Kate Middleton's beauty secret: Is bee venom the answer to flawless skin?

CELEBRITIES are buzzing about bee venom, the secret of Kate Middleton's wedding day glow. I put the secret ingredient to the test with a stinging new facial...

Kate Middleton uses bee venom to keep her skin looking radiant and fresh Kate Middleton uses bee venom to keep her skin looking radiant and fresh [GETTY ]

Having a seven-month-old baby can be hard work but Kate Middleton shows no sign of sleepless nights with her glossy flowing locks and radiant skin - so what's her secret?

The Duchess of Cambridge has used bee venom to keep her skin looking flawless and even applied the secret ingredient to ensure a glowing complexion when she wed Prince William in 2011.

The treatment was recommended to Kate by her stepmother-in-law Camilla, who swears by the product. And the bizarre-sounding substance, which promises to plump up skin by tricking it into thinking it's been stung, is also a big hit with A-listers including Victoria Beckham, Simon Cowell and Kylie Minogue.

The Duchess of Cambridge, The Duchess of Cambridge used the 'natural Botox' ahead of her wedding day in 2011 [GETTY ]

The skin enhancing treatment claims to rejuvenate, reduce scars, heal acne and reduce fine lines and wrinkles, but at over £100 a pot it's pretty pricey, so I decided to give the Aesthetics of London Bee Venom regeneration facial a go. At £49 it is still on the expensive side but not bad for a one-off treat.

Keen to see if the magical product actually makes a difference I headed to the clinic to try the "natural Botox". When I arrived my beautician explained that they would put a tiny swab of the bee-venom behind my ear to test if I was allergic. If I was the patch would go red and itch slightly.  

Luckily there was no reaction, so half an hour later I started the treatment. It began with a deep cleanse, using a collagen skin cleanser, warm water and a rough cloth to clear all the make-up, dirt and oils from my skin.  

Then a collagen toner was applied which left my skin feeling smooth and refreshed. 

Kylie Minogue, Kylie is a big fan of the natural ingrediant [GETTY ]

Next the beautician lathered on a concoction of Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs), a low concentration acid which takes the dead skin off the surface of your face and acts as a gentle skin peel. It stung slightly and felt warm but wasn't unpleasant.  

The length of time the peel is left on varies depending on your skin type and she left mine for around 10 minutes. The peel is not used on darker skin tones as it lightens the skin slightly so my poor excuse for a tan would be a thing of the past.

The peel was then removed with water and a neutralising agent which gave instant cooling relief from the slightly warm stinging sensation was applied. It felt light and cool like a moisturising gel.

My skin was then dried before the application of the all-important bee venom, which disappointingly looks like a normal face mask. I had hoped to see a collection of bee stings in a pot but it was just a smooth white cream in a packet.

After the bee venom lotion was applied I was left alone for 20 minutes to allow the cream to penetrate deep into my skin. Once most of it had soaked in, the rest was removed with a damp cloth and the facial was complete. 

Immediately after I looked a little grey but my skin appeared completely matte and smooth, as though I was wearing a fine powder.  

The following day I was even more pleased with the results. My colour had returned and although my skin was definitely paler it looked and felt smoother and I felt more confident going bare-faced.

After a few days I also noticed my skin was clearing up and the fine lines on my forehead were no longer visible. I even got some compliments about my complexion. 

Although the facial was not particularly relaxing it wasn't unpleasant either and served as more of a practical fix than a luxurious treatment. 

bee venom cream, Victoria BeckhamFashion Queen Victoria Beckham keeps her skin looking youthful by using bee venom cream [GETTY ]

The venom used in facial is extracted using a small metal plate which is placed inside the hive. It carries a very small electrical charge that doesn't harm the bee but makes it feel threatened so it releases venom.

The plate is hard so the bee retains its sting and survives, unlike when they sting a soft-bodied animal like us. The venom is then scraped off to be used in beauty products.

The secret ingredient is used to fool the skin into thinking it has been lightly stung. This causes the body to direct blood towards the area and stimulates the production of collagen and elastin.

Collagen strengthens body tissue, while elastin is the protein that helps the skin to remain taught. The idea is that your skin will look fresher, younger and tighter almost immediately.

Dubbed the 'natural botox' it is a treatment I would definitely recommend and it is the only treatment I have had that has made an instant difference to the appearance of my skin.

It seems like Kate's got it right again!

Aesthetics of London’s three clinics in The Strand, The City and Stratford offer this treatment. For more information see aestheticsoflondon.com.

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