Photo via Splash

Word on the street is that Shizuka New York, a Manhattan day spa, is getting a shit-ton (ha) of publicity for its controversial new "Geisha Facial," a $180 treatment that blends exfoliating rice bran and, well, bird shit.

(Personally, I'm totally pissed off. I've been trying to get an editor to fly me to Japan to do a story on this for years!) A lot of people are writing witty things about how lame this is, but I disagree. In fact, I can't wait to get one myself. Nightingale droppings contain guanine, an ancient Japanese beauty secret said to refine skin. At Shizuka, they sanitize the droppings by exposure to ultraviolet light, and apparently, there's no smell. Watch the video and see for yourself.

Of course, when they say "geisha are known for their porcelain complexions," it's kinda funny. I mean, several layers of bird doo and white paint and I'll show ya porcelain too. Still, how can generations of geisha and Kabuki actors be wrong? And let's face it, when it comes to skin care, Japanese products, both old and new, rarely fail to deliver superior results. Sign me up! FYI, if you want to try the ingredient yourself, you can buy it here.

Thoughts? Hot or not?