Who doesn’t love snails? They’re cute, small and… slimy. Okay, so maybe they’re not the world’s most adorable animal, but they’re gaining attention for their skin cleansing capabilities. If you’re brave enough (and can handle a little slime), you might just want to get a quick snail facial.
Does It Actually Work?
The concept of allowing multiple snails to crawl along your face for an hour might sound off-putting to some, but there is some science behind this snail facial craze. As it turns out, snail slime naturally contains antioxidants, which, as you probably already know, are great for your body inside and out. But whether or not those found in snail slime can help to heal your skin is still up in the air.
The slime also reportedly contains hyaluronic acid, which is the main ingredient in popular cosmetic fillers used to plump the face and reduce lines and wrinkles. But most experts seem to agree that the hyaluronan molecule present in the slime is too large to be absorbed into the skin. So while the slime may be an added moisturizer to a regular facial massage, its effects may be only skin-deep.
A Not So Slimy Solution
If lounging around with snails on your face isn’t your cup of tea, all hope is not lost. Thankfully, snail facials haven’t replaced other tried-and-true med spa solutions like microdermabrasion and chemical peels to exfoliate, moisturize and revive your skin. These treatments work by removing the outer layer of dead skin cells, revealing a fresh new layer of skin underneath. And the best part? No slime necessary.