In case you’ve been on TikTok not too long ago and your algorithm is something like mine, likelihood is you have been served some magnificence movies about snail mucin. Whereas slimey mucus looks like the most important skincare pattern of the second, it’s possible you’ll be shocked to know that utilizing snail secretion in magnificence merchandise is not a brand new phenomenon: snail mucin has been used for many years in Okay-Magnificence for its rejuvenating properties. Nevertheless, extra merchandise than ever earlier than are being formulated with the collagen-boosting ingredient.
To get the news on all issues snails, we spoke to dermatologist, Nazanin Saedi, MD, FAA, and Santiago Larraín Allendes, the CEO of Caracol Pure Skincare, whose merchandise are made with snail secretions. Dr. Saedi notes that there is undoubtedly extra analysis to be finished, however there is no doubt that snail mucin can give you spectacular pores and skin advantages. “Snails have actually been used for hydration and healing for centuries,” she says.
Ahead, Dr. Asedi and Larraín Allendes share why you should add this slimy ingredient to your routine.
What is snail mucin?
If you’ve ever encountered a snail, chances are you know exactly what snail mucin is. “Snail mucin is the slimy substance that a snail releases to protect itself when it’s under stress,” says Dr. Saedi. As for what it looks like, Larraín Allendes says that it is a “viscous liquid useful for skin care,” including that snail mucin is wealthy in lots of key skincare components akin to allantoin, collagen, elastin, proteins, peptides, antioxidant enzymes, polyphenols, glycolic acid, nutritional vitamins, sugars, lactic acid, and extra.
Are snails harmed for snail mucin?
No, snails should not harmed or killed on this course of. Concerning the extraction course of, Larraín Allendes says, “Today’s cruelty-free methods allow the snails to move on and live happily after harvesting.” Extraction strategies will differ, however per Okay-Magnificence model COSRX ‘s analysis and improvement crew, “Snails are placed over a mesh net in a dark and quiet room. As nocturnal creatures, this provides them with a comfortable space to freely roam about. After about an hour, the snails are transferred back to their homes while the mucin is collected and processed for use.” The net collects the mucin as they roam and after the snails are safely back in their usual environment, the left behind mucin is retrieved from the net for use in products.
Larraín Allendes adds that in his own experience of collecting snail mucin, the snails actually “love the food used to prepare them for extraction–it hardens their shells and improves their healing mechanisms.”
What does snail mucin do for the skin?
Because it’s made up of so many beneficial ingredients, there’s a whole lot that snail mucin can do for skin. “Small studies have shown that it helps hydrate dry skin and strengthen the skin barrier, stimulate collagen production to improve the appearance of aging skin, and can also help with wound healing,” says Dr. Saedi.
Larraín Allendes refers to snail secretion as “skin food” since it helps rejuvenate the skin. He refers to the types of snail products on that market and their benefits, which include regeneration, hydration, TEWL (transepidermal water loss) prevention and reducing redness, stinging, dryness, and inflammation. “Snail mucin has protective properties and also contains ingredients that help repair and hydrate the skin,” he adds.
Who should be using snail mucin on their skin?
“It is suitable for all skin types,” says Larraín Allendes, “As with other natural products, very few people are allergic to it.” He recommends that people who have had negative experiences with skin care in the past or who have a history of allergies in general should patch test on their forearm first, before applying to the face. Dr. Saedi echoes that it can be a beneficial ingredient for all skin types, but adds that it can be iffy for those with sensitive skin as well, depending on the product, so always proceed with caution.
What’s the best way to use snail mucin for skin?
Dr. Saedi says to look for serums and moisturizers to “hydrate and repair your skin as you sleep.” She recommends Biopelle Tensage Intensive Serum 40, which “has growth factor benefits that helps repair, protect and hydrate the skin.” Results include an improvement in skin’s texture, fine lines, wrinkles and a reduction in signs of photo damage. She says that a great time to incorporate snail mucin into your routine is “after a cosmetic laser procedure, since it hydrates the skin and will also help boost wound healing.”
