Durian: a miracle beauty ingredient? That's what skincare doctor Howard Murad suggested to cosmetic journalists and spa representatives at Azure on Friday afternoon. The renowned dermatologist claims the stinky fruit does wonders for your skin. He's even incorporated the fruit, minus the smell, into his latest anti-ageing serum.

'What we do is extract the essence, the bio-concentration of it,' the doctor said. Murad did offer some durian science about intracellular hydration and omega fat lipids. But beyond the mumbo jumbo, the MD with his own eponymous skin brand just likes its taste and properties.

'I'm into ethnobotany, the study of plants and where and why they grow,' he said. 'I travel to Asia quite a bit, and I believe the first time I had durian was in Cebu about 10 years ago. I happen to like it and I like the smell of it. People say it's the king of fruits and it's very creamy and custard-like.'