エステ大国フランスで、ある日本の美容法が話題となっています。それは、生きたカタツムリを顔に乗せるというもの。東京・ 恵比寿の「シーズ・ラボ」で受けられる「セレブエスカルゴコース」（60分/24,150円）という特別コースです。見た目にも衝撃的なこのコースには、さまざまな美容法を取り入れているフランス人でさえ、度肝を抜かれたようです。
カタツムリを顔に這わせることで、その粘液が顔に浸透し、保湿効果、古い角質を取る効果、日焼けなどで炎症が起こった肌を鎮静化する効果が望めるそうです。最も過ごしやすい室温20℃に保たれたカゴで飼われ、えさは無農薬の野菜を茹でたもののみを食べているという、セレブカタツムリが使われます。
フランスでは、化粧品はどちらかというと皮膚を保護し、回復させる医療のような捉え方をされることも多く、カタツムリの成分を使った化粧品なども開発されてきました。しかし、生きたカタツムリを顔に乗せることで美しくなるという発想はなかったようです。
また、フランス人はカタツムリをよく蒸し焼きにして食べます。 そのため、普段は食材としているカタツムリを顔に乗せるのに、抵抗がある人もいるようです。
このニュースを伝える記事には、次のようなコメントが寄せられています。
「確かに、100％自然な美容法ね。効果があれば、ボトックスに比べてリスクも少ないし」
「果たして、効果があるの？ クリームの方が良いんじゃないの？」
「角質を食べるドクターフィッシュでさえ気持ち悪いのにエスカルゴだなんて！」
「185€（約2.4万円）も払って、カタツムリを顔に乗せるなんてね！」
カタツムリの粘液をつかった美容クリームや美容商品については、フランスでも関心が集まっているようです。日本や韓国でのブームをきっかけに、ヨーロッパにもその波が押し寄せるのかもしれません。「カタツムリエステ」が普及することは難しいかもしれませんが・・・。
歯の矯正を拒否するセレブたち
Anna Paquin(01 of10)
Open Image ModalIt\'s apt that the actress has found fame on the show \"True Blood\" -- a drama that, when you think about it, is really a lot about teeth. Because what we love about Paquin is her refusal to have that gap in her wide, warm smile closed up.\r\n\r\nWe agree with Winona Dimeo-Ediger over at The Frisky who wrote: \"She is a conventionally beautiful woman, yes, but that little \'imperfection\' sets her apart from the sea of similar faces gracing magazine covers today.\" (credit:Getty)
Madonna(02 of10)
Open Image ModalOne name, one awesome smile. The material girl has long had a little gap in between her two front teeth and has refused to go over board with the bleach. (credit:Getty)
Kirsten Dunst(03 of10)
Open Image ModalDunst has steadfastly refused to change her smile, telling Elle UK: \"I love my snaggle fangs. They give me character and character is sexy.\"\r\n\r\n (credit:Getty)
Woody Harrelson(04 of10)
Open Image ModalMen are hardly immune from hollywood pressure, but this actor has nonetheless kept his slight gap. (credit:Getty)
Jewel(05 of10)
Open Image ModalThe singer-slash-actress (slash-poet) once told Shape that she got her big break, acting-wise, precisely because she had not altered her smile.\r\n\r\nVia People: \"I asked [the director of \"Ride With the Devil\"], \'Why me? You could\'ve had anyone you wanted. And he said, \'You have period teeth,\'\" she said. \"So I got the job because I was the only actress in Hollywood who hadn\'t gotten her teeth fixed!\" (credit:Getty)
Lara Stone(06 of10)
Open Image ModalThe gap in model Lara Stone\'s teeth practically made her famous. According to The Daily Mail: That imperfect grin \"sparked a shift\" in the quest for \"pearly whites.\"\r\n\r\n (credit:Getty)
Vanessa Paradis(07 of10)
Open Image ModalThe French celeb is another member of the gap-toothed gang -- a feature that\'s often called out in magazines speaking about her willowy, unique beauty. (credit:Getty)
Seal(08 of10)
Open Image ModalThe crooner is another member of the gap-tooth gang, keeping the small space in his startling smile. (credit:Getty)
Lauren Hutton(09 of10)
Open Image ModalHutton has had an exceptionally long modeling career, and we wonder if her distinctive teeth haven\'t had something to do with it. Indeed, she\'s maybe the original gap-toothed model. (credit:Getty)
Steve Buscemi(10 of10)
Open Image ModalBuscemi\'s distinctive teeth may not be everyone\'s cup of tea, but you\'ve got to give him serious credit for not caving on them. And the actor even counts them as an asset, career-wise.\r\n\r\nAccording to The Hollywood Reporter Buscemi has said: \"I\'ve had dentists who have wanted to help me out, but I say, \'You know, I won\'t work again if you fix my teeth.\'\" (credit:Getty)