Would You Get a Facial That Used Live Snails?

It's all the rage in Japan, where a Tokyo spa claims snail secretions have beauty-boosting properties

By Alesandra Dubin - July 17, 2013

Um, we just threw up in our mouths a little bit.

Yes, we'd love to have glowing, youthful-looking skin -- and we'd consider paying a fair amount of money to achieve it -- but we definitely have our limits.

And here's something that's absolutely way, way, over the line: A new skincare craze in which live snails crawl on your face. For the privilege of having that nightmare happen to you, you'd pay close to $250.

We say, no thanks! But it's all the rage at a Tokyo spa that offers its clientele the opportunity to have snails crawl all around their visages and leave behind mucous secretions that are (allegedly) filled with proteins, antioxidants and hyaluronic acid that boost moisture, reduce inflammation and remove dead skin. (The Telegraph even sent a reporter to give it a try).

You're cringing, we know. But these aren't any old urban snails! They're clean, healthy ones that dine on organic vegetables, according to The Telegraph. So that settles it, we're all headed to Tokyo for a snail facial, right? (Wrong!)

Afte watching the over-the-top "vampire facial" that Kim Kardashian tried on TV, we thought we'd seen it all. But now there's this.

We wonder what's next: motor oil facials? Drain-clog facials? Yeesh! Thanks, but we'll stick with our subtle crow's feet and well-earned laugh lines -- especially if snails are the alternative.

Alesandra Dubin is a Los Angeles-based writer and the founder of home and travel blog Homebody in Motion. Follow her on Facebook, Google+ and Twitter.

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Hey, Clumsy -- Would You Take a Class to Learn How to Walk in Stilettos?

New Yorker Victor Chu teaches women how to walk properly in heels during a $50 session

By Alesandra Dubin - July 24, 2013

Never mind the much-photographed celebrities who make walking in heels look like child's play. (We're looking at you, Kate Middleton: You worked those pumps for the cameras yesterday, just 24 hours after delivering the royal baby!) We real women know it requires serious skill.

And for those of us for whom it doesn't come entirely naturally, one New Yorker has launched a class to help. Victor Chu's new “How To Walk in High Heels New York City” program, run out of a dance studio, aims to build experience and confidence for ordinary women interested in strapping on stilettos, according to a report in the New York Post.

The class costs $50, and teaches about navigating obstacles, taking long strides, perfecting posture and movement -- and even stretching properly for the, ahem, sport. Chu attributes his know-how to his stint as a shoe designer and to his development of a high-heel fitness program called Legworks.

“Women think heels are sexy because men think they’re sexy,” Chu told the Post. “But you see women wear this pained expression and shuffle. I’ve seen guys giggle at them -- it’s not sexy. Bottom line is, you need to be fit to walk in heels with stability.”

Now, as we said, we're the first to admit that walking in heels is hard -- and often painful. (Right, Julianne Moore?) But we also think, if you need a class to get the fundamentals down, maybe your money is better spent on a great pair of flats instead.

But what do you think: Would you take a class to learn how to walk in stilettos?

Alesandra Dubin is a Los Angeles-based writer and the founder of home and travel blog Homebody in Motion. Follow her on Google+ and Twitter.

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Yummy recipes, DIY projects, home decor, fashion and more curated by iVillage staffers.

The very dirty truth about fashion internships... DUN DUN @srslytheshow http://t.co/wfewf

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Would You Get a Facial That Used Live Snails?

It's all the rage in Japan, where a Tokyo spa claims snail secretions have beauty-boosting properties

By Alesandra Dubin - July 17, 2013

Um, we just threw up in our mouths a little bit.

Yes, we'd love to have glowing, youthful-looking skin -- and we'd consider paying a fair amount of money to achieve it -- but we definitely have our limits.

And here's something that's absolutely way, way, over the line: A new skincare craze in which live snails crawl on your face. For the privilege of having that nightmare happen to you, you'd pay close to $250.

We say, no thanks! But it's all the rage at a Tokyo spa that offers its clientele the opportunity to have snails crawl all around their visages and leave behind mucous secretions that are (allegedly) filled with proteins, antioxidants and hyaluronic acid that boost moisture, reduce inflammation and remove dead skin. (The Telegraph even sent a reporter to give it a try).

You're cringing, we know. But these aren't any old urban snails! They're clean, healthy ones that dine on organic vegetables, according to The Telegraph. So that settles it, we're all headed to Tokyo for a snail facial, right? (Wrong!)

Afte watching the over-the-top "vampire facial" that Kim Kardashian tried on TV, we thought we'd seen it all. But now there's this.

We wonder what's next: motor oil facials? Drain-clog facials? Yeesh! Thanks, but we'll stick with our subtle crow's feet and well-earned laugh lines -- especially if snails are the alternative.

Alesandra Dubin is a Los Angeles-based writer and the founder of home and travel blog Homebody in Motion. Follow her on Facebook, Google+ and Twitter.

Connect with Us Follow Our Pins

Yummy recipes, DIY projects, home decor, fashion and more curated by iVillage staffers.

The very dirty truth about fashion internships... DUN DUN @srslytheshow http://t.co/wfewf

On Instagram

Behind-the-scenes pics from iVillage.

View the original article here