Two beauty products we’ve recently tried out are snail skincare and oil pulling. It’s been a while since everyone talked about it—remember the shock and horror over slapping slime on your skin and gargling oil for whiter teeth?

But years after the hype, can we honestly say that it worked?

First, let’s debunk the myth. There are no actual snails buried in the cream, but rather the fluids they secrete that are mixed.

Using snail slime to remedy skin problems has been practiced as early as the ancient Greece period.

Today, numerous studies have proven its efficacy, including treatment for minor wounds, and skin disorders such as warts.

These secretions contain proteins that have important biological functions, for instance, bacterial protein acting as a binding receptor that combats microbial and inflammatory infections.

It is also said to to smoothen aging signs on the face.

Some of the most avid advocates of snail slime are Korean skincare makers. These days, there’s practically no Korean brand that doesn’t carry a snail product. A friend who recently visited Korea even gave me a snail mucus-infused product.

Favorites

Cult favorites include Mizon All-in-One Snail Repair Cream, an incredibly hydrating product formulated with 92 percent snail extract, and the Benton Snail Bee High Content Essence. Fans have raved over their safe and effective list of potent ingredients.
Critics, however, have noted that the efficacy of snail skincare products might not necessarily be found in its main ingredient.

Dental health

Who has the time to gargle oil for 20 minutes every day? Apparently, some of us do.

An age-old Ayurvedic remedy, oil pulling has made the rounds on the Internet as a simple way of improving dental health by detoxifying teeth and the gums. Plus, it supposedly helps whiten teeth.

While there have anecdotes on how this method delivers on its promise, the American Dental Association has issued a statement: “Oil pulling is not recommended as a supplementary oral hygiene practice, and certainly not a replacement for standard, time-tested oral behaviors and modalities.”

However, we can’t blame those who have seen enough results to pair oil pulling with traditional brushing. I’ve recently tried this in an effort to explore other options of keeping my oral faculties healthy. True enough, after gargling Virgin Coconut Oil for 20 long minutes, my teeth have become shiny. No kidding.

As far as skincare trends are concerned, it’s not about what’s hot or not, but whether it works for you.