New 'snail facial' used to prevent aging in Japan

Japanese women in search of a more youthful look are turning towards a curious new treatment: snail facials.

The anti-aging regimen, created by the Clinical Salon in Tokyo, Japan, involves cleansing the face and placing live snails on the skin.  The creatures are then allowed to roam freely on the person’s face for about an hour, according to Counsel and Heal.

The salon claims that the snails’ mucus contains properties – like power proteins, antioxidants and hyaluronic acid - that help the skin retain moisture, ease inflammation and remove dead skin. The five snails used by the salon are fed an all-organic diet of carrots, Swiss chard, spinach and komatsuna greens

"Snail slime can help the recovery of skin cells on the face, so we expect the snail facial to help heal damaged skin," Yoko Miniami, the salon’s sales manager, told the Telegraph. "We are interested in the fact that snails have a function that can help heal skin damaged by ultraviolet rays."

The treatment, known as the Celebrity Escargot Course, is currently only available in Japan and costs approximately $243. The salon also sells skin creams containing snail slime, Counsel and Heal reported.

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