Snail Facial
The beauty treatment from Tokyo is now being offered by a salon in the UK for £50.

First it was the fish pedicure and now a new bizarre skincare craze has hit the UK.

A spa in Corby is offering its clients "snail facials" which are said to help remove old skin cells and rejuvenate the complexion.

The treatment, which costs £50, involves placing the molluscs on the face for 20 minutes. The slime left behind contains highly beneficial proteins, anti-oxidants, and anti-bacteria is said to give the skin an amazing "instant glow".

Simply Divine salon owner Diane Gower told the Mirror: "It does seem a bit strange at first but the treatment is actually very relaxing and the skin feels marvellous afterwards.

"Once clients get used to the feel of the snails on their face, they really enjoy the treatment."

Her specially trained team of "snail facialists", which includes dermatologist Dr Sunil Chopra, a regular consultant on Channel 4's Embarrassing Bodies, make sure that the creepy crawlies, which are especially farmed, do not venture too near the nostrils, mouth and eyes.

"They're not the sort you'll find in the garden," she said. "Once they have been used on a client we make sure they're not used again for at least four days. We constantly monitor them."

The snail facial was pioneered in Tokyo's Clinical Salon and is all the rage in the Japanese capital.

It first became available under the name Celebrity Escargot Course at a cost of £161.

Gower said she brought the treatment to the UK because the results are so powerful that the snails could even be used to help people with severe skin conditions such as acne.

She said: "The treatment is completely natural and people have been overwhelmed with the instant results.

"We have clients with skin problems and also quite a few mature ladies who don't want to use the strong chemicals that can be found in certain anti-ageing products."