Snails: The Latest Skincare Fad

A slimy solution to skin cell damage?

You may have heard of “bee venom facials.” If so, then this new garden-variety treatment from Japan probably won’t surprise you – snail facials.

As seen in this Telegraph article, a new boutique has opened up in Japan touting the benefits of snail mucus for the skin. “Snail slime can help the recovery of skin cells on the face, so we expect the snail facial to help heal damaged skin,” says Yoko Minami, sales manager for Clinical Salon in Japan, in the news story.

What does a snail facial entail, you ask? The treatment, officially called the Celebrity Escargot Course, costs about $200 (about ¥19,900), lasts for an hour, and lets loose 5 snails to run free on your face (with attendants nearby to prevent them from getting too close to your eyes, nose or mouth). Afterwards, facial massages, masks, and creams with, you guessed it, snail mucus as the main ingredient, are applied.

Snail mucus not up your alley (or, alternatively, not in Japan)? No worries – there remain less-slimy alternatives on the market to help rejuvenate skin, such as microdermabrasion and chemical peels, which are both great ways to help reduce the appearance of fine lines, acne scars and age spots. These procedures are non-invasive, require little recovery time, and perhaps best of all, are not secreted by snails. Be sure to talk to your cosmetic surgeon about your skincare options at your next consultation.

• Photo Credit: Snail on head by GerryT, on Flickr