The search for the fountain of youth seems to be a never ending story that has existed throughout human history. Cleopatra was known for bathing in goat’s milk. Hundreds of years ago in Japan, nightingale droppings were used for skin care. And this practice is making a comeback with celebs like Tom Cruise experimenting with this method. Although we now have filler injectables and lasers, celebrities and non-celebrities are still curious to explore more exotic measures. This daring attitude and penchant for the unusual may explain why snail slime is gaining interest as an anti-aging treatment.
Louis-Marie Guedon of France has been raising snails for the last twenty five years. Although escargot is a traditional delicacy in French cuisine, he believes that snails have a lot more to offer in skin rejuvenation. According to Guedon, the mucus that is secreted is rich in compounds that are beneficial for cells such as collagen, antibiotics and glycolic acid. Other restorative agents include hyaluronic acid, proteins and antioxidants.
Farmers in Chile who harvest snails and have regular skin contact with the slime have noticed that their skin seems to heal much faster. Healing is usually indicative of new collagen formation, which is how many dermatology wrinkle treatments work.
Are People Really Using Snail Slime on their Skin?
(photo: Flickr) Katie Holmes has reportedly confessed to using skin rejuvenating beauty products with snail secretions*
Due to the ever present demand for skin replenishing agents, Guedon decided to work with an engineer to develop a special method for harvesting this slime.
This involves collecting the slime once it is secreted, and running it through a filter to purify it. The extract is treated with salt and refrigerated. Guedon asserts that no snails are harmed in the process. This overall endeavor required an investment of about $170,200. Part of this was subsidized by the European Union and the French government.
If the use of byproducts from snails seems eccentric, there does seem to be positive responses and actual demand to support all of this. Already, the entrepreneurial snail specialist has secured three contracts for supplying industrial quantities of snail slime (in the tons) with a cosmetic lab and a manufacturer. And snail slime is now being used in skin care products sold in South America and Asia. Surprisingly, despite the fact that major development is being undertaken in France, much of Europe has yet to catch on to this intriguing beauty trend.
Here in America, while Tom Cruise may be exploring the use of bird droppings, Katie Holmes has asserted that she has used skin care products with snail mucous. And this news seems to have boosted sales by 189% the health food chain, Holland and Barrett.
Besides topical wrinkle and anti-aging creams, some salons have also now started offering snail facial massages. Several specially bred snails are placed on the face and allowed to roam freely. The mucous is secreted directly in its original form.
To learn about other interesting measures that are being undertaken to reverse aging, click here