Japan launches world's first 'snail facial'

They have long been regarded as garden pests. But snails, it seems, have a use after all – crawling across faces as part of a new beauty treatment in Japan.



Live snails, hailed as an elixir for youthful and beautiful skin, take centre stage in an unusual new "snail facial" launching tomorrow at a spa in central Tokyo.

The treatment involves a therapist placing snails directly onto the faces of reclining clients and allowing the molluscs to move at random, leaving trails of mucus slime in their wake.

The secreted snail mucus is key to the facial, as it reportedly contains a beauty-boosting cocktail of proteins, antioxidants and hyaluronic acid, which help skin retain moisture, reduce inflammation and remove dead skin.

"This salon is the only place in Japan where you can try a live snail facial," said Yoko Minami, sales manager at Clinical Salon, the flagship outlet of Ci:z.Labo, a nationwide spa operator and affiliate of Japan's biggest medical cosmetics company.

"Snail slime can help the recovery of skin cells on the face, so we expect the snail facial to help heal damaged skin."