What Does Snail Mucin Do For Your Skin?

Snail mucin is the latest wild skincare ingredient to take the Korean beauty market by storm. Touted as a naturally occurring substance that has amazing effects on the skin, snail mucin has gained a significant spotlight on TikTok as well as with beauty influencers across the world. 

We get it - to the uninitiated, snail slime sounds pretty gross. However, we also know that once you learn of the incredible benefits, you’ll be be all for it. 

What is snail mucin?

Snail mucin is an ingredient that originates from the mucous substance that is excreted by snails. While it may sound strange to have found that snail slime is good for your skin,  rigorous testing in the skincare industry has indicated that it has significant benefits for keeping the skin hydrated. 

The science behind snail mucin 

• Glycolic acid – A useful exfoliating substance that can remove layers of dead skin and prevent dark spots from forming on the skin.
• Collagen – Well-known for being one of the critical building blocks for the skin, promoting strength and elasticity. 
• Allantoin – A moisturising substance that can help to soothe inflamed skin and promote healing for cuts and burns. 

What does snail mucin do for skin?

    1. Moisturises skin

Apart from the allantoin inherent in it, snail mucin also contains substances that trigger the production of hyaluronic acid, the body’s natural moisturiser. This helps the skin stay hydrated and supple, avoiding drying out. A 2019 study by the Journal of Integrative Dermatology (JID) found that the high allantoin content in snail mucin significantly improved skin hydration levels.

    2. Fights signs of ageing

An open label study by the JID in 2019 also found that snail mucin was able to improve the softness and firmness of skin after a period of 45 and 90 days. This result showed the ability of snail mucin in fighting signs of ageing by reducing wrinkles, expression lines, and nasolabial grooves.

    3. Wound healing properties

Snail mucin has been shown to promote wound healing properties; resulting in breakouts, pimples, and other cuts healing faster with the use of snail mucin.

    4. Reduce sun damage

Sun damage can result in hyperpigmentation, which is the development of dark spots on the skin. The glycolic acid present in snail mucin can help to fade out these dark spots by exfoliating darker skin cells and revealing new, fresh, even-toned skin underneath.

5. Exfoliation 

The build-up of dead skin cells on the surface of the skin can be effectively dealt with by the glycolic acid in snail mucin. By gently clearing away the dead and damaged skin cells, fresher and more supple skin can be revealed to give off a more radiant complexion. 

Are there any risks to using snail mucin on your skin?

There are no significant side effects with the use of snail mucin on the skin — clinical trials determined that snail mucin application is safe at recommended usage levels. 

However, there is always the possibility of personal allergies causing a reaction to snail mucin. In such cases, the safest thing to do is to stop using the product. 

Is snail mucin cruelty free?

It depends on the type of procedure in which snail mucin is extracted from snails. In most cases, snails are kept in a safe location and are only placed in a machine to collect their slime. The production of the mucin is induced by gently prodding it or spraying them with sodium chloride. At BONIIK, we take clean, ethical beauty seriously - our snail mucin products are carefully selected to ensure that all processes and practices are cruelty free.

Best snail mucin skincare products for your skin

If you have not tried snail mucin for yourself - you’re missing out. 

Like many other skincare ingredients, the effects of snail mucin on your skin will depend on your body and unique skin conditions. At BONIIK, we stock a wide range of the snail mucin skincare products from CORSRX and other globally acclaimed brands. Here are some of our most popular picks for you to try: