Should you shell out for the latest beauty craze?
FOR most people snails are nothing more than an irritating garden pest. However, in the beauty world, they are being held up as anti-ageing superheroes.
Why? Because the sticky slime that snails produce is packed with powerful skin-boosting ingredients.
Last week EastEnders actress June Brown, 91, had a snail facial as part of ITV’s series 100 Years Younger In 21 Days.
The show charts the experiences of eight celebrities in a rejuvenation clinic in Sardinia as they are subjected to a range of treatments designed to slow down the ageing process.
During the facial snails were placed on June’s face where they slithered around leaving her covered in slime. While this doesn’t sound very pleasant, the slime contains proteins, glycolic acid and elastin, which fans of the treatment believe can boost collagen levels and leave skin glowing. So does it work? Unfortunately there is no real proof that snail slime does anything beyond what a rich moisturiser or plumping face mask would achieve.
The active ingredients in snail slime are similar to collagen but are too large to be absorbed by the skin. They will sit on the surface, locking in moisture to leave the complexion feeling soft and smooth but that’s as far as it goes.
If you are interested in trying this treatment, there’s no need to head to the garden to find some willing snails.
A number of skincare brands use snail slime in their products, such as Dr Organic Organic Snail Gel, £20.99 (hollandandbarrett.com).
The snail facial isn’t the only bizarre treatment that promises dramatic results so read our guide to some of the strangest beauty therapies that people have tried to turn back the clock.
LEECH THERAPY
Not for the squeamish. This unusual therapy involves having leeches placed on your skin so they can feed on your blood. It has been claimed that “leeching” is an effective anti-ageing beauty treatment that rejuvenates the body and mind. Hollywood actress Demi Moore, 55, admitted trying leech therapy to “detoxify” her blood and said it left her feeling revitalised.
Verdict: Leeches have been used for healing since Egyptian times and are still used in some hospitals today.
However, this isn’t something we would recommend for an anti-ageing or wellness treatment.
If you want to detox, you’d be far better off spending a few days cutting out alcohol and sugar.
BEE VENOM CREAM
Bee venom has been dubbed “nature’s Botox” on account of its wrinkle-softening properties. When applied, the skin reacts as if it has been stung, increasing circulation and collagen production to repair itself. Over time, the theory goes, this will lead to a tighter, firmer complexion.
The Duchess of Cornwall is reported to be a fan of Heaven Skincare, which contains a combination of bee venom, honey and a natural form of the toxin used in wrinkle-freezing injections such as Botox.
Verdict: Some people are allergic to
bees so if you are thinking of trying a venom cream or facial, make sure to do a patch test first.
You can buy bee venom creams from most high street health food shops, for example, Manuka Doctor Facial Moisturising Lotion, £17.99 (manukadoctor.co.uk).
In our opinion, if you want younger-looking skin, there are other effective ingredients you should look for in your skincare, such as retinol and vitamin C.
NIGHTINGALE FACIAL
More than a century ago Japanese geisha performers used nightingale droppings to remove the heavy white make-up they wore each day. Today the nightingale facial uses sanitised powdered droppings to deep cleanse and nourish the skin.
The powder is mixed with aromatherapy oils to make a mask and is high in nitrogen, which banishes bacteria and exfoliates the skin. The results? Plump, smooth and glowing skin.
Verdict: This is an effective deep-cleansing facial but modern peels and dermabrasion will give the same results more quickly.