It’s enough to make your skin crawl, really. Unless of course you’re a fan of the beauty trend that’s beloved by some of Hollywood’s hottest stars.
Alia Fares is one such fan. She lies back, still as a corpse, as a handful of snails slither across her face and neck, leaving a silver trail of slime over her skin. The brunette is forking out big bucks for a snail facial, the latest beauty treatment gaining popularity around the world.
Beauty spa owner Suheil Sweidan says the rather unconventional facial helps rejuvenate skin.
“This snail produces collagen; it promotes this substance,” he says. “As it walks across the face, it eats up the dead skin, opens your pores, and leaves the collagen in there.”
The 35-year-old businessman from Jordan uses only specially bred Giant African land snails at his spa.
He admits the idea of having the critters all over your face creeps out some of his clients, but after trying it once “they end up coming for second sessions”.
Alia is a good case in point, Suheil adds. During her first session the 27-year-old felt so uncomfortable she wanted to stop and leave, but these days she’s a regular client.
“I kept going and fell asleep because it was so relaxing,” Alia says.
“My face feels fuller now and has a certain glow.”
The Jordanian beauty centre isn’t the f irst to offer snail slime treatments. More and more beauty spas in South Amercia South Asia and Eastern Europe are using snail extracts to treat skin problems.
Though doctors and dermatologists say there’s no scientific proof using snail slime has any benefits, Suheil believes it rejuvenates skin and reduces wrinkles.
This story is from the 7 January 2021 edition of YOU South Africa.
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This story is from the 7 January 2021 edition of YOU South Africa.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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