ReZoom

For many women, indulging in caviar on an evening out at a nice restaurant seems too decadent, let alone spending all that money to slather the delicacy on your face. And, while caviar treatments are certainly expensive - even by the standards of salon regulars - many professionals argue that it's hard to beat this natural element's replenishing power.

Big Spenders
A caviar facial is a true indulgence. For this top of the line treatment, I visited Tiba de Nuhad Khoury, a Nashville day spa and salon where patrons find cutting-edge skincare treatments and VIP stylists trained in Paris. There, the Ingrid Millet Perle de Caviar Facial costs $125 and requires an hour and fifteen minute time commitment.

My aesthetician heartily endorsed caviar facials and told me it's one of the most popular offerings at Tiba. Unlike the oxygen facial, there are no restrictions on who can indulge. (Unless you have an overly sensitive nose: The caviar treatment can smell a bit "fishy," but I didn't find this to be a problem.)

The hallmark of the caviar facial is the caviar mask that hydrates and soothes the skin. The "calming" attribute of caviar is great for those who have problems with redness, and this freckled, often pink-faced editor particularly enjoyed that beauty benefit.

As I walked out of the spa, I have to say that I felt truly radiant. I loved the look and texture of my skin, and I didn't even feel like I needed makeup when I went back to the office. For days after, I was amazed by the way my skin felt.

If I didn't worry about bills and credit card payments, the facialist at Tiba would make my speed dial.

Middle of the Road
Pevonia Botanica products are supposed to be made from some of the finest ingredients you can find. The company has many products that are used in salons and spas as well as lines designed to give you a spa-like experience at home. I rounded up some of Pevonia's caviar items for the home ($60 and up) and a willing guinea pig to test this claim.

While it's possible that the long-term benefits of Pevonia are worth the hassle, our week-long experiment came back with rather disappointing results. (This time around, I gave the men's skincare line to an office mate for a different perspective.)

After using Pevonia Caviar's Aqua-Gel Foaming Cleanser, Easy-Glide Shaving Emulsion, Soothing After Shave Balm and Age-Defying Caviar Balm, our tester couldn't seem to get over one overwhelming factor: the smell.

For the cleanser, he said to expect "smelly pillowcases." Similarly, the age-defying caviar balm didn't make him look or feel any younger – "only smellier." The Shaving Emulsion got a similar thumbs-down as our "rube" prefers shaving cream that actually has a shot at protecting the face from being nicked. Only the Shave Balm received a passing grade, with a begrudgingly given comment of "serviceable."

Bargain Hunters
Luckily, the benefits of caviar aren't just for the elite. Aterna Professional Haircare offers a range of products ($19-$30) that bring the anti-aging revolution of caviar to the shower.

While many people haven't heard of anti-aging products for their locks, according to Jen Suter, Director of Education for Alterna Professional Haircare, environment and age have many unhealthy effects on hair: "As we age, hair gets thinner, dryer and loses that bouncy elasticity that is naturally present in younger hair."

The chemical constitution of caviar helps to fight those unpleasant changes. "Caviar is such a beneficial ingredient because it's one of the world's richest sources of Omega 3 fatty acids, which infuses the hair with moisture, shine and elasticity," Suter says, "The Omega 3 fatty acids in the caviar extract restore youthfulness to the hair…hair is more hydrated, feels healthier and is stronger than before."

After using the Alterna line for just a few days, I was already impressed. The Caviar Anti-Aging Treatment Conditioner has a great, thick consistency and goes a long way. Almost immediately, I noticed more moisture and volume in my hair, and the effects of the conditioner seemed to mask my desperately-in-need-of-a-haircut split ends. The anti-aging hairspray didn't last me through the week, but that's only because I couldn't get enough of it. The spray does exactly what it says it will. It provides "flexible hold" while "moisturizing and protecting dry, damaged" hair. (And I have a heavy head of hair, so "flexible hold" is often an allusive goal.)

I recruited Annie Damsky, a friend with very curly hair who is no stranger to smoothing products, for the Caviar Anti-Aging Radiant Smoothing Lotion test, and she came back impressed by her hair's luster and shine but wishing for a little more smoothness. However, she also loved the lotion's weight and texture compared to the many other products she's tried over the years and commented that she would gladly trade "a little smoothness for it not being sticky or greasy."

After just a few weeks (and with one glaring exception), I think it's fair to say that I've fallen for caviar treatments hook, line and sinker.

Ready for more? Check out more stories in our Looking Good section.

For the same skinny on oxygen-related beauty treatments, check out ReZoom's other article in this skincare series here.