The name Kanazawa (金沢) literally means “marsh of gold,” and is said to be derived from a legend about a peasant who discovered flakes of gold while digging for potatoes. Today, Kanazawa is famed for its gold leaf (金箔, kinpaku) production, and is singularly responsible for 98 percent of the total output in Japan.

The city's gold leaf is so ubiquitous that it's even used to decorate cakes and food, and can be found in local sake and beauty products. In fact, as a beauty product, gold is a powerful antioxidant that helps to keep skin tight, firm and youthful. Don't believe us? Take a look below at the top five gold cosmetics from Kanazawa!

This beauty soap from Kinka Cosmetic will leave skin feeling light and refreshed. The soap, which contains gold flakes, foams quickly and is designed to rinse away oil, dirt and pollutants that clog the pores, and is perfect for oily or combination skin.

Kinka Cosmetic is produced by Hakuichi, Inc., which also produces a wide range of gold flake products. Its Nano Moisturizing Cream is formulated for dry skin types to provide highly effective moisturizing by richly sealing in hydration. Made from rose extract, which calms the skin from daily stresses, this cream also contains small flakes of gold for its antioxidant properties.

Kinka Gold Nano Lotion, another Kinka Cosmetic product, is for extreme hydration, and perfect for even the driest skin types. The lotion, made with huge chunks of gold flakes, envelops the skin with results that are both immediate and effective.

This triple-action cleansing foam from Kinka Cosmetic is designed for deep cleansing, firming and moisturizing the skin. Made with natural ingredients like grapefruit extract, as well as containing gold flakes, it will leave your skin feeling soft and clean.

One of the best ways to use gold to keep skin tight, firm and youthful, is as a facial mask, which puts a sheet of flat thin gold on your face to provide golden skin. These gold facial masks are made with genuine 24-karat gold leaf, leaving your skin moisturized and elasticized. More importantly, while you wear one, you get to feel like a burnished deity!