The things we do to be sorta sexy.
Over in Japan, men and women have latched on to this new trend called snail facials, which are exactly what they sound like: Slimy molluscs crawling on your face. Right now, it's all the rage in Asia, but seeing how Americans are completely obsessed with themselves, beauty experts here expect the mucous-y facials to become popular in the United States very soon.
So we went ahead and talked to a local beauty buff to find out if Americans should go ahead and start booking flights to Japan. San Francisco-based plastic surgeon Edward Miranda, who is the medical director of Pacific Plastic Surgery Group, give us his thoughts:
SFW: Why snail facials? Is this crazy or cosmetic?
EM: The notion that "snail slime" could potentially have healing benefits has been around since Ancient Greece when Hippocrates allegedly prescribed milk & crushed snails to treat inflammation. It's not crazy to think the slime snails secrete could be utilized for skin care, but the science behind it is lacking (to say the least).
SFW:How does it help cosmetically? How is it better/worse than a non snail facial?
EM: A facial in general is always good to ensure your skin is as clean & healthy as possible. Clear skin is free of acne, sun damage, fine lines/wrinkles, etc. If "snail facials" are truly correcting these visible signs of aging, then perhaps they are an effective facial method. Snail slime (known as helix aspersa) is thought to help cosmetically by coating the skin with antioxidants, hyaluronic acid, and proteins -- all of these things are proven to reduce the visible signs of aging and nourish the skin.
SFW: Will Americans be willing to partake?
EM: As of now, it seems to be all the rage in South Korea, South America, and South Africa. Americans take pride in being especially savvy to the latest & greatest beauty trends, so I can certainly see it breaking into the American market sooner or later.
SFW: Who would you recommend a snail facial to?
EM: Someone who may be feeling bored or stagnant with their current skin care regimen. If you can stomach the snails crawling on your face, why not?
