Snail Mucin: The Moisturizer's Skin-Care Benefits and Risks
Written by MasterClass
Last updated: Jan 20, 2023 • 3 min read
Before snail mucin became a K-beauty trend, it was an inflammation remedy in ancient Greece. Discover the surprisingly skin-friendly ingredients in snail mucin, its controversial harvesting method, and how to incorporate it into your skin-care routine.
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What Is Snail Mucin?
Snail mucin, also known as snail mucus or snail slime, is a natural excretion snails produce to protect themselves against stressors. Proponents of snail mucin claim snail secretion filtrate offers antiaging and antioxidant benefits and have used it as a topical skin-care ingredient in Korean beauty products.
A Brief History of Slugging
The history of slugging (using snail and slug slime as a beauty product) dates back to the Greek physician Hippocrates (c. 460 BCE to c. 375 BCE), who prescribed crushed snails for inflammation. In the 1980s, breeders in Chile who raised snails for the French dish escargot noticed handling the snails made their skin softer. The Chilean company Elicina then produced the first packaged snail cream.
Eventually, snail mucin became a staple ingredient in Korean skin-care products. It is now a global skin-care trend.
How Is Snail Mucin Harvested?
The snail mucin in beauty products does not come from the slime snails use to slide effortlessly across the ground but from a specific type of mucus the snails produce when they feel stressed.
Commercial producers of snail mucin extract the mucus through the controversial method of stressing the snails, either by prodding them with something sharp or feeding them salt water. The producers collect the slime and put it through a filtrating and purification process, making it suitable for skin-care products.
4 Snail Mucin Benefits
Snail mucin contains essential chemicals and proteins that help snails recover from shell damage and, similarly, can help your skin regain its youthful glow. The purported benefits of snail mucin include:
- 1. Antiaging properties: Snail mucin contains glycolic acid, a chemical exfoliant that speeds skin-cell turnover and promotes collagen production, reducing the appearance of fine lines.
- 2. Even skin tone: The copper peptides in snail mucin can help treat hyperpigmentation (dark spots), acne scars, and redness caused by inflammation. Copper peptides also help normalize bacteria levels, which helps limit breakouts in acne-prone skin.
- 3. Moisturization: The hydrating effects of snail mucin come from allantoin and hyaluronic acid, two moisturizers that soothe dry skin and help repair the skin barrier.
- 4. Wound healing: Snail mucin contains antimicrobial peptides that kill germs and microbes, speeding up the healing of wounds.
Side Effects of Snail Mucin
Though many dermatologists agree snail mucin is a safe, gentle, and effective ingredient most skin types tolerate well, the lack of research on the ingredient means no one is sure about possible side effects.
If you have sensitive skin, do a patch test first on a small area of your forearm before applying snail mucin–based products to your face. Consult your dermatology specialist if you have preexisting skin conditions or are unsure about snail mucin.
How to Use Snail Mucin
You can find snail mucin products in many forms, including moisturizers, eye creams, serums, and sheet masks. Look for formulas with additional skin-benefiting ingredients, such as retinol or vitamin C.
You can use mucin once or twice a day, in the morning or evening. Snail mucin works well when you apply it to clean skin, layer it with other skincare products, or use it as a final moisturizer.
Before Starting a New Skin-Care Regimen
Individuals experience different levels of sensitivity to ingredients in various skin-care products. To prevent adverse reactions, consult a board-certified dermatologist before applying a new product to your skin. This article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.
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