Snail slime cosmetics: the most asked questions
When we talk about Helicotherapeutic treatments, and more particularly cosmetics based on snail slime, the reactions are often diverse: disgust, surprise, questions. At Mademoiselle Agathe, we like to approach this subject to show you the exceptional virtues of our mucus in our creams, thanks to our unique harvesting method. We want to dispel preconceived ideas about snail slime and share our breeding with passion. Here is everything you always wanted to know about snail slime, its properties, its cosmetic benefits, and the manufacture of our Helicotherapeutic treatments.
Is it new to use snail slime in cosmetics?
Numerous writings testify to the multiple therapeutic uses of snails . Hippocrates, from 400 BC. BC, and Pliny the Elder, between 23 and 79 AD. AD, recommended boiled snails to relieve pain caused by burns, abscesses and other wounds. Celsus, a Roman philosopher from the 2nd century, recommended the use of raw and pounded snails with their shells as a healing agent, while affirming the emollient properties of boiled snails.
It is even documented that Mona Lisa del Giocondo, immortalized by Leonardo da Vinci, used snail slime extract in 1514 as a facial treatment to reduce her wrinkles.
What are the benefits of snail slime?
Snail slime is renowned for its numerous properties, notably moisturizing and restorative. It contains :
- Allantoin: regenerative, repairs epidermal tissues.
- Collagen: improves the resistance and healing of the skin.
- Elastin: provides flexibility, fights against wrinkles and stretch marks.
- Glycolic acid: makes the skin brighter.
- Vitamins A and C: moisturize the skin, guaranteeing a “healthy glow” effect.
Mademoiselle Agathe cosmetics were created in 2013 thanks to a chance meeting at an organic fair in Lyon. Fabrice Pierron, business development specialist, and Patrice Lambert, passionate helicopter farmer, crossed paths. This meeting changed the course of their lives.
Patrice, a helicopter farmer, had for years been developing a gentle method of harvesting snail slime, having noticed the benefits of the mucus on his hands and those of his seasonal workers. He discovered the ideal time to collect the mucus and perfected a gentle technique, taking each snail individually to gently stimulate it.
For his part, Fabrice looked for a laboratory ready to test formulations with high concentrations of snail mucus. These first attempts led to the birth of Mademoiselle Agathe. Entrepreneurship thus enabled two bearded fifty-year-olds to give birth to an innovative and valuable brand, Mademoiselle Agathe.
Is collecting snail slime painful for snails?
For the mucus harvest , we don't take it, we wait patiently for them to give it to us! At Mademoiselle Agathe, we value respect for people, animals and the environment. This is why our mucus is harvested exclusively by hand, snail by snail, with the delicacy and precision that only human hands can offer.
With snails, patience is key. More than any other animal, their well-being depends on a slow, natural rhythm. Our harvesting method is based on French manual know-how that is unique in the world. And as is often the case in nature, the more care we give to the animal, the better the quality of what it offers us.
We exclude any form of suffering for the snails, which in our opinion is inevitable with mechanized harvesting methods. We find it hard to believe that an animal could be "gently tickled" or "gently shaken" when a machine is used to collect its mucus.
Where and how are our Helicotherapeutic treatments produced?
Our partner laboratory is located in Pays de la Loire, in the heart of the valley. This region benefits from a mild climate which makes it the leading area for the production of medicinal plants in France. With more than 100 varieties of plants with therapeutic virtues, most of them cultivated for more than a century, our cosmetic laboratory harvests a selection of extracts of flowers and various plants from local producers, thus guaranteeing the traceability of raw materials. .
Our laboratory is ISO 22716 certified for Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). The manufacturing site is controlled by ECOCERT and declared to the ANSM (National Medicines Safety Agency).
Committed for many years to the production and certification of organic cosmetics, our laboratory produces cosmetics of excellence, Made in France, to guarantee you exceptional products.
We use a low pressure, cold treatment process for the mucus, allowing filtration without causing emulsion or oxidation. This extraction system preserves the water-soluble and fat-soluble parts of the mucus. The key step in this process consists of reducing the level of bacteria naturally present in the slime, while preserving the organoleptic qualities of the mucus. For example, hemocyanin, one of the many active ingredients present in the mucus of our snails, which has regenerating properties for the skin.
Why use snail slime extract rather than raw slime?
Direct incorporation of raw mucus into a cosmetic product is simply unfeasible.
Mucus is a substance intermediate between liquid and solid, with a soft and elastic consistency. It is a hydrogel whose water content varies between 92 and 99%. However, this water is trapped in a three-dimensional molecular structure, which makes the mucus viscous and prevents its flow.
Thus, raw mucus, very sticky and viscous, cannot be integrated directly into a cosmetic care product. This real mucus, with high viscosity, guarantees a high content of proteins of interest. It must undergo cold extraction treatment under low pressure to isolate useful compounds that are strongly bound in the crude state.
What is Cosmebio certification?
Cosmebio certification is a quality standard awarded to cosmetics that meet the strict criteria established by the European COSMOS standard. This certification assures consumers that the products meet high standards in terms of naturalness and ecology.
Our Mademoiselle Agathe products hold the COSMOS ORGANIC level, the most demanding of this certification. This distinction guarantees that our cosmetics contain at least 95% natural and organic ingredients. In addition, only a maximum of 5% of the ingredients can come from a restrictive list of accepted components, thus ensuring maximum purity and safety for the skin and the environment.
COSMOS ORGANIC certification also means that production methods are environmentally friendly. The ingredients used are traceable and come from sustainable sources. The manufacturing processes are subject to rigorous controls to minimize the ecological impact, and no animal testing is carried out.
By choosing Cosmebio COSMOS ORGANIC certified products, you are opting for cosmetics that not only take care of your skin, but also of the planet. This reflects our commitment to offering you exceptional products, in harmony with nature.
What is the composition of our snail slime and the effects on the skin?
Our scientific studies , notably with the National Museum of Natural History of Paris and the University of Rouen, have revealed that the majority of proteins present in the snail slime used in Mademoiselle Agathe cosmetics are hemocyanin and actin. These two proteins are well known for their roles in skin regeneration and healing, as demonstrated in in vitro research and clinical studies.
In addition to these proteins, we have found that our snail slime extract is rich in many other skin-beneficial components, including oxygen compounds like vitamins D. These vitamins play an essential role in skin health, and their presence had never before been demonstrated in snail slime. This discovery constitutes a new and important virtue for skin care.
What is the point of using as much slime as possible in our Helicotherapeutic treatments?
Our skincare range is formulated to be highly concentrated in snail slime extract to maximize its benefits for the skin. Our exclusive formulations incorporate the maximum possible quantity of snail slime extract, which helps maintain the bioavailability of the proteins of interest.
Protein bioavailability refers to the proportion of proteins in the extract that are actually assimilated by the body, which is crucial for their effectiveness. This bioavailability varies depending on the solvent used and the structure of the protein.
To guarantee this high bioavailability, our extraction process uses gentle treatment of the raw material. Thanks to maceration and a low-pressure, cold purification cycle, we preserve all the properties of the proteins present in the snail slime extract. This process ensures that the proteins remain intact and highly available for optimal treatment effectiveness.
After reading these answers, we hope that you know more about Mademoiselle Agathe's snail slime cosmetics and if you still have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us by telephone at 0243382121 or by email at following address contact@mademoiselle-agathe.com
