Is Snail Mucin Good for Your Skin? Discover the Benefits

Snail mucin might sound unusual, but it’s become a standout ingredient in modern skincare, especially in Korean beauty routines. Packed with skin-loving compounds, it’s praised for its hydrating, healing, and anti-aging benefits. Curious how snail slime earned a spot in your skincare lineup? Let’s break it down.

What is Snail Mucin?  

Snail mucin is a mucus or slimy substance produced by snails. For decades, it has been a popular ingredient in South Korean skin care products (K-Beauty products) after snail handlers found it made their skin softer. 

Snails produce different types of mucus. Their feet produce a lubricating mucin that helps them stick to surfaces. Mucin trails also help snails find each other. Snail backs produce another type of protective mucin with hydrating and antimicrobial effects. It’s this mucin that is of interest to manufacturers of skincare products.

Is Snail Mucin Good For Skin?  

Yes, snail mucin is good for your skin.

Snail mucin is 99% water, which leaves your skin hydrated. 

The remaining 1% comprises several compounds like collagen, elastin, hyaluronic acid, glycoproteins, proteoglycans, glycosaminoglycans, enzymes, glycolic acid, allantoin, copper peptides, and antimicrobial peptides. 

These compounds have anti-inflammatory properties and help build the skin barrier. They also have anti-aging properties and improve skin quality. 

As a result, snail mucin products address a range of skin concerns, such as fine lines and wrinkles, uneven skin texture, acne, and sun-damaged skin.

What Are the Benefits of Snail Mucin for Skin Health?  

Here are some of the benefits of including snail mucin products in your skincare routine:

1. Hydrating and Moisturizing Properties

As mentioned above, snail mucin is 99% water and contains compounds like hyaluronic acid, a humectant (it attracts and holds water). 

Laboratory studies have shown that snail mucin reduces moisture loss from skin caused by exposure to UVB rays in sunlight. Its moisturizing properties can give your skin a more hydrated, youthful appearance. 

2. Treatment for Breakouts and Acne

Studies have shown that snail slime has antibacterial properties and can combat the bacteria in skin that cause acne. 

A study showed that using snail mucin for 12 weeks significantly reduced inflammatory acne by more than 30%.

3. Anti-Aging and Skin-Repairing Effects

Snail mucin can help reduce the visible effects of skin aging. It contains collagen and elastin, natural skin proteins that give skin a healthy, smoother, younger-looking appearance. 

Snail mucin also has antioxidants that protect against free radical damage and help to build the skin barrier. 

Consistent use of snail products can reduce fine lines and wrinkles, correct uneven skin tone, reduce hyperpigmentation (age spots or dark spots), and lift sagging skin by triggering collagen synthesis. 

Studies have shown that using snail mucin products for 14 weeks by people with moderate sun damage significantly improved the appearance of their skin. 

Another study showed that skin damage caused by laser treatment healed faster when a skincare product containing snail mucin was used. 

4. Anti-Inflammatory and Wound Healing Properties

Snail mucin has anti-inflammatory properties and is used in medicine to heal wounds, treat gastric ulcers, and control infections after surgery. 

Research suggests that snail mucin can accelerate wound healing and healing after ablative laser treatments. 

Is Snail Mucin Safe for All Skin Types?  

Snail mucin has no medically documented side effects and is generally well tolerated by people with all skin types, including dry skin, oily skin, and sensitive skin. 

However, you should talk to a board-certified dermatologist before incorporating snail mucus in your skincare routine if you have sensitive skin or allergies. 

Always do a patch test when using a product for the first time, meaning you should apply the product on a small skin area and monitor the effects before using it on your face. 

Also, choose snail mucin products that are fragrance-free and hypoallergenic if you have sensitive skin.

How Is Snail Mucin Collected?

Mucin is collected from live snails in several ways, some more ethical than others. 

Snails produce mucin when they are under stress. One way to collect mucin is to prod the snails with sticks or spray them with sodium chloride (salt) to cause stress. After collecting the mucin in a machine, the snails can recover and return to their natural habitat. 

Another process involves cracking the snails’ shells and removing their bodies. The snails are then washed in cold water, and the mucin is collected and processed to make snail secretion filtrate for use in skincare products.

How to Choose the Right Products 

Snail mucin is marketed in a range of South Korean skin care products, including moisturizers, face creams, skin repair serums, and hydrating gel masks. When choosing the right products to use, here are some important considerations:

• Harvesting Method: Choose brands that use humane methods for harvesting snail mucin. In addition to ethical considerations, studies have shown that the quality of snail mucin is higher when the snails are not harmed during the collection process.

• Leading Brands: Some of the leading international and Korean skincare brands that make high-quality snail mucin products are COSRX, Peach Slices, Beauty of Joseon, SeoulCeuticals Korean Skin Care, Elicina, Biopelle, MISSHA, Caracol, and La Pure.

• Snail Mucin Concentration: Products with high snail mucin concentrations, such as the COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence, are more likely to give you visible improvements in skin quality and health.

• Consider Skin Type: Different snail mucin product formulations for various skin types:

• Choose lightweight, non-sticky formulations like gels and water-based creams for oily skin. 

• Choose creams and power essences that keep skin hydrated if you have dry skin. 

• Choose fragrance-free, non-irritating products for sensitive skin.

• Other Ingredients: Look for products that contain beneficial ingredients like hyaluronic acid or sodium hyaluronate for hydration, glycolic acid for exfoliation and improved skin texture, and antioxidants like vitamin E, vitamin C, and niacinamide for skin protection. 

What Do the Experts Say?  

Dermatologists say snail mucin is an increasingly popular ingredient in skin care products, and rightfully so. However, some experts also warn that the ingredient’s popularity is due to effective marketing campaigns and limited research on its skin benefits.

There is no consensus on whether or not snail mucin products are beneficial to the skin and more research is needed. 

Talk to your dermatologist if you’re considering these products but are looking for more guidance.