A Complete Guide to Snail Mucin – Everything You Need to Know

So, you’re thinking about using snail mucin but barely know what it is and don’t know where to begin. Plus, you’re not even sure if it’s going to give you all the amazing benefits the internet alleges it does. You’re in the right place.

Here’s a complete guide on snail mucin, including benefits and what the science says. Plus, learn about risks, what skin type should be using it, and how to pick the right product.

What is Snail Mucin

Snail mucin is exactly what you think it is. It is the secretion that a snail produces when they move across the ground. Yep, someone decided to bottle that up, put it in skin care, and sell it.

However, did you know that even though snail mucin has become very popular in recent years, it is not a new product? It has been used for thousands of years historically and has been a part of skin care in Asia for decades. Right now, the mucin industry is a billion-dollar industry. It’s time to find out if research supports the use of this product or if it’s all hype with no foundation.

Potential Benefits

People claim that using this mucin is the key to glowing, plump skin. They state that snail mucin will help lock and moisture, and even get rid of your pores. If you want healthy, glowy, radiant skin, then look no further than snail mucin.

Science Behind it 

Good news, there is research that supports some benefits of using snail mucin. It is rich and humectants such as hyaluronic acid. Humectants are ingredients that draw moisture in and help to hydrate the skin. In this hydrated environment, skin health tends to thrive.

Aside from that, other studies found that using snail mucin helps to promote healing particularly in wounds. This study found that individuals who used this ingredient found an increase in skin health. An important thing to note is that there’s no conflict of interest in the study, meaning the snail mucin industry did not fund the study, nor did anyone benefit from publishing these results. This makes a study much more believable and less biased.

Snail mucin is also very high in collagen. While collagen will not increase collagen production in the skin, it will help increase hydration. Check out this guide here for everything you need to know about collagen and skincare by the way.

Using this mucin as part of your skincare routine will help calm the skin and soothe inflammation. This is because of the zinc in this ingredient. Plus, snail mucin tends to be high in copper peptides, which have a good effect on decreasing fine lines and wrinkles. Copper peptides have also been found to increase collagen and elasticity in the skin. However, no research has directly studied how copper peptides work in snail mucin.

Is Snail Mucin Right for You?

It’s important to think about what types of skin can benefit from such a product. How your skin reacts to this mucin is also determined by what kind of product it has been mixed into. Moisturizers and serums that contain this skincare ingredient may be good for dryer skin. Individuals who have oil-prone skin may want to look for lotions or toners with this skincare ingredient.

Any skin type can use this. All you have to do is find this ingredient in a product that works for you. Some products tend to be more tacky while others are more liquid. People with rosacea, redness of the skin, sensitivity, or other skin conditions May benefit from the soothing and healing properties of this ingredient.

Risks

There are some potential downsides to using this ingredient. When speaking specifically of snail mucin, it’s important to know that historically, this mucin was harvested from snails that were used for consumption. In later years, companies would kill snails to get the secretion. 

Nowadays, many brands such as Cosrx claim to collect the mucin using ethical means. They allege they leave the snails in a calm room, allowed to roam freely and happily. Nails produce mucin when they are stressed, surprised, or extremely happy, so it’s up to the consumer to look for products that have ethical claims behind them.

There’s a potential for an allergic reaction to snail mucin if you have a mite allergy. This is just due to some crossover with the DNA of snails. 

Plus, a lot of products claim to have this mucin but don’t disclose the percentage. It may be impossible to know exactly how much of this skincare ingredient is in your product. If your product is labeled as snail mucin filtrate, it makes knowing your percentage even more challenging. Filtrate is an ingredient derived from snail mucin but a product with 96% snail mucin filtrate may have less mucin than a product with 60% snail mucin filtrate. It just depends on the method of extraction.

Opinion Time

Personally, ingredients from Cosrx which are cruelty-free and relatively inexpensive are my go-to. The texture of products with snail mucin is hydrating, soothing, and easily helps my dehydrated skin. Many essences with this mucin are lightweight and absorb easily. It’s a staple in my skincare routine but it can easily be replaced with something that has hyaluronic acid or plant-based peptides.

It’s always important for you to patch-test any new skincare ingredient that you are using. Apply a bit to the neck, arm, or legs, and wait 48 hours. This will let you know if you have an adverse reaction to the product. Furthermore, only test out one new skin care product at a time. If you try out too many at once and have a negative reaction, you will not know which product caused said reaction.

The Takeaway

Snail mucin seems to be a good ingredient if you can find it from a good source and overlook the sticky texture. It has many potential benefits such as reducing inflammation, soothing the skin, increasing collagen production, and more. There should be more research to Target exactly how much snail mucin is needed to obtain these benefits however. Many claims for snail mucin continue to be by word of mouth. Having a scientific study that can help prove the benefits and let people know what percentage of snail mucin they need is necessary.

Remember, health always comes from within. Start by eating nutritious food, moving your body, exercising when you can, and caring for your mental health. These small daily changes and habits that you start to cultivate become the foundation for a life full of wellness. Don’t forget about the health of your microbiome, too! Gut microbiota affects everything in your body, from the skin to muscles to the immune system and mental health. Get all the resources you need about microbiota health for free here!