What exactly is Maca Root ?

As a wannabe metrosexual I have, albeit half-heartedly, tried to get my head around the idea of using products like moisturizer. I wasn't born with the gene that makes you instinctively understand what it is for, but I have by patient study and application, piloted my way through a bottle of Nivea for Men over the course of the last year or so. Then it ran out. And there it would end if my girlfriend's MBA hadn't lured her into the heady world of The Body Shop. She has to do a marketing plan for Body Shop's products for men. Who knew? Well, that's the point I guess, but anyway, I digress. Meanwhile, the space time continuum encountered a nexus of fate, and I now find myself in proud possession of a new moisturizer from Body Shop. Except, and this is brilliant really, they don't exactly call it moisturizer. It is "Energetic Face Protector" which immediately made me wonder how I could have survived so many years without it. But not only that, it is made, not from gingko proestrogon baubles from the clay pits of kuala lumpur, but with genuine Peruvian Maca Root. Well that seals it. Clearly, it's the must have product of the year. It only leaves me with one question: what in the name of all that is holy is a Maca and why would one want it's root smeared all over one's face ? Ok, 2 questions.

Lepidium Meyenii is the answer to the first question apparently. Basically a turnippy radishy thing. Oddly it appears to do things like improving sexual stamina and sperm quality and is likened to a herbal, natural, eco-friendly, balanced, tree hugging version of Viagra. Which probably explains my girlfriend's enthusiasm for it, but does rather sharpen the second question. Why would I want to put this on my face? I could understand eating it, or smearing it somewhere else perhaps, but on my face? Help me here.

In desperation I turned to Body Shop's web site for help. Selecting the product details for my new Face Protector, I learned that apparently the maca root is there to "help boost skin vitality, firm and soothe the skin". I think I get it now. 17 bright recipients of The Body Shop's Ethically-Holier-than-God Staff Recognition Awards go away on a jolly to Peru and learn with awe and wonder about the rich local culture, geography and root vegetalia. Whose imagination wouldn't be fired up by tales of the legendary maca's ability to add firmness and provide a little boost? Who wouldn't think to themselves, "hmm, that'd be perfect for smearing all over men's faces" ? Yes, it's all coming together now.

So in short, it was clearly all a big mistake, but despite the, well, err, cock-up, it's still a damn good moisturizer.