Get a facial with snails slithering over your face

The benefit of using the snails to do the facial is that they secrete a thin layer of ‘mucun’ straight onto the skin

March 6, 2021

Samantha Traill 2 minutes read

Snails walking on a face, leaving a trail of ‘mucun’ behind.

Imagine a couple of snails slithering over your face for 20 to 30 minutes – this will gross some people out.

But, “it helps with wound healing, fine lines and wrinkles, acne scars, pigmentation, pure collagen and hyaluronic acid, lifts and tightens the skin and is rich in antioxidants,” says Elzané van As.

Elzané uses these unique little creatures to help her give clients a slimy facial at the salon she started with her best friend since primary school, Suzanne Barber.

The snails that are being used are from a special snail farm,and they are kept in organic soil and feed on organic food.

They are put on a special diet and get cleaned, bathed and detoxed.

The snails get a grated carrot treat once a week and since Elzané has started with the snails, they have had babies.

“I take care of them and I really love my snails so much,” continued Elzané.

The benefit of using the snails to do the facial is that they secrete a thin layer of ‘mucun’ straight onto the skin. At any given time Elzané will use between five and eight snails.

“Many people are grossed out about it at first, but once they’re on the skin, it’s not that bad,” said Elzané.

Before the facial starts, the snails go for a small bath to get rid of the soil that they are sailing on and to get them ready to start walking.

The client’s face is washed twice using a special organic soap before the steam machine is placed on the face to open up the pores. Once this is done, the snails are placed one by one to sail on your face.

Elzané just guides the snails on where to sail, and she keeps placing them in various positions on the face.

“As the snails slither over your face leaving a ‘mucun’ path, the slime starts to harden like a mask,” said Elzané.

When the time is over, the snails are removed and the ‘mucun’ is massaged into the skin, she then put her products onto the skin.

Elzané has started her own skin product range that she uses in the salon when she uses the snails for the facials called ‘Bosmeisie’.

“I am the only one in South Africa that is doing the snail facials at the moment,” said Elzané.

Elzané and Suzanne opened up their salon in August 2020 and called it Enchanted Hair and Beauty Salon. Elzané has been in the beautician industry for the last 15 years and Suzanne has been a hairstylist for the last 18 years.

Besides their beauty side of things, they love keeping busy. Suzanne makes her own earrings and jewellery, while Elzané makes her own perfume and skin products.

Elzané will also provide training to anyone that would like to start with the snail facials.

What do the clients say about this ‘new’ way of doing things, “My skin feels so soft and rejuvenated again,” said a happy client.