HEALTHPLAN MAGAZINE

It might not seem like the most obvious beauty treatment, however, some experts say that the snail slime facial could be the answer to beautiful skin and a flawless complexion.

According to a recent article in the Daily Telegraph, this novel new way of looking young works by having the client recline while snails are allowed to crawl across the face. The mucus – or slime- that gets left behind is apparently the answer to youthful skin.

How Does Snail Slime Work?

The mucus contained within snail slime is believed to be rich in beauty boosting substances. First of all there are the anti-oxidants, which are known to promote a younger looking skin and are thought to prevent ageing. Next, there is the hyaluronic acid – a substance often included in skin care products that acts to maintain moisture levels in the skin, promotes a more radiant skin by removing dead skin cells and reduces inflammation.

It is also believed that the snail slim contains glycolic acid, a product often used in skin peels. It is also thought snail slime contains antibiotics and collagen, which is vital for maintaining the structure of the skin.

Other Skin Benefits

The mucus is also thought to promote flexibility and elasticity of the skin as well as adding to the luminosity and vibrancy of the complexion. Some manufacturers of snail slime cream also recommend it as a product for helping to heal acne and acne scars, which might be down to its purported antibiotic content.

Snail slime is said to reduce wrinkles, improve pigmentation and tighten pores. It is also suggested as a treatment for minor blemishes, stretch marks and burns.

Will the snail slime beauty treatment catch on?

Although this bizarre way of caring for the skin has only made it into the headlines recently, snail slime is not a new concept in skin care. Some cosmetic manufacturers have been using the mucus as an ingredient in their products for decades.

Now the snail slime beauty treatments have recently made their way from Tokyo and into the UK in the form of facials.

For those brave enough to try it, the snail slime facial is available from the Simply Divine Spa in Corby, Northants. The Snail and Pace meridian massage will cost a client £50. For customers preferring a quicker facial treatment, there is also the opportunity to try the Quick Sliver exfoliating mask for £35.00 or a snail extracts cream is available, also for £35.00.

Clients who have tried the facial have described it as "enjoyable" and said that their skin felt smoother, cooler and plumper following the treatment.

Snail slime cream is also becoming big news in the United States with several cosmetic manufacturers selling products containing the apparent magical ingredient; French farmer and entrepreneur Louis-Marie Guedon has set himself up in business manufacturing the mucus.

As for whether it will catch on, well, these new trends in beauty can sometimes take a while, so only time will tell if the snail facial will become one of the must try beauty treatments in years to come.

Celebrities and Snail Slime

A number of glamorous celebrities attributed their perfect complexions to the use of a cream containing snail slime. Katie Holmes, Jessica Alba and Kate Hudson are among the stars that reportedly use snail slime creams.

Snail Slime Creams

If the idea of having snails crawl across your face doesn't appeal, but you would still like to benefit from the affects, you could try some of the many snail slime creams that are currently on the market. These are readily available from some stores and the creams are easy to find on the internet with stores such as Amazon offering a range of different products.

The snail slime creams are priced at £10 and upwards and their reviews are largely positive across the brands. However, some of the snail slime creams don't come as a pure product and may contain added botanicals such as aloe vera to help enhance the effects of the cream.

Some people swear by the cream for curing the acne and reducing scars, while others don't like the scent of some of the creams or feel squeamish at the thought of putting snail slime on their skin.

So stay tuned, in the near future, you may just see the snail slime facial treatment make its way here to the high streets of Spain.

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