UMO 24-Carat Gold Facial is certainly a luxurious beauty treat with a price tag of £350 for two hours, but what is it and what does it do?

This is an upscale treatment based on the premise that Cleopatra used to sleep in gold to maintain her youthful good looks.

The science behind the golden new procedure is quite vague and confusing, throwing out terms like Gamma PGA, negative ions and LED light therapy and Ultrasonic Nano Mist. However, the results are easy enough to understand – it reduces fine lines, tones the complexion and brightens skin.

The therapist applies gold-leaf sheets to the skin, creating a face mask which sits beneath the UMO Facial Spa, a fine misting of a skin-rejuvenating serum. The gold is then thoroughly massaged into the skin.

Available at 122 Knightsbridge Beauty Clinic, London SW1 (020-7584 6777)