People will go to huge lengths for personal maintenance. From bird poop to placenta, no product is too taboo in the pursuit of beauty. And now there’s a strange new skin “secret” that’s about to hit the market: snail slime.
This unusual beauty method as actually been popular for a number of years in Korea, where companies have developed snail creams, serums, sleeping masks and entire skincare lines. In fact, Dr. Jart, the Korean beauty expert who introduced BB creams to the US, has his own snail skincare collection. And apparently ancient Greeks also used the slimy creatures as beauty aids. But scientists seem to be skeptical of it:
“There is some speculation that the mucin in these slime creams can be anti-inflammatory and calming; however, there are no respected scientific studies to prove that it actually works,” Dr. Elizabeth Tanzi, the co-director of the Washington Institute of Dermatologic Laser Surgery in Washington, DC, told us. “For now, I remain skeptical.”
Nonetheless, those selling the product claims it reduces skin discoloration, scar marks and speeds up healing time for cuts. Do those possible effects sound worth it to you? [via Fashionista]
Would you try a snail slime face product?
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guest
It’s not like the cream is made up of actual smushed up snails. It has whatever chemical in the “snail slime” that reduces scars and discoloration on the skin. There may not be any “proof” that snail slime works, however there is plenty of evidence to indicate that glycolic acid and elastin, some of the compounds found in “snail slime extract” may work. Glycolic acid, for sure will reduce discoloration and scars. Glycolic acid is the active ingredient in many chemical peels and other products used to brighten skin. Also if you do a search on Pubmed, there are plenty of studies indicating that mucin may be anti-inflammatory. I am thinking this dermatologist doesn’t want to lose customers. I’d rather buy something OTC than to pay a butt load of money to someone.
guest
I would. Even now, there are people who put products on their faces without really knowing what is even in it such as ambergris (whale vomit), carmine (crushed cochineal beetles), animal placentas, etc.
guest
This isn’t that new here. Some teenager did it in Kent or somewhere in England a few years ago. He had snails crawl o his face to help his acne. So far as I recall, it helped his skin improve quite a bit.
guest
parasites to snails to your FAYYYCE,
guest
This was actually a joke that Penn & Teller did in a mall to show the gullibility of mankind. Clearly someone has searched high and low now to try and find a reason to make money of it now. One word – GROSS ! [Video]