whenever I dis anything.

[botias.livejournal.com]

[ladypeyton.livejournal.com]

Clay is often added to soaps to help oily skin, as an abrasive additive to remove dead skin cells and becasue it is rich in minerals. I put it in some of the soaps I make to sell. IMO "Glacial Marine Mud" is a fancy schmancy term meaning red clay since you said there are red streaks through it. Rd clay is a common aditive.

[botias.livejournal.com]

I don't doubt that the not-soap is a perfectly effective exfollient and that the mineral rich clay is an effective ingredient. I'm scorning their making use of Native Americans, which I know many do not appreciate, and the fancy-schmancy terminology for mud to justify an exorbitant price for this most basic of materials.

I'm thinking the red streaks are theatrical since iron oxide is listed as a 'natural color'. I'm guessing glacial mud is probably an uninteresting color.

[ladypeyton.livejournal.com]

The point that I was trying to make and pathetically failing was that I wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't even glacial mud but simple cosmetic clay that they gave an exotic and exploitative name to.

But I brain farted the word "exfoliant" and that threw my ability use of the language off entirely off.