Snail mucin is an increasingly popular ingredient in Korean and Japanese skincare. Having been claimed to aid in fading dark spots, fighting acne, and much more, snail mucin is appearing in many types of products including creams, serums, and essences. Keep reading to learn about what snail mucin is and how its chemical composition promotes great results!
What is it?
Snail mucin (snail secretion filtrate or snail slime) is a type of growth factor, a substance capable of promoting cell growth, wound healing, and tissue repair. This enables snails to repair themselves after experiencing injuries, and it also explains why it's such a popular and effective skincare ingredient.
What is it made of?
All of these processes are a result of snail mucin's complex chemical composition. It consists of allantoin, collagen, elastin, glycolic acid, hyaluronic acid, and natural antibacterials. All of these substances possess moisturizing, healing, or exfoliating properties . Allantoin has been used to treat, prevent, and reduce scars and keloids. According to research studies, allantoin is capable of producing significant results within a few months. Glycolic acid is a chemical exfoliant used to remove dead skin cells, which can soften the skin and make it smoother in texture and appearance. As the dead skin cells are removed, the growth of new cells is promoted, reducing skin pigmentation. Hyaluronic acid forms a film when applied to skin, retaining moisture and eventually, reducing fine lines and wrinkles. As strange as using snail mucin on your face or on your body may sound, it can provide many benefits, as it is a combination of several amazing substances that can be effective skincare products on their own.
How is it harvested?
Most snails raised in snail farms are exported to labs that collect their snail mucin. Today, cruelty-free methods are used to collect the mucin, but in the past, the methods used induced stress and anxiety in snails. One of the methods used today involves leaving snails out to roam on a mesh surface in a dark room, where the mesh promotes secretion and collects the mucin.
Thank you for reading! I hope you learned about snail mucin and why it's so popular in skincare products today!
Written by: Ashlee Liu
References:
Rn., Laura MSc. “The Benefits Of Snail Mucin In Skin Care.” Science Becomes Her, 28 Sept. 2019, sciencebecomesher.com/benefits-of-snail-mucin/#:%7E:text=extraction%20methods%20cruel.-,A%20Quick%20Summary%20Of%20The%20Benefits%20Of%20Snail%20Mucin,the%20rate%20of%20wound%20healing.
Valle, Gaby. “The Ethics of Snail Mucin.” The Outline, 11 May 2018, theoutline.com/post/4503/snail-mucin-farms-extraction-skin-care-heliciculture-ethics?zd=1&zi=ryymgu4c.