We have been providing skin care products made with an all natural ingredient that is biologically produced by the innate immune system of a little creature with skin very similar to human skin, improving the way our customers feel about their skin and themselves, through this and other websites since 1998.

It has been a journey of discovery, experiments searching for synergistic combinations with pure botanicals that enhance the beneficial properties of our products, a search for safe natural preservatives, plus many trials and errors.

All those allowed us to improve our products and be able to offer one of the safest and best performing natural skin care and intense skin treatment line of products in todays market.

Discovered by Chance & Keen Observation
The accidental discovery of the key natural ingredient in our products dates back to 1980, at a farm in Chile that breeded garden snails, of the species Helix Aspersa Müller, for gourmet food in high demand in European countries.

It became apparent to the owners of this farm, the Bascuňan family, that snail manipulation healed cuts and abrasions, took away old scars and gave rise to very soft, smooth hands. Cage carriers noticed that their minor cuts healed rapidly without infection or scarring.

First Patent of Invention
In 1992 a patent of invention was awarded to the Bascuñan family to protect their exclusive right to use a process for the extraction of large quantities of the snails secretions. The process consisted in immersing the snails in warm water, for in it the snails secreted large quantities of their precious glycoprotein, and then filtering the liquid mixture to leave off bacteria and small particles, other substances, and even the feces of snails.

The patent expired after 15 years, in 2007.

Second Patent of Invention
In 1996 another patent was awarded for a process that spins a bunch of snails and the centrifuging action expells the secretions which are further filtered from particles and bacteria, very much in the same way as the patent of Mr. Bascuñan.

Although this time the inventor was a Doctor in medicine specializing in oncology. He discovered healing properties in the snail secretion by testing it in patients after observing that when snails were close to his radiotherapy equipment that emited gamma radiation to treat cancer the creatures copiously secreted a liquid that protected them from the oxidating effects of the radiation.

Third Patent of Invention
United States Patent 6,982,247 - January 2, 2006 - Antimicrobial protein isolated from substance secreted by snails. The invention protected by this patent relates to compounds having antibiotic activity which are obtained from body fluids of land snails, to therapeutic drugs comprising these compounds, and to the use thereof for the preparation of a therapeutic drug for controlling infectious pathogens in humans and animals. The patent specifies that an (antimicrobial) protein isolated and identified from the yellowish mucus of the foot soles of an African snail can be employed against a broad range of infectious pathogens.

A superior techonolgy for the collection of the snail's "serum", and is NOT patented
In 2006, in collaboration with a chemist and pharmacist, we began to collect undiluted snail secretions, and we created a more natural line of skin care products with higher concentrations of the snail secretions.

We achieved superior products by collecting secretions directly from each snail, one by one, and immediately stabilizing them and embedding them in liposomes to prevent the antioxidants and the enzymes in the complex biological ingredient from degrading.

Our unique process for the collection of the snail's gift does not alter the biological composition of the secretions and is also in no way harmful to the snails.

In other extraction processes, the substance undergoes degradation by hydrolysis of the proteins (complex amino-acid and carbohydrate chains break in water) and its properties are damaged again when mixed with other substances to make it into a cream.

To transform the viscous fluid of the snail serum into a cream, we use all-natural ingredients, not chemicals or mineral oil. We invested in biotechnology to ensure that the precious substance we gather from the snails does not become degraded and we created a formulation that ensures proper release of the biological ingredient deep within the skin.

The discoverer of a natural healing substance cannot patent the phenomenon

It is worth noting that the biological ingredient in BIOCUTIS skin care and skin treatment products, is the WHOLE secretion of the snail Helix Aspersa Müller, as it is collected directly from them, not a molecule isolated from the substance or a part of it.

The secretion, as it is, has biological functions that protect and beneficially affect skin. And those can not be patented. For the discoverer of a naturally occurring phenomenon —such as an element, chemical, or mineral— cannot patent the phenomenon.

Why snail "serum"?

Helix Aspersa Müller, also classified by zoologists as Cryptomphalus Aspersa and known as the common garden snail, has an original innate immune defense mechanism in the form of a glycoproteic secretion which helps the animal rapidly repair any damage to its skin. The snail secretes this fluid under stress.

In popular medicine throughout centuries, the snail´s miraculous secretions have been well-known as a scar remedy. Scientific validation was undertaken only in recent decades by Dr. Rafael Abad Iglesias, chief oncologist for more than twenty years and his staff at the Hospital Ramón and Cajal de Madrid in Madrid, Spain. They demonstrated the regenerative properties of the secretions of the snail on burns produced by radiation.

Their findings have been validated by independednt and peer reviewed Dermatology reports. The most recent is the paper about its skin regeneration properties entitled: Molecular Basis for the Regenerative Properties of a Secretion of the Mollusk Cryptomphalus Aspersa. Journal of Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, published in January 2008; 21:15-22.

In clinical trials the snail secretions have also been proven to be very effective against cutaneous photoaging. Skin aging is influenced by several factors, including genetics, environmental exposure (ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, xenobiotics, mechanical stress), hormonal changes, and metabolic processes (generation of reactive chemical compounds such as activated oxygen species, sugars, and aldehydes). These factors lead to cumulative alterations of skin structure, function, and appearance.

The following biological activities of the snail serum help reverse the effects of photoaging.

- Replaces denatured collagen and produces inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP), which facilitates the regulation between the synthesis and degradation of the components of the dermis.

- Improves the structure of the cell cytoskeleton, which induces proliferation and activation of fibroblasts with FGF-beta activity. As a result, snail serum increases the production of hyaluronic acid and collagen and elastin fibers. It also increases the deposit of fibronectin in the extracellular matrix, which helps support the skin.

- Decreases the thickness of the epidermis and signs of dermal elastosis, and significantly increases the rate of epidermal proliferation and the percentage of area occupied by vessels. These actions were confirmed by histologic and immunohistochemical analysis by research scientists in Spain.

- Exerts an important antioxidant activity by isolating and inhibiting the production of the stable cation ABTS and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione-S-transferase (GSH-T) activities.

Skin Care Re-Invented
We believe we have reinvented skin care by combining nature's wisdom with a liposome biotechnology that stabilizes and protects the natural ingredient from degrading while securing its bioavailability and proper release deep within the skin . The result is products that not only mimics nature's genius to repair damaged skin, but also ensure healthy skin renewal and moisturizing and nourishment of dry, dehydrated, tired skin!

Disclaimer: The information provided here to the general public is written by our editorial team directed by Humberto del Pozo, our CEO non-medical professional. The information is based on the on-going research by our biochemist advisor Mario Reyes, Member of the New York Academy of Sciences, and Avance Biotechnologies, Chile Ltda; it is also current with information published in scientific journals.

The information offered is intended to support the use of our own products for beauty and healthy skin, not to replace your relationship with a physician. Please consult a physician if you have a medical condition.

Privacy: The information you provide when you order or subscribe to our newsletter will remain private and we will never share it with anyone.

Advertising: Our website does not currently accept or host any advertisement from third parties and is funded by Andes Natural Skin Care, LLC. © 2000-2009.

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