Bird’s Nest Sleeping Mask

SkinFood’s Bird’s Nest Sheet Mask

The benefits are better experienced if you can consume these nests, in our diet as dessert or soups etc, but they are not easy to find in the US. Rest assured, the active ingredients are available in beauty products such as tonics, creams and face masks. Many are mixed with hyaluronic acid or collagen and users swear that they transform dull and wrinkled skin to luminous and a youthful glow. Since bird’s nest are not so readily available in the US and rather expensive even outside of the US, I opted for the mask and cream version. I ordered the Skinfood mask sheet (Skinfood is a well known korean brand and usually rather effective) and sleeping mask (my favorite type of cream) from Imselene. They also manufacture a Donkey Milk Holic sleeping mask, but we’ll leave that review for another time. Bioessence has their own Bird Nest skincare line called the Bird’s Nest Nutri Collagen & Whitening series, which is also a great line. So, I have used both products and there is no smell. Its rather viscous but easy to apply. I use the sleeping mask under the sheet mask nightly for a few days and and it is very moisturizing and my skin definitely felt plumper. I would suggest adding this to your beauty routine and if you are travelling in Asia next, definitely try out a soup or dessert with birds nest.

In the quest for everlasting youthfulness, there is another asian beauty ingredient that may offer some super transformational ingredients that lead to that celestial glow and vigor. Snail mucus, or snail filtrate, is secreted by these little mollusks to help protect their exposed bottoms against skin damage, infection, dryness and UV rays. So, what exactly is in this filtrate that promises to rescue your aging face to its former, glowing beauty? The filtrate contains hyaluronic acid, glycoprotein, proteoglycans, and antimicrobial and copper peptides, all of which are commonly used in beauty products and proven to be beneficial for the skin. The snail slime contains 91-98% water. The slime is filtered multiple times to increase its concentration and ensure its purity. Some snail slime products claim to contain as much as 97% snail secretion filtrate. However, the consistency and quality of the snail mucus should also be taken into account when looking for a good product. Snail mucin is said to do everything from fading dark spots and scars to plumping creases and battling acne. Its best known for its anti-aging properties. It helps to stimulate the formation of collagen and elastin, protect skin from free radicals, soothe skin, repair damaged tissues and restore hydration. It can be used to treat dry skin, wrinkles and stretch marks, acne and rosacea, age spots, burns, scars, razor bumps and even flat warts. The venom found in ocean-cone snails (as opposed to the garden variety) paralyzes its prey and is thought to relax muscle fibers that play a role in creating wrinkles.

Snails were first prescribed in ancient Greece as a topical treatment to reduce inflammation, and they began to crawl their way into creams and elixirs in South America when farmers handling escargot en route to France noticed their hands looked younger and smoother. Soon the beauty-forward Korean market picked up the trend, and I have heard of snail spas in Thailand, Japan and Korea where during the spa session, living snails are put on the client’s face and left to slither around. I have not experienced this during my travels but with more US mainstream high-end companies like RéVive and Peter Thomas Roth are releasing new products containing the holy snail, and both spas and doctors’ offices are featuring facials that employ it. There is anecdotal evidence that proteins in snail slime have anti-aging benefits, and clinical trials have looked at that, as well as reversal of sun damage, and shown improvement. Snail slime is not going to help deep folds, but it will improve skin texture and quality. The actual science behind these products is still somewhat inconclusive. However, the beauty industry has welcomed snail mucin into their arms and are working on various formulations. The challenge is to control the potency, since each critter is unique with its mucus. There are many varieties of snails from Brittany, regions of Africa, and Korea’s Green Zone. The methods of handling them also vary thus leading to a large range in price from as low as $25 to a steep $600, and facials run from $80 to $300. I have tried and tested out some masks and cream and found that are very firming, moisturizing and non-sticky. They don’t a strong scent and given their price I would check out a cream or sheet mask, if you are curious. I tested out the items above and still use them. Please comment if you have any questions or feedback.