Smearing snail secretion on your face is one of the best kept secrets of Korean skincare—and with good reason. After all, snail mucin is known to be laden with hydrating and collagen-boosting agents: words that serve as a soothing salve for dry, dehydrated skin. But where exactly does the hype around snail mucin come from and what can the ingredient do for you?
What is snail mucin?
No spoilers here; the name gives it all away. Snail mucin is a substance that snails secrete for hydration and lubrication to cling on to surfaces. While the usage of snail mucin for skincare is said to date back to ancient Greece, it has since enjoyed a fresh surge of popularity in K-beauty skincare products.
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What does snail mucin do for skin?
Slugging your skin with snail slime might not sound particularly appetizing—we get it. But once you get a glance at the benefits of snail mucin for skin, you might just become a believer. What makes snail mucin the darling of Korean skincare products is its ability to help dial back the clock. Research suggests that the essential chemicals present in snail mucin that help them recover from shell damage can also work wonders for the skin. Here’s how:
- Plumping: The high levels of collagen and elastin present in snail mucin can help improve firmness and elasticity as the skin begins to age. The presence of glycolic acid in this mucin further accelerates the promotion of collagen for younger, firmer skin.
- Moisturisation: As the slimy appearance of snail mucin may have clued you in, it can work miracles for restoring dry, dehydrated skin. The presence of hyaluronic acid offers lasting hydration, making the skin supple and smooth.
- Exfoliation: The glycolic acid in snail mucin works on smoothing out rough patches by gently exfoliating dead skin cells away from the surface.
How to use snail mucin in your skincare routine?
If brighter and firmer skin is on your wishlist for the year, you’ll undoubtedly be keeping your eyes peeled for a hint of snail mucin, when shopping for skincare products online. The good news for those wondering how to apply snail mucin is that it can be applied easily and doesn’t have a strong scent. Depending on the skincare concerns you’re trying to address, here’s how you can use it:
- If you’re looking for moisturised skin: Once your skin is thoroughly cleansed, scoop your favourite snail mucin moisturiser and apply it evenly on the face during the day and before bedtime.
- If you’re hoping to plump and smoothen: While a snail mucin serum can help keep premature signs of ageing at bay, it isn’t just about how you use it but also when you use it. Experts are in agreement that snail mucin can do its best work when combined with the regenerative properties of skin healing as you sleep at night.
- If you’re looking for cleansed yet hydrated skin: Call upon a snail mucin cleanser to rid your skin of impurities and other gunk while replenishing its natural reserves of hyaluronic acid.
- If you’d like to target multiple skincare concerns at once: Allow a skincare essence enriched with snail mucin to assume pride of place in your everyday routine. This hardworking powerhouse flexes its muscles by hydrating, strengthening the skin barrier and improving skin elasticity all at once.
Tira recommends: Ready to level up your skincare routine? Here are the best snail mucin products to add to your skincare shelf:
COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence
COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All In One Cream
Beauty of Joseon Revive Ginseng + Snail Mucin Serum
RENEE Snail 99 Mucin Serum
O3+ O3+ Snail 98 Mucin Essence
