Dr. Joshua Zeichner: "Too Slimy? Live, Crawling Snails Used In Japanese Facials"
Snail slime is indeed rich in antioxidants and hyaluronic acid, which can help plump the skin, said Joshua Zeichner, MD, director of cosmetics and clinical research in dermatology at The Mount Sinai Hospital.
But there are countless hyaluronic acid serums and moisturizers, including snail creams, commercially available that can provide similar benefits, he said. Dr. Zeichner said it would be tough to pinpoint what specific element of the facial is actually working – the snail slime, or the manual massage and electrical stimulation that come with the treatment. "There are more factors involved in the facial than just the snails, so it's hard to tell what is actually giving the improvement," he said. Learn more