They say the best skincare ingredients grow in your garden. But who knew those little critters crawling around your plants also fit the bill? We don’t recommend trying to extract potions from every crawlie out there, but the effects of snail mucin have been proven. Snail mucin has been a K-beauty skincare staple for quite some time now, and has slowly crept into our favourite skincare products.
But what is snail mucin? Simply put, it’s their slimy trail. Historically, Chilean snail farmers found their hands to be extremely soft and supple after handling them. Snails were also made to crawl on people for the slime’s anti-ageing benefits. While it may sound disgusting, maybe it is this ick factor that makes it stick with us, literally.
What Are The Benefits Of Snail Mucin?
Snail mucin is packed with some really popular skincare ingredients. The presence of hyaluronic acid in it, for one, helps to lock in moisture and facilitate barrier repair. It holds regenerative properties, having glycolic acid, that stimulates collagen production for a youthful look. Allantoin helps lock out irritants while helping shed dead skin cells. Anti-inflammatory zinc, healing manganese, antimicrobial peptides- and the list keeps going.
No wonder K-beauty lovers and skinfluencers have their hands full of slime.
Who Can Use Snail Mucin?
Although vegans might want to sit this one out, snail mucin is pretty well tolerated.
Unlike slugging with petroleum jelly (another K-beauty trend) that isn’t recommended for acne-prone skin, all skin types can benefit from including snail mucin in their routine. It is helpful in every stage of acne development–from prevention to treatment to fading. Being a gentle active with hydrating properties, it is especially suitable for dry skin types.
How To Use Snail Mucin?
You can find snail mucin, listed as snail secretion filtrate or SSF on the labels of moisturisers, serums, and under-eye masks. While you should use these as directed on the packages, it is best to include snail mucin in the PM skincare routine to help the skin repair and restore. Moreover, using it on damp skin ensures better penetration and less water loss.
While PETA disapproves of keeping the creatures in captivity, the extraction of the mucin depends on the breeders. A popular K-beauty brand, COSRX, that uses snail mucin in its products, claims to be 100% cruelty-free as they use ethical means of extraction. Other brands like Beauty of Joseon and Earth Rhythm also hold true to this claim.
Here are a few skincare products that indulge in the ingredient-
COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence
View this post on Instagram
COSRX, as a brand, is this ingredient’s specialist and this essence has taken skinfluencers by storm. It comprises 96% skin-friendly SSF that effectively repairs damaged skin while also working towards increasing the skin’s hydration levels.
Beauty of Joseon Revive Serum: Ginseng + Snail Mucin
View this post on Instagram
This revitalising serum by Beauty of Joseon gets rid of that lacklustre, dull look by bringing your skin back to life. With our star ingredient, it also has other calming and brightening ingredients like niacinamide and ginseng root water.
TONYMOLY Timeless Ferment Snail Eye Mask with Snail Mucus and Aloe Vera Extracts
Under-eye masks are our favourite indulgence and this one is especially unique. It is designed to rehydrate, soften, repair and brighten delicate skin. With an intense essence extracted from snail mucin, it also has gold tea ferment and aloe vera extract.
CGG Cosmetics 70% Snail Mucin Essence- 0.7 % Cellulose, Oil Free- All Skin Types
View this post on Instagram
This Clean Green Gorgeous essence helps improve skin elasticity and maintain hydration levels. It is an oil-free formula that is perfect for normal to sensitive skin types.
Earth Rhythm Renew Overnight Get With Snail Mucin 50ml
View this post on Instagram
This healing and soothing gel masque contains aloe vera gel, hyaluronic acid, and of course snail mucin. It provides a real quick solution to reduce breakouts and repairs damaged skin.
