Everyone wants clear and healthy skin — even if that means slathering snail slime all over it. Yes, the latest in out-there skin-care ingredients is the mucus that’s left behind when the slow little creature crawls by. Diva Talk research team get you all you need to know about Snail Mucin. Here, learn more about what snail mucin is, how it’s used, and how you can introduce it to your client’s skin-care routine.
Snail mucin, or snail slime, is a highly glycosylated protein secreted by snails that is sometimes featured as an ingredient in skin care products. Growing in popularity more recently, the search term “snail mucin” has amassed more than one billion views on Social Media, with influencers covering its uses, application methods and more.
While there isn’t a large body of research investigating the benefits of snail mucin, it does contain several substances that could be beneficial to the skin. Snail mucin refers to the trail of mucus left behind when snails move across the ground. It contains a complex mix of proteins and organic chemicals that may have anti-aging, hydrating, and anti-inflammatory benefits when applied to your skin. Snail mucin was first used in ancient Greece and widely popularized more recently in the South Korean beauty industry.
What Is Snail Mucin?
Snail mucin is the mucus that snails secrete. You may also see it referred to as “snail secretion filtrate” (SSF) on the ingredient list of skin-care products. Snails can produce different types of mucin for different purposes. For example, the mucin from a snail’s foot helps the snail lubricate its path and stick to surfaces. It’s what allows the snail to travel upside down. The mucus from a snail’s back is hydrating and antimicrobial — both properties of interest to the skin care industry. Chemically speaking, snail mucin is a complex mix of proteins, enzymes, hyaluronic acid, copper peptides, antimicrobial peptides, iron, zinc, and proteoglycans. Some of those, such as hyaluronic acid, may sound familiar if you’re well versed in skin care. Snail slime is generally collected by keeping snails in a dark room and having them slide along a surface that can collect their slime, such as glass or mesh.
The mucin creates a protective barrier that keeps germs out to prevent infection. Snail mucins are also used in medicine. Since they help with wound healing, they’re used to treat gastric ulcers and infections after surgery.
Utilized for inflammation and anti-aging, snail mucin has been used in skincare as far back as Ancient Greece. Ancient Greeks used it to treat dry skin, fight inflammation, and prevent the signs of premature skin aging. Over the years, it’s also been used in alternative medicine and products like surgical glue. Now, it’s a common ingredient in skincare products like creams, serums, and masks. More recently, snail mucin has picked up steam in the U.S. Today, The snail mucin skin-care market is expected to grow to $770 million by 2025.
On a chemical level, snail mucin contains several compounds that could offer potential skin care benefits, such as:
Collagen and elastin: Natural proteins that form the connective tissues in the body. Collagen promotes skin strength, while elastin provides skin elasticity.
Glycolic acid: An exfoliant often used to remove layers of dead skin and curb hyperpigmentation.
Allantoin: An organic compound that moisturizes the skin, which may have anti-inflammatory effects and promote wound healing.
Potential Benefits of Snail Mucin
Research on snail mucin is still new, but some evidence suggests it could promote some of the following skin care benefits.
Moisturizes Skin
Products containing snail mucin may be a good choice for people with dry skin. Snail mucin contains substances that trigger the production of hyaluronic acid, a natural substance that retains moisture, and is found in the eyes, skin and joints. This increased hyaluronic acid could reduce dryness and help the skin stay hydrated. These hydrating characteristics that serve to strengthen the skin barrier and keep moisture in. This is due to the hyaluronic acid, which immediately hydrates the skin. While research on snail mucin is scarce, the hydrating benefits of hyaluronic acid are well documented. Hyaluronic acid serum increased skin hydration by 134 percent immediately after application and improved plumpness, smoothness, fine lines, and wrinkles.
Hydration
Snail mucin contains hyaluronic acid, which has potent hydrating effects. Hyaluronic acid hydrates your skin from the inside out by encouraging water retention and preventing trans-epidermal water loss. This can help your skin appear plumper, firmer, and younger, especially if you tend to have dry skin. When used in skincare products, snail mucin may also help to protect the skin barrier, which shields the skin from the drying and damaging effects of external toxins.
Fights Premature Skin Aging
Snail mucin promotes collagen and helps offset some of the signs of skin aging, which may be good news for skin health and for anyone seeking a more youthful look. Due to the presence of glycolic acid–a naturally occurring alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) that is frequently used in skincare products–and copper peptides, snail mucin may have anti-aging effects. This could be because glycolic acid stimulates collagen production and cell turnover and proliferation (the production of new skin cells). Snail mucin is also known to have antioxidant effects, which can prevent cell damage from oxidative stress and free radicals. Previous research found using a serum with 40 percent snail mucin for 12 weeks minimized the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Yet the study was very limited — it was small and involved only 25 women — and more research is needed.
The mechanism here may be the glycolic acid found in snail mucin. The glycolic acid stimulates collagen formation, which not only reduces fine lines and wrinkles but also gives your skin a beautiful, young shine.
A 2020 study found that the daily application of products containing snail mucin was effective in treating the visible signs of skin aging in a group of women ages 45 to 65. Snail mucin was found to significantly reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, in addition to improving skin elasticity, brightness, texture, hydration, barrier function, and firmness.
Helps Wounds Heal
Snail mucin may also be used as a wound-healing agent in skin care. One 2016 in vitro study found that snail mucin had antibacterial effects on bacteria isolated from wounds. The study involved African snails, which secrete a substance called Achacin that kills bacteria by generating hydrogen peroxide. The allantoin in snail mucin may prove useful for minor cuts, acne and scarring. The anti-inflammatory properties of snail mucin have also been used to treat burns and radiation dermatitis. The mechanism of action is thought to involve the antioxidant properties of snail mucin and the resulting control of the free radicals that contribute to inflammation and skin injury. Snail mucin may come in handy if you’re dealing with a scrape or cut. Snail mucin is also known for its healing benefits as it’s been shown to enhance wound healing, and it can improve the appearance of scarring. It may also help with acne due to its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Exfoliates Skin
The glycolic acid in snail mucin can act as a gentle exfoliant, revealing brighter and smoother skin. Additionally, glycolic acid can break down keratin (a protein that helps form the hair, skin and nails), which helps eliminate rough or dry patches of skin. It’s also used as an exfoliant in skin care products targeted to address acne and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
Snail mucin is a new ingredient and still niche, so it hasn’t been studied widely when compared with many other popular skin-care ingredients. But it may offer a few distinct benefits to the skin. It’s packed with good stuff that the skin will love.
Protects Against Skin Cancer
Early research suggests that snail mucin may even be used to curb melanoma, the most fatal type of skin cancer. Studies indicate that snail mucin may kill off skin cancer cells and prevent them from metastasizing (spreading). There’s some evidence that it could also prevent certain malignant tumours from growing, possibly due to its antioxidant properties, though more rigorous research is needed.
Forms of Snail Mucin
As snail mucin has become popular, it’s been added to all sorts of formulas. Snail mucin often makes an appearance in multi-step K-beauty skincare routines, but you don’t have to be a skincare expert to make it work. You can easily incorporate snail mucin into your daily skincare regimen if you’d like to reap its purported benefits. Here are the most common:
Snail Mucin Serum
For the biggest dose of snail mucin, go for a serum. If you want to utilize snail mucin as a multi-purpose anti-ager, search for it in a serum, since it will have a larger concentration of the component.
Snail Mucin Essence
An essence is a thin, water-based product. It’s a great starting point if you’re new to skin care or want to dip your toe into the snail mucin trend.
Snail Mucin Cream
You’ll also find the ingredient added to moisturizers or creams. If wrinkles are a concern, the thicker the cream, the better. A thick cream will ensure the skin is reaping the benefits of snail mucin while nourishing the skin at the same time with added lipid input.
Potential Side Effects of Snail Mucin
Snail mucin has been demonstrated to be very safe, with clinical trials reporting no adverse events associated with its use. However, some people may experience allergic reactions to snail mucin or other ingredients in the skin care product. So, as with any new skin care product, it’s a good idea to do a patch test on a small section of skin, such as the inside of the arm, to ensure that it doesn’t lead to irritation. Snail mucin is well tolerated and there are no negative side effects to note. One of the reasons that snail mucin is so popular is that it doesn’t have many clinically documented side effects or risks. Most people who use snail mucin appear to tolerate it well. Still, research into skincare products that contain snail mucin is still limited, so it’s possible that some people could experience side effects.
However, you should avoid snail mucin if you are allergic to snails, shellfish, and/or mollusks. Snail and shellfish allergies are relatively common and can be dangerous. It’s important to keep this in mind before using snail mucin. Use only a small amount at first to test your reaction.
Signs of an allergic reaction could include: Itching, Skin rash, Redness and irritation, Watery or irritated eyes, Stuffy nose and/or hives.
Does Snail Mucin React With Other Ingredients?
Since snail mucin hasn’t been mainstream for long, there isn’t much research on it yet. So it’s too soon to say definitively if snail mucin reacts with other ingredients, but there’s no current research to suggest it does. One thing to note is that snail mucin is not vegan friendly — it comes from a snail after all.
Safe to Use During Pregnancy?
Yes, snail mucin is safe to use during pregnancy, You can incorporate snail mucin products into your beauty routine. Again, since it is a new ingredient with very little research done, it’s a good idea to consult your doctors before starting to use a new product while pregnant or nursing. Your dermatologist or your ob-gyn may have a different take.
Can I Use Snail Mucin if I’m Managing a Skin Condition?
Although research on using snail mucin to help ease symptoms of skin conditions is lacking, anecdotally speaking, the ingredient may help and poses a low risk for harm, some dermatologists suggest. A product containing snail mucin would be great for anyone suffering from skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and rosacea. The ingredient is known for its healing benefits and has no irritating components, it would be a great addition for anybody suffering with these skin conditions. The anti-inflammatory properties could minimize redness, hyperpigmentation, and eczema as well.
Snail Mucin Alternatives
Cica (Centella asiatica) is a similar ingredient that is you may find in other skin-care products. This active ingredient contains terpenoids, which have been studied to enhance wound healing when applied topically just like snail mucin. Cica can also speed up cell production and collagen production just like snail mucin is said to. Unlike snail mucin, Cica contains plenty of antioxidants, which fight free radicals to protect the skin. All in all, there has been more research done on Cica compared with snail mucin, it would be a great alternative if you weren’t sure about adding snail mucin to your routine.
How to Add Snail Mucin to Your Skin-Care Routine
Snail mucin is easy and, at least based on existing research, appears to be safe for everyone to use. We recommend starting slow, say by using the product just once every couple of days, to allow your skin to adjust and avoid any negative reactions.
Where Snail Mucin Should Fall in the Routine
Because snail mucin offers moisturizing benefits, it’s great to use at night, That way, the skin has the entire night to soak it in. When to incorporate it in your routine depends on the product you’re using. Serums should be used before creams, essences should be used next, and creams should be the last step.
How Often Should one Use Snail Mucin?
There’s no guide to how often you should use snail mucin, and there’s no need to worry about going overboard. However, depending on the skin type, you may need to adjust the frequency with which you use them. For example, those with dry skin may need to use snail mucin products more often than those with oily skin.
Is Snail Mucin Suitable for Use in the Morning and Night?
Experts say, it’s perfectly fine to use snail mucin once or twice a day (morning and night).
What to Look for in the Skin-Care Product
Here are a few tips to keep in mind when shopping for a skin mucin product:
- Consider the other ingredients in the product. While snail mucin is great on its own, it’s especially good to layer or mix with other actives. We recommend looking for a snail mucin product that also has retinol for anti-aging or alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) or beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) to help clear breakouts and reduce scaring.
- Check the concentration. If you’re looking for a product with a high percentage of snail mucin, check to see the ingredient label. The higher the percentage, the sooner the ingredient will appear in the label.
- Layer with vitamin C. We recommend adding a vitamin C serum to your routine to brighten the skin and address pigmentation. You won’t find a product with both [vitamin C and snail mucin] as vitamin C is notoriously hard to formulate, but you can layer the two on top of each other. We would first put on the snail mucin serum, wait for it to fully soak in, then add the vitamin C serum on top.
Dermatologist-Recommended Products Containing Snail Mucin
If you’re interested in trying out a snail mucin product, here are three internationally recommended options:
COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence
COSRX has an entire line of snail mucin products, and the essence stands out to experts. This is a light yet hydrating Korean beauty staple, Formulated with 96 percent snail secretion filtrate (SSF), this essence helps to brighten skin tone and smooth the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence, Cosrx.com
Mizon Snail Recovery Gel Cream
Experts recommend this product, which is safe for sensitive skin and is free of fragrance, artificial coloring, and parabens. You’ll also spot the snail secretion filtrate (SSF) at the top of the ingredient list, meaning a significant percentage of the product comes from snail slime.
Mizon Snail Recovery Gel Cream, Walmart.com
SeoulCeuticals Multi-Function All-in-One Anti-Aging Snail Repair Cream
This Korean skin-care brand is a great place to start if you’re ready to jump on the K-beauty bandwagon and comes recommended by many experts. Their repair cream is packed with a concentration of 97.5 percent snail mucin.
A Quick Review
Snail mucin may seem like an unconventional skincare ingredient, but many people swear by its anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, hydrating, and wound healing properties. There’s even some early evidence to suggest that it could fight certain types of skin cancer. While more research is needed to confirm the full extent of the benefits of snail mucin, there is no doubt that it is a powerful skin-care ingredient.
So far there aren’t any side effects to note — just plenty of potential upsides, including hydrated, younger-looking skin. It may even help you manage skin conditions and is believed to be safe to use during pregnancy. That said, it’s always a good idea to consult your doctor if you have an underlying condition or are pregnant.
If you’d like to give snail mucin a try, consider doing a “patch test” of your chosen skincare product on a small area of your skin first. As always, reach out to a dermatologist if you’d like help in building a skincare routine that fits your particular needs and concerns. DT
