Snail mucin has made quite the splash in the skincare world. Nowadays you see more and more products pushing snail mucin and snail secretion on their labels! But why? What does this odd sounding ingredient have to offer for your skin? Let’s find out the reasoning behind this ingredient’s boom!
What is snail mucin?
It sounds a bit gross, but trust when we say that the benefits are truly worth it! Snail mucin comes from the mollusks of snails. The mucin itself covers the outside surface of the snail and secretes through salivary epidermal glands at its foot.
Why snail mucus has caused such a craze in the beauty scene is thanks to it having adhesive, emollient, moisturizing, lubricating, protective and even reparative properties! The substance itself is a mixture of active substances like allantoin, collagen, elastin and glycerin with glycoproteins (mucin) and mucopolysaccharides.
Who should use it?
Everyone can find a reason to use this ingredient, but definitely those that have normal to dry skin will find it incredibly nourishing and hydrating. Along with those who have more mature or aging skin. It contains benefits for those concerned about aging, dehydration and wound healing.
Snail Mucin Benefits
Now, what are the benefits of snail mucin? Why use such a weird ingredient in your skincare. Let us tell you!
- Antioxidant: Helps to reduce any damage caused by free radicals
- Anti-Aging: Stimulates the formation of collagen, elastin and dermal components that repair any sign of photoaging
- Reparative: Rich with growth factors that aid in wound healing and promotes proliferation and survival of skin cells!
- Hydration: Acts as a humectant and improves the skin barrier’s functionality
- Antimicrobial: Inhibits a variety of bacteria, fungi and viruses
Tips for use
As always, you should patch test any new skincare product or ingredient to make sure it doesn’t irritate your skin! Especially when it’s an ingredient your skin has never come across before, be gentle and patient to see how your skin reacts. Another tip is to pair it up with a broad spectrum sunscreen so you can further protect your skin from photoaging!
Picky’s Picks
Stay tuned for Picky’s Top 5 Snail Mucin Products! We’ll release next week, so make sure to come back and see if your favorite made the list or discover a new product to try. Check out our Instagram and YouTube for more skincare science content.
Created with
Dr. Katrina
Dermatologist
@askyourderma
