Exploring the Benefits of Snail Mucin in Skincare Products

Snail Slime and Mucin in Skincare Products

As a dermatologist, patients often ask me about the latest skincare trends and whether they live up to the hype. One ingredient that has become quite popular recently is snail slime serum, also known as snail mucin or snail secretion filtrate. Here’s what you need to know about this unique ingredient and if it is worth the expensive price.

Serum with Snail Mucin

Snail serum has become a popular ingredient for antiaging. But is it right for you?

Find the best products for your skin by taking the quiz I use in my medical practice to prescribe custom skin care routines for my patients. It will diagnose your Baumann Skin Type and help you build a skin care routine from over 70 medical grade skincare brands.

snail mucin products

Best Creams and Serums with Snail Mucin

Snail creams provide hydration by drawing moisture into the skin and preventing water loss. The mucus forms a protective barrier while delivering nutrients into the deeper layers. These snail mucin creams can be used as moisturizers over other antiaging serums.

Snail Serums and Gels

Lightweight gels and serums containing snail mucus can be applied to the skin to boost hydration, fade scars, and speed healing. The mucin is rapidly absorbed, making it suitable for application under creams or makeup.

Snail Mucin Eye Creams

While snail mucin has many benefits, I don’t typically recommend it for the delicate eye area unless you have dry skin around the eyes and no puffiness.

The humectant properties that help snail mucin hydrate the skin can actually cause puffiness and swelling around the eyes in those susceptible to eye bags. The mucus pulls moisture into the thin skin around the eyes, leading to fluid accumulation and swollen eyelids. People who already suffer from puffy eyes or undereye bags should avoid snail mucin eye creams. The water-binding effect can exacerbate puffiness.

However, snail mucin is helpful for addressing fine lines and dryness around the eyes. Using it in the morning routine is probably the best way to use snail mucin eye creams, because eyes get puffier at night with less effects from gravity and movement.

Snail Mucin Masks

Snail mucus masks deeply hydrate while brightening and smoothing the skin. The mucus is able to penetrate efficiently thanks to the occlusive mask format that “slugs” ingredients into your skin. These masks may contain sheet masks soaked in snail secretion filtrate or wash-off masks with concentrated mucin.

I could not find any good masks- you can use a snail mucin cream and cover it with an occlusive moisturizer to help increase penetration into the skin.

what is snail mucin?

What is Snail Slime?

Snail slime refers to the mucus that snails secrete to moisturize and protect their skin. This mucus, also called snail mucin, contains nutrients, antioxidants, hyaluronic acid, glycoproteins, proteoglycans, glycosaminoglycans, and antimicrobial peptides that are beneficial for the skin when applied topically. The snail mucus is composed of components that help hydrate, heal, and protect snail skin, which also translate to benefits for human skin.

Humectant Abilities

Snail mucin acts as a humectant when applied topically to the skin. Humectants are hydrophilic substances that attract and bind moisture. The glycoproteins and hydrating components in snail slime essentially act as water magnets to pull hydration into the deeper layers of the skin. This increased moisture in the dermis then plumps up the skin, minimizing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The humectant properties of mucin allow it to provide continuous hydration that keeps skin looking smooth, supple, and radiant and jello-like.

Antioxidant Abilities

Snail mucus contains antioxidants that can neutralize free radicals on the skin. Free radicals are unstable molecules that damage collagen and accelerate aging when they accumulate. Things like UV exposure, pollution, and stress create reactive oxygen species that lead to more free radical formation. The antioxidants in snail secretion filtrate, like glutathione, can prevent and repair some of this free radical damage to slow signs of aging. By counteracting oxidative stress, the mucin preserves youthful skin.

benefits of snail mucin

Skin Benefits of Snail Mucus

Research has shown that snail mucus can provide several benefits when applied topically as a skincare ingredient:

Improves hydration and moisture retention

Promotes wound healing and skin regeneration

Reduces signs of photoaging and wrinkles

Fades hyperpigmentation and acne scars

Soothes irritated, inflamed skin

Provides antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties

Snail mucin has been found to improve hydration and moisture retention in the skin. The hydrating properties help the skin maintain suppleness and elasticity. Studies show the mucus is able to enhance the skin’s barrier function, preventing moisture loss while drawing hydration into the deeper layers.

In addition, snail mucin promotes wound healing and tissue regeneration. Components like allantoin and glycoproteins enable skin cell turnover and repair. This allows the snail mucus to help treat scars and speed healing after procedures.

Snail slime has also been shown to reduce signs of photoaging and wrinkles. Antioxidants in the mucus neutralize free radicals from UV exposure that damage skin and cause aging. This helps minimize wrinkles and skin laxity over time.

Furthermore, the mucus helps fade hyperpigmentation and acne scars by evening skin tone and inhibiting excess melanin production. The antimicrobial peptides also reduce acne-causing bacteria.

Snail mucin has demonstrated soothing effects on irritated skin by calming inflammation. The glycopeptides and elastin in the slime provide anti-inflammatory benefits.

Overall, the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties of snail mucus make it helpful for various dermatologic conditions while keeping skin healthy and youthful.

mucin for specific concerns

What Skin Concerns Can Snail Slime Treat?

Acne and Pimple Scabs

Snail mucus shows promise for improving acne and helping pimples and pimple scabs heal more quickly. The antimicrobial peptides found in snail slime help fight C. acnes bacteria that contribute to acne breakouts. This helps prevent new pimples from forming. For existing breakouts, the glycolic acid in mucin acts as a chemical exfoliant to unclog pores by dissolving dead skin cell buildup. The allantoin and proteoglycans also promote skin regeneration to help acne scabs heal faster. The anti-inflammatory activity calms the redness and swelling of inflammatory acne. Overall, the components in snail secretion filtrate combat acne while facilitating rapid wound healing to clear up pimples and prevent scarring.

Stretch Marks

The glycoproteins in snail slime may minimize the appearance of stretch marks by promoting collagen production. The antimicrobial peptides in the mucus also support healing of these skin lesions. However, it is doubtful that snail slime will do much to help stretch marks so don’t waste your money on it for stretch marks. Choose a retinoid instead.

Wrinkles

Snail mucin is able to temporarily plump out fine lines and wrinkles by increasing moisture levels in the skin. This hydrating effect causes the skin to swell slightly, smoothing out wrinkles. However, this wrinkle reduction is temporary and lasts only as long as the skin remains hydrated. The antioxidants found in snail secretion also protect against UV damage from the sun that causes wrinkling over time. While the hydrating properties provide a temporary tightening effect, snail mucin does not permanently get rid of wrinkles or dramatically rebuild collagen. But the moisturizing and protective benefits may help reduce the appearance of fine lines and prevent new wrinkles from forming with consistent use.

How is Snail Mucin Extracted?

Snails are collected humanely and placed over mesh nets in a controlled environment. As the snails move around, their mucus is deposited onto the nets. This mucus is then carefully collected and processed into skincare products. The snails are unharmed in this process and can continue producing more mucin.

research on snail mucin

Research Studies on Snail Mucin

There are not a lot of evidence based studies on snail mucin, but some studies have demonstrated benefits.

In 2008, a group of researchers (3,12) found that secretions from the Cryptomphalus aspersa mollusk displayed antioxidant and skin regenerative activity in lab tests. Specifically, the snail secretion was found to contain compounds that stimulate fibroblast growth and extracellular matrix production. It also regulated enzymes involved in wound healing. Overall, the researchers concluded the snail mucus supports skin repair.

Another study in 2012 showed that Cryptomphalus aspersa secretions increased cell proliferation and migration in human skin cells in vitro. The snail mucus was found to activate pathways involved in cell survival and regeneration. This provided evidence that snail slime could help heal wounds. (3, 10,12)

A 2009 clinical trial treated 27 patients with partial-thickness facial burns using a cream containing Helix aspersa snail mucus. Researchers found the snail mucin cream was a safe, natural option that accelerated healing and epithelialization compared to standard burn treatments. (3,17)

In another study in 2009, 15 patients with photodamaged skin were treated with Cryptomphalus aspersa mucus for 3 months. Significant improvements were observed in clinical markers of photoaging like wrinkles and skin texture. (3,18)

Finally, a 12-week double-blind trial in 2013 showed that a cream with Cryptomphalus aspersa mucus visibly reduced wrinkles and improved skin texture when applied topically.(3,14)

Overall, these studies demonstrate the regenerative, antioxidant, and anti-aging effects of snail mucin observed in cells, animals, and human subjects. More research is underway on the mechanisms and applications of this secretion.

While more research is still needed, the initial studies on snail mucus are promising. Formulated properly at effective concentrations, snail slime will provide real benefits for hydrating, healing, and rejuvenating the skin. But here is the most important point- its really a humectant and there are much cheaper options like glycerin.

mucin in your routine

Where to Use Snail Mucin in your Skincare Routine

It depends on your Baumann Skin Type, but snail mucin is usually step 2 or 3 of you morning skin care routine.

Learn more about skin care routine steps here.

Let me help you build the best skincare routine for your skin type. Take the skin care quiz to see if snail mucin is right for you.

DQH Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? It’s easy to create a skincare routine, but knowing how to use it is another thing entirely. In most cases, if you’re not getting the desired skin results, it could be due to the layering of conflicting ingredients. So, is it possible that salicylic acid and vitamin C are such ingredients? Or are these active ingredients the duo that’s been missing from your skincare routine? If you want answers, stick around because today we are going to explain the benefits of salicylic acid and vitamin C and how they can be used in your daily life. What are the benefits of salicylic acid for skin? Salicylic acid is one of the most commonly used beta hydroxy acids and is favored by many people with oily, acne-prone skin. This acid is derived from willow bark, and unlike its water-soluble relatives (called alpha-hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble, which means it can penetrate deeper into the lower layers of the skin. Once it reaches the lower layers, it can help unclog pores of excess sebum, dirt, bacteria, debris, and impurities. This results in clearer skin tones and greater definition. Not only does salicylic acid benefit the underlying layers, but the outer surface of the skin benefits as well. When applied to the skin, salicylic acid removes the buildup of dead skin cells. This is accomplished by breaking the bonds that hold dead cells to the surface. Over time, this can cause the complexion to look dull and prone to acne, blackheads, and other blemishes. If you’d like to learn more about salicylic acid and how it can improve your skin, check out this dedicated blog post from a beauty insider. What are the benefits of vitamin C for skin? Vitamin C is considered one of the most powerful antioxidants, which means it is very effective at fighting free radicals and preventing them from causing further skin damage. Examples of free radicals include pollution, central heating, UV rays and harsh climate. They attack proteins, fats and cell membranes as soon as they come into contact with the skin, causing signs of premature aging such as fine lines and wrinkles as well as hyperpigmentation, flaky patches of skin and loss of elasticity. Many people usually prefer to use vitamin C in their morning routine as this ingredient gives the complexion a radiant glow. You’ll also find that vitamin C can target areas of hyperpigmentation, plumping the skin and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The thing about vitamin C is that there are a lot of outdated studies going back to the 1950s that describe vitamin C as an unstable skin component. Thanks to improvements in modern technology, this is no longer the case as all products now contain a stable form of vitamin C. Visit The Beauty Insider to learn more about vitamin C. So please check out our blog post. Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? Yes, you absolutely can. In fact, it’s thought that using salicylic acid before using vitamin C ensures it penetrates faster and works faster. This is an efficient way to utilize two power sources, and the reason has to do with pH. For example, the skin’s natural pH is about 4.7, making it slightly acidic. Salicylic acid and vitamin C are also both acidic, and you’ll find that vitamin C is absorbed quickly into the skin. Therefore, using salicylic acid beforehand can increase the acidity of the skin and allow vitamin C to penetrate into the skin faster. While this is considered an effective way to combine two powerful ingredients, you need to be aware of your skin type and how it reacts to certain active ingredients. Even people with perfect, normal skin can experience skin sensitivity and irritation. Therefore, always consult a doctor or dermatologist before using any new products on your skin. It’s also important to follow skin application rules. In this case, you need to use the product correctly to ensure you get the best results for your skin. If you’re not sure what I mean, the basic rule for skin is to start with the thinnest consistency and work your way up to the thickest consistency. This prevents a barrier from forming on the surface, preventing other active ingredients from penetrating the skin. Can I use salicylic acid at night and vitamin C in the morning? Yes, absolutely, this is considered the most effective way to get returns without any adverse side effects. This is because there is enough time between applications to ensure that the skin’s pH levels return to balance. You’ll also find that Vitamin C is rich in antioxidants and is perfect for use in the morning to ensure your skin is protected and looking its healthiest. Due to the small size of salicylic acid molecules, it is an acid that is able to reach the deepest parts of the skin. While this is effective at keeping skin clear, it also increases the risk of irritation and photosensitivity. Therefore, many people prefer to use powerful BHAs in their evening routine without exposure to UV rays, pollution, or harsh weather. Warning: If you avoid using sunscreen every day, none of these ingredients will do what your skin needs. The combination of chemical peels and powerful ingredients increases the risk of further damage to the skin’s surface. Use SPF 50 every day to keep your skin protected and your lipid barrier healthy, even on cloudy days, keeping your skin in top condition.

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